The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Newer Topic | Older Topic

A barrel chamber = Bb Barrel chamber ??

Author: sinkdraiN
Date: 2006-11-27 15:43

Besides length is there any difference between an R13 A barrel and an R13 Bb barrel. I ask because my m15 ser 13 mouthpiece is perfectly in tune at A=440. If I ever needed to go higher I would need a shorter barrel.

My A is 65mm and my Bb is 66mm...pretty standard I think. Can I just use my A barrel on the Bb as a "shorter" barrel for a higher pitch situation or is it more complicated than that.

Reply To Message

Re: A barrel chamber = Bb Barrel chamber ??

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-11-27 15:59

You can certainly try one barrel on another instrument, but I've found that it seldom works well. I use barrels made by Kalmen Opperman, and he had to make a different taper for each instrument to work best. The 65 mm. A barrel didn't work at all on the Bb.

Ken Shaw

Reply To Message

Re: A barrel chamber = Bb Barrel chamber ??

Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-11-27 16:59

Usually, the A and Bb have different bores for each barrel. There are exceptions (Selmer Recital is one example)

Also, if tapers are used, they also differ between A and Bb, depending on the selection/preference of the player.

That being said, SOMETIMES a given barrel WILL work the same on both horns (in terms of sound, not intonation). Some orchestral players seek these out, so that they can switch the barrel and mouthpiece as a single unit when changing from A to Bb instruments.

Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-

Reply To Message

Re: A barrel chamber = Bb Barrel chamber ??

Author: claritoot26
Date: 2006-11-28 21:07

I completed my masters degree in clarinet using the A 65mm barrel for both horns. It sounds quite nice, but I think the tuning will be even better if I get a Bb barrel, which I plan to do this month. It was pretty convenient to switch horns just by grabbing the barrel...the ligature never slips off. In fact, I was even using my A bell for both horns, as long as I had plenty of time for switching. I plan to get a Bb bell soon too, simply for logistical purposes.
I have heard that the taper of both bells and barrels is typically a little bit different for A and Bb clarinets.

Lori

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums | Threaded View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

The Clarinet Pages

For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.