 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-03-09 18:56
I saw my friend had a backun bell and also featured the voicing groove that goes right near where the bell connects. What exactly does it do? anyone ever try making one on a clarinet?
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-03-10 00:34
It's basically a cutting of wood in a circle on the inside of the bell, but i have no idea what it does. it's not the kind of "groove" as you would see in music, but some sort of undercutting.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: susieray
Date: 2007-03-10 01:05
Crandall,
I am pretty sure that since the bell is basically the tone hole for the long B, the voicing groove amounts to undercutting for that "tone hole"....which makes the long B less stuffy and more in tune. Also makes it a little smoother going over the break. Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.
Sue
Post Edited (2007-03-10 01:07)
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2007-03-10 01:07
(Disclaimer - I am maker of the Forte' Bb and C clarinets)
We have our own version called TRAC (Tuned Resonance Acoustic Chamber) in our "C" clarinet. The concept is not new and has been used for at least 75 years in various clarinets including e.g. today’s Buffet RC (experimentally on some production R-13's) and the Selmer A clarinets. Along with an extension of the bore diameter into the bell (Yamaha SEV series) for some length and the resonance hole in the bell these are attempts to improve the intonation of the lower notes without accessory keywork, the clarion B & C, and smoothness in crossing the break from throat notes to clarion B & C. The acoustic principals are complex and to some degree proprietary in design melding with the individual bell characteristics (mass, shape, and interior size as well as bell length). Perhaps Morrie Backun who uses these techniques a lot in his bell designs would like to comment?
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
Post Edited (2007-03-10 01:09)
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Author: Kchui999
Date: 2007-03-10 02:31
I remember hearing from a tech I met at the California High School All State convention that a groove in the bell redirects air back up the instrument, putting more air through the toneholes and improving the sound in general. It sounds logical, but I too would like to know for sure what this does. Mr. Backun?
Chui
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Author: hartt
Date: 2007-03-10 16:02
Voicing groove???.....perhaps a different terminology in accomplishing the the same end result of reaming the bell.
Bell reaming was/is done to reduce resistance..........among other purposes.
Some clarinets are made with this feature; my 1975 RC has the bell factory reamed. It is visible when comparing it to another bell or one knows what/where to look.
My 1959 R13A which was worked by Moennig, also has, among modifications, a slight ream in the bell.
These 'reamings' are in the forcing cone just below the tenon socket.
Wood density will also contribute to a clarinet's projection.
My Fobes Eb extension has a tone hole which is also undercut.
The principle / benefit of this feature can be found on Clark's web site:
http://www.clarkwfobes.com/Barrels.html
dennis
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-03-10 17:55
I remember hearing from a tech I met at the California High School All State convention that a groove in the bell redirects air back up the instrument, putting more air through the toneholes and improving the sound in general.
There we go, question answered. basically i'm guessing that instruments that are stuffy in the clarion B and C notes will only serve to benefit from a reaming of the bell. sounds like an experiment with a dremel tool is starting to come on.... =D
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2007-03-10 19:52
Before you go Dremel happy it should be noted that the position, size, depth, and width of the groove is important and should be reamed by a person familar with the procedure. Experimentation with an extra old bell might be appropriate if you must try it for yourself.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2007-03-11 03:40
The purpose of a clarinet bell is twofold.
1.To make the sound radiate to the outside effectively.
(matching impedance of the air inside to air outside)
If a clarinet is terminate without a flare(bell shape),the wave(sound) inside of a clarinet bounces up and down and has a difficulty getting out.
But if the shape maximize the propagation of wave,then the pitch of a note
is not well defined.
2.Make some of the wave reflect to the mp direction so that a good pitch
is established. (if every energy is goes outside of a clarinet,there is no definite pitch!then it's not a musical instrument )
In other words,shape(and material) of a bell adjusts the impedance of a clarinet's end,and you have find a good balance btw #1and #2.
There can be many possible different designs to achieve the best result.
Bell groove is just one of them.
I don't know it's working though.
You can try whatever you can think of to change the shape or material or the texture etc etc....
Post Edited (2007-03-11 03:42)
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