 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sherihand
Date: 2006-12-29 01:41
Would anyone care to articulate what difference the size of bore makes and what one should consider about it when choosing a clarinet? Also any words on the barrel length?
Sheri
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-12-29 12:57
Most clarinets built now have bore sizes between 14.60mm and 14.75mm when measured at the middle tenon, but this is only one factor in how they play as each manufacturer will have a different expansion at the top, a different shaped flare i the bottom joint and different shaped bell flare and length - as well as different shaped barrel bores.
As for barrel length, you want a 66mm minimum (to 67mm maximum) barrel as anything less than 66mm can cause intonation problems. The one that comes with a new clarinet should be of a suitable length and bore specific for that instrument.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: sherihand
Date: 2006-12-29 13:09
That's a bit to consider then as the Yamaha (YCL-450N) I was looking at has a 65mm barrell.
Sheri
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2006-12-29 13:55
yamaha has reasons to have a 65mm barrel. the pitch should be fine. I don't know about that model specifically, but 65 is not too short. many players use 65 or less. I use 65 in Japan and 66 in US, but I am using middle aged Buffets. there are many factors with regard to pitch, Yamaha is very consistant in their production and the equipment that comes with a clarinet is likely apropriate.
-S
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-12-29 14:15
A Yamaha with a 65mm barrel should play in tune. You can always add a 66mm barrel later on if you find you're consistantly playing sharp on the instrument. Yamahas are very good instruments and a 450N is a great choice for intermediate-higher level players. They have a good tone and play nicely in tune.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2006-12-29 14:40
>anything less than 66mm can cause intonation problems
i beg to differ, that is too general of a statement.
it depends on the brand and model of clarinet , and also the age.
your choice of mouthpiece also has an effect.
older Buffet R-13's for example, came with 65mm barrels, newer ones with 66mm. as one example, my 1974 model R13 plays perfectly in tune with its original, stock 65 mm barrel, with my present mouthpiece.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: hartt
Date: 2006-12-29 15:19
I agree with Brenda ![[happy]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley12.gif) and disagree with Chris.
66mm Minimum 67mm Max ???
If one needs to push in, a 66 can't be pushed in but a 65 can be pulled out.
BBL length is contigent upon numerous factors...embouchure, reed, the clarient itself, etc.
Granted, there are players who do find the need to pull a 66 and even play a 67mm.
I've many R13's (1968-75).........none take a 66. (me, my mp, the clarinet ????)
I've a Yamaha A model SE (disccontinued) with a stock bbl of 64.5mm: usually I need a 64mm bbl
My R13 A from 1960 needs a 65 mm bbl. 'Stock' for an A was a 64mm in those days but was Moennigized for leon russianoff before I even got it from him in '65
Chadash clarinets come with a 65 and a 66 bbl
Rossi clarinets are supplied with the same.
In his book, David Pino writes that after extensive searching for a bbl, he found a 68mm to play in tune with the tonal character he wanted. It defies logic but he was amazed just the same.
Ironicaly, Buffet Bb's are supplied with a 66. And their Vintage model is supplied with 2 ; 66mm bbls (diff tapers). How many owners have questioned this and wished for a 65 and a 66 V2.
The Yamaha 450N is a high end student model, and Yamaha workmanship is
above average, has good intonation and tonal color.
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Author: donald
Date: 2006-12-29 19:52
the posting by Chris P was pretty much good advice except for being quite so specific about barrel length... sorry Chris
as an example... both my Bflat and A clarinets plays best in tune with 66mm (although every other Buffet A clarinet i've had has been best with a 65mm). A young and very talented student of mine has an Evette Master model B flat with a 65mm barrel that plays so well in tune that it makes every R13 off the shelf seem like a student instrument in comparison.
as for bore size
if you're not a pro level player, it's not really something you even need to think about much (unless you are buying B flat/A of different brands and want to know how easy it will be to swap between them).
keep playing the good tunes
donald
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2006-12-29 20:22
I, too have an Evette Master model which was recently overhauled by David Spiegelthal. It had a 66.5mm barrel and was too flat, so he put a 65mm barrel with a bigger bore on it and it really cleared things up. Just like Donald's student's experience. Eu
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Author: Ken Mills
Date: 2006-12-29 22:12
The Selmer Signature has a 62.5mm barrel. But how high on the body from the top of the barrel is the mechanism? I like it high because I use a soft reed and so play flatter than others do. If you want to shorten your barrel by a quarter of an inch, Chris P, then shouldn't you have a clarinet that can tolerate it? Wouldn't a cylindrical bore get better intonation? Hear what can happen otherwise: the break will sound like 'b nataural' is the same pitch as the throat 'b flat' I know. Something good enough for jazz, Ken
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-12-29 23:17
Looking at the brochures it appears that Yamaha now furnish their student models with a 65mm barrel, whereas before 66mm was the previous standard.
But some clarinets that have a longer than normal top joint (as in the CSG) will have a short barrel to compensate so the scale is still the same.
Having played mainly on older Selmers I do prefer using 67mm and 68m barrels, and my first clarinet (B&H 2-20) as well as my Leblanc LL have 67mm barrels.
Even with the 67mm barrels I still play sharp with a Vandoren 5RV Lyre and A1 or Selmer C85 115 mouthpiece, but now I've been using a '13 Series' M15 I do play with a much firmer embouchure to get the pitch up - and as I don't want to shorten my Selmer's barrel I've taken around 1mm off the mouthpiece (the tenon end!) instead - I can always get another Vandoren mouthpiece, whereas Series 9 barrels aren't exactly available off the shelf.
Maybe my embouchure is too firm.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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