 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-09-20 03:03
I spent the better part of this evening speaking on the phone with my friend Greg Smith.
I had a few technical questions regarding bore sizes as related to mouthpiece/barrel combinations. Greg, who as we all know, has vast experience with mouthpiece making and acoustics was most helpful and enlightening.
As usual, Greg had the answers and explanations to this most interesting, intricate and often, puzzling topic.
We are fortunate that Greg shares his knowledge with us on the bulletin board and is a mouthpiece maker who is readily accessible to help, when needed.
In the music world, where honest, forthright, and knowledgeable people are sometimes at a premium. Greg keeps to those high standards...GBK
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2006-09-20 13:21
Greg's great - A few months ago I felt that my mouthpiece was getting 'worn out' or something and asked for new samples. Rather than doing what anyone else would and try to sell me another mouthpiece, he gave me some good advice and I didn't end up needing a new mouthpiece. He gave advice for FREE which doesn't happen much!
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2006-09-20 14:21
We are indeed fortunate to have Mr Smith posting here and sharing his expertise with us.
GBK, would you care to share the info on bore sizes and mouthpiece/barrel combinations with the rest of us? I'm sure it it would be very interesting, in light of the recent discussion.
Regards,
Robert
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2006-09-20 14:42
I second the motion for a good discussion of bore size vs. mouthpiece and barrel choices- I am currently in the process of searching for the right barrel for several of my clarinets. Questions such as effects of larger/smaller barrel bores, tapers, etc. It's hard to separate fact from fantasy from the stuff printed in the various catalogs....some instruction from an expert would really be appreciated.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-09-20 16:10
My long discussion with Greg centered around 2 specific questions which I have been asked numerous times by students and colleagues:
1. Should the exit bore diameter of the mouthpiece be an EXACT match to the entrance bore measurement of the barrel? If not, why?
2. Should the exit bore diameter of the barrel be an EXACT match to the entrance bore of the upper tenon of the clarinet? If not, why?
Logic would think that if the measurements do not precisely *match* per se, there would be a bit of resistance in the blowing caused by the "step" in the differences.
I've asked Greg, if he has time, to weigh in on this discussion. If he is unable, I will try and post some of the info he was kind enough to share...GBK
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-09-20 16:57
There was a good post about exit bores and barrel inlet matching some time ago including multiple measurements of various classic combinations including some jazz mpc and big bore clarinets. (I saved it in doc. form on my home computer and will send it to you tonight).
While there seemed to be a preference by that reviewer for a "match", I find that a little bit (0.002-3inches) of a step-off from the mpc exit to the inlet of the barrel is a healthy thing in most circumstances. YMMV
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2006-09-20 17:11
Greg is an invaluable member of this board, and I'm glad he is willing to share is knowledge on so many topics.
Chris
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-09-20 18:26
Alseg wrote
> (0.002-3inches)
That'd be about fifty or so microns. The human hair is 20..120 microns in comparison.
I like precision a lot, but does this (to achieve this precision) make sense? I'd suspect that the average bore of the average wooden clarinet/barrel lives more than these 50 µm during a year...if this really really mattered, shouldn't we'd rather make them of invar or so... ?
Yes I know I'm being naïve.
--
Ben
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2006-09-20 19:33
"Yes I know I'm being naïve."
Ben
____________________________________
Actually, you've addressed one of the most essential parts of the answer to GBK's general question (about the wood that is).
Gregory Smith
Post Edited (2006-09-20 20:21)
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-09-20 23:47
Here is the promised link to archive:
http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarinet/2003/12/000309.txt
As for the achievement of measurements in creating clarinet parts, a difference in 0.002 is demonstrable. In fact, that is about the difference between the taper measurements of 2 notable barrel types. It is also the difference between a tenon fitting or being too loose or too tight.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
Post Edited (2006-09-20 23:48)
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2006-09-22 04:19
Exit bore measurements do not effect the overall playing characteristics of any given piece as much as the overall interior volume and shape of the entire length of the bore.
Within that overall length, wood does not keep it's shape, migrating back to it's original size because of some shrinkage. Additionally, the shrinkage is not uniform.
Concentricity is effected so that compared to the "steps" one encounters from one exit to the to the next entrance, the overall air column that contains much more surface "area" (the entire bore), is much more influential on the playing characteristics than an exit number of any given piece - especially when you are speaking within the range of perhaps 2 - 10 1,000ths of an inch.
Gregory Smith
Post Edited (2006-09-22 04:36)
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