 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: donald
Date: 2006-08-16 17:51
kia ora
while at Clarinetfest i looked for a new barrel for my R 13 B flat. Over the years i've owned a number of barrels for this clarinet, including a Moennig, Chadash, Muncy Synthetic and DEG (i use the non wood barrels when teaching in order to lengthen the life span of my wooden barrels).
At clarinetfest i was able to test drive and select (with extra ears from Heather and Debbie) a barrel from Mike Lomax. He now has barrels made by Mr Zinner, and reamed with a double conical bore (i believe there is no cylindrical section). My one is made from Cocobolo, and has a sound that is much warmer than my other barrels, but still with a real bright ring to the sound. As these things are personal, i won't go in to too much detail trying to describe the sound etc, but let say i find it easier to produce a bright sound that still has lots of body to it.
I would reccomend trying these out if you are in the market for a barrel- i was initially against the idea of a Cocobollo barrel (for various reasons i won't go into), but was won over by this one. In addition to play testing in the exhibit hall, i tested it in large (and quiet) corridor nearby, and have found those pleasing results to be replicated outside of the buzz of Clarinetfest (ie, over the last few days).
keep playing the good tunes
donald
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Author: donald
Date: 2006-08-26 05:23
an instrument maker just looked at this barrel....
this barrel does have a cylindrical section- a reverse cone, a cylindrical section then a normal cone (if that makes sense).
i "blind tested" it playing to an opera singer the other day, comparing to 2 of my other barrels. It got the thumbs up, especially at the top end of dynamics. comment from the singer- "i wouldn't believe that 6cm of the instrument could make such a dramatic difference to the sound"
in October i spend a week in Wellington playing principal for the Sinfonia there, and i look forward to playing this barrel in a big hall, it sings!
keep playing the good tunes
donald
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-08-26 06:17
"i "blind tested" it playing to an opera singer the other day, comparing to 2 of my other barrels."
But were you also blindfolded, or were you aware of what barrel you are playing every time?
Post Edited (2006-08-26 21:01)
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2006-08-26 12:35
It's an old, tired, flogged idea.
Deflating enthusiasm with the "double-blind" testing rigorous scientific method just sucks the air out of the room.
Let the guy enjoy his toys, 'kay?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2006-08-26 15:00
Synonymous Botch wrote:
> Deflating enthusiasm with the "double-blind" testing rigorous
> scientific method just sucks the air out of the room.
You are 100% right
> Let the guy enjoy his toys, 'kay?
Again, you are 100% right
As long as this isn't supposed to be "the truth", people can believe what they want to believe. They might even be right.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-08-26 21:05
I asked what I asked because I just wanted to know and was interested. If someone would ask that on a thread I started it would not deflate my enthusiasm at all, so didn't think it would for someone else. Sorry if it has.
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Author: donald
Date: 2006-10-08 11:00
last week i was in Wellington playing acting Principal for the WSO, and Phillip Green (Principal Clarinet in the NZSO and all round spectacular musician) tried out my Lomax barrel. He offered me $500 on the spot for it. His current barrel is one he painstakingly selected, and has said a number of times "i'll never need another barrel". This Lomax one changed his mind, that's for sure, he loved it.
donald
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