 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-06-02 02:39
I don't own one, but one day I'd like to try out a big bore clarinet. Maybe something like a Rossi big bore, or maybe an old big bore clarinet from selmer or the like. But I remember plenty of people saying that small-bore mouthpieces don't match with them. So what are the different ways a small bore mouthpiece can be modified to better fit a big-bore instrument?
One I was wondering about - would it be possible to have a custom barrel maker someone fashion a barrel that would allow for a smaller entrance bore and larger exit bore where it hits the clarinet?
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: jamie talbot
Date: 2007-06-02 10:17
You would need to have your existing mouthpiece bored out
to use on a large bore instrument, otherwise the tuning will
be wrong.
Unfortunately this is not a reversable process so you'd
have to sure of your decision!
Jamie Talbot
London-UK
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2007-06-02 12:21
Despite the missives from more qualified players that say it can't be done, I've played many "medium-large" (.593") bore Boosey & Hawkes clarinets using any and all of my large collection of "standard bore" mouthpieces, with no modifications needed. Perhaps I play wildly out of tune and can't hear it (having potatoes in my ears, after all) and my stand-mates are too polite to say anything to me -- or perhaps it's a non-issue?
Alexi, my free advice would be to just play the mouthpiece you like on the clarinet you like. You and your ear will make the required minor intonation adjustments needed (if any).
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-06-02 12:38
I've used standard (not bored up) Selmer and Vandoren mouthpieces with my large bore Selmers.
Although they do have some intonation issues, they can be dealt with by using resonance and corrective fingerings and embouchure adjustments.
But do at least try large bore clarinets with your standard set-up to see how they compare to narrow bore ones. As I've said many times, my former clarinet teacher was impressed with the ease in which the altissimo register was on my Selmers in comparison to his Buffet RC.
Just before I sold my B&H 1010, I let a B&H 926 player use it at a rehearsal. He was impressed with how cleanly it played a sustained throat Bb using the standard fingering, as opposed to using the side key which he uses on his 926. Just one aspect of the 1010 he liked, and how light it was in comparison to his 926.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-06-02 16:12
Ridenour bored out three M13s to go with my Concerto, which was very sharp and since been sold. My Ridenour clarinets TR147s and Ariosos play in tune with unbored M13s.
richard smith
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Author: Dano
Date: 2007-06-02 17:03
I have played with all types of mouthpieces on my Selmer CT. I think matching the bore and mouthpiece may bring out the best of a large bore clarinet but I don't believe it is a requierment to be able to sound in tune. I have never noticed a problem using small bore mouthpieces with the CT. Like David S. said, maybe I can't hear it and my fellow musicians have not said anything.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2007-06-02 23:58
I've used many MPs with my Selmer 9 and Leblanc Dynamic 2. Both played fine.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2007-06-03 14:34
Many wide bore clarinets will fair reasonably well with "standard " mouthpieces, while narrower bore clarinets seem to prefer a less of a mismatch.
Consider the addition of a small tuning ring beneath the mouthpiece (at the top of the barrel) as a corrective maneuver if needed.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-06-03 16:10
Would a large bore clarinet be able to be sent to a good technician with a small bore mouthpiece and would that technician be able to better tune the clarinet with the small bore mouthpiece? Example: I know people like Tom Ridenour, Morrie Backun, and others can undercut and adjust tone holes and pad heights to better tune a clarinet. Would they be able to do the same with a large bore? I know the best option would be to ask them, but I don't have a large bore clarinet so I really don't want to bother them for nothing.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2007-06-03 17:48
> "I know people like Tom Ridenour, Morrie Backun, and others can undercut and adjust tone holes and pad heights to better tune a clarinet. Would they be able to do the same with a large bore"? <
Large bore clarinets are different by design than the smaller bore with undercut tone holes instruments. You can't just take a large bore clarinet and undercut the tone holes. It would be completely wrong! Large bore instruments are bore dominated instruments and are tuned by altering the bore and not by undercutting the tone holes. Sure, you can do some tone hole tuning adjustments by enlarging them etc. but not by undercutting.
What's your small bore mouthpiece? Selmer C85? Riffault from the 70's?
Most of the standard mouthpieces out there are actually big bore mouthpieces. Vintage Selmer mouthpiece bore varies from 14.92 mm – 15.16 mm. Old Woodwind Co. clarinet mouthpieces are definitely 'large bore' mpcs. Most of Vandoren mpc have a 15.00 mm bore. Zinner varies from 14.94mm -15.06 mm. Yamaha 'Custom' 15mm -15.21mm. etc. I would guess that about 80% of all mouthpieces today are large bore mouthpieces.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2007-06-03 17:55
I've found that very mild undercutting (actually 'radiussing', to be accurate) can be effective with large bore clarinets to reduce or eliminate stuffiness on individual notes. But in a general sense Vytas is correct that large-scale undercutting is not advisable with these instruments.
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2007-06-03 18:44
I'd give it a try with your current mouthpiece, and if it doesn't tune well, try larger bore mouthpieces, such as the ones suggested by Vytas. If you have the mouthpiece reamed, it will have a huge effect on the overall playability of the mouthpiece. The resistance will change, as will the tone quality. The bore and the chamber have to be fitted to one another.
Chris
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