 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2012-01-02 22:21
Hello again,
I put this at the end of Brad Behn's Angled Mpc posting but received no responses, so I decided to start a new posting.
Would you please have a look at the following and give everyone your impressions and comments:
http://store.paraschos.gr/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=4
330.00EU translates out to $388.36 USD. (plus shipping)
I truly appreciate all of your insightful remarks. I view this BB as a treasure trove of people who are incredibly knowledgeable about the clarinet and all of its ever growing number of accessories.
Some questions to consider: Should Brad Behn be concerned? Do all barrels have a "sweet spot" and if so, would that present problems with this "curved" barrel?
Thanks in advance for your comments.
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Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-01-02 23:16
I'm not sure why you'd curve a barrel unneccessarily. Most curved instruments are that way because they'd be unplayable if they weren't. I think curves can mess with the lower frequencies, and could effectively break up longer waves, or at least hinder them so that the upper harmonics stand out. That being said, I guess a play test is in order.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2012-01-03 05:49
Very interesting item. If it is made to a high standard of quality it would no doubt work very well. I notice also that they have , or did have Ebonite Clarinets with silver plated keys. That's not a good combination. You'd end up in a short period of time with nicely blackened keywork.
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Author: oca
Date: 2012-01-03 07:24
Lets take a close look at the Sax as a comparison.
The gooseneck or the thing that the mouthpiece is attached to is curved like that for a reason. If it were straight, the keys might not be in reach of the player. But there is a con to this: the airflow is not direct, it has to curve and bend, producing the same resistance as you would if you were to spit water out of a bendy straw.
The bell of the saxophone has to bend because it would be inconvenient for the player; otherwise, it would be straight down by default.
The clarinet functions well as it is. There is no reason to bend any part of it. I would not think that it would contribute to a "superior" sound and the ergonomics argument for a $390 barrel is, in my opinion, irrational.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-01-03 09:07
Well the questions regarding a bent barrel are covered in the original thread. But I'll repeat my comments by saying that for a soprano clarinet the idea has no merit since the REAL reason to bring the clarinet closer in toward the body is to affect the change to how the mouthpiece is configured in your embouchure NOT to make fingering easier OR to "look at the audience."
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Ed
Date: 2012-01-03 12:21
Quote:
The curved barrel wouldn't work for those "bells up" passages some composers write.
Just turn the barrel around!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2012-01-03 14:33
"The clarinet functions well as it is." Reminds me so much of a similar sage comment about the sound of the clarinet. Straight Soprano saxophones are frequently played with curved necks.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-01-03 14:51
Acoustically, the bend is meaningless. Remember that the clarinet tone is not created when air moves down the tube, but when the vibrating reed produces sympathetic vibration in the air that's already in the tube. Long organ pipes are routinely doubled back, bassoon-style, and the bassoon itself plays nicely with a complete reversal of pipe direction. So do large clarinets, and many French horns are practically tied in knots.
There's a video of the Mozart Requiem on modern instruments by a German group. The basset horns have bent barrels, exactly like the Paraschos, and older basset horns had a "basset box" in which the tubing reversed directions several times.
The problem is that the barrel bore is crucial for playing properties. See my posting at the end of the string at http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=363345&t=363345. You can't put a reamer through a bent barrel, so the adjustment is exponentially more difficult.
The Behn Signature angled mouthpieces http://www.behnmouthpieces.info/signature.html have the bend below the baffle, in, perhaps, a less critical area. Nevertheless, even with computer-controlled equipment, these mouthpieces must be difficult to make, and he charges a substantial premium for them.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-01-03 22:10
Personally I don't see the reason for a bent barrel or mouthpiece for that matter. It just never made sense to me why someone would need it bent on such a small instrument. With that said, yes, most barrels do have a "sweet spot" so this would be a problem with that. But of course if anyone felt they needed it they could just try several and find the one that plays best as is. A person should do that anyway, always try several, actually many. ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: ClarionRegister
Date: 2012-01-03 22:14
They seem to be infatuated with new designs there wood ligature also looks very interesting
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Author: ClarionRegister
Date: 2012-01-03 22:17
They seem to be infatuated with new designs. Although, there wood ligature does seem rather interesting...
http://store.paraschos.gr/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=3
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Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-01-03 23:02
I wonder if bending the barrel wouldn't effect the tuning of the instrument? On a straight barrel, all sides are equivalent, but in a curved barrel, the bottom would have to be shorter than the top to accommodate the curve.
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2012-01-03 23:29
(Disclaimer: I study refacing with Brad and work at his table at ICA. I have no financial contract or commission for any mouthpieces sold at any time by Brad Behn, just a happy customer and student!)
A few more comments regarding the Behn Signature mouthpieces:
1. At clarinetfest (as well as when mouthpieces go out on trial) the signature -0 and -2 were almost unnoticed as being something radically different. Many times, we lined up some Vintage collection with a few of the -0's and -2's and most didn't notice anything strange. Most people did notice that they played very well and were very unique in the way they sound and feel.
2. "even with computer-controlled equipment, these mouthpieces must be difficult to make, and he charges a substantial premium for them."
Yes, this design is more complex and daring than any other mouthpiece on the market so it is more difficult to make. Each mouthpiece requires hand finishing inside and out to become the professional quality pieces that they are. Taking into account the material cost, manufacturing cost, and finishing time, the price is necessary. Reference the thread discussing the vintage collection to understand how many YEARS it took to break even, much less make a profit from producing this material and design from the ground up.
P.S. There are signature mouthpieces constructed of several other materials that are at a lower price point, but limited in quanitiy.
3. Players must understand that the playing experience on a Behn Vintage or Signature series WILL be different than anything else out there. It may require a different type of reed (3 to 3.5+ range, typically) and a bit less bite than you may be used to. It is worthwhile to try these adjustments when playing these mouthpieces to really get the best result possible.
The end result is almost always a more vibrant, resonant sound with more flexibility of sound colors that is achieved with less effort and less force.
4. My experience with the Signature collection.
I personally own two signature mouthpieces, as well as three vintage collection mouthpieces. I've been playing the signature collection since last February and have loved it! The mouthpieces allow me to achieve a wide range of tone colors and sound shapes while maintaining a vibrancy and focus. It makes achieving a very inspiring sound so much easier than any other mouthpiece I've played.
As for my experience with the angle, I wasn't even concerned about the angle when I first tried the mouthpiece. I just wanted to know how they played!
Since then, I've noticed that my head is held in a more upright position while maintaing a very comfortable and natural hand position.
The signature mouthpieces I have are of the -6 variety, which is not yet widely advertised. Every functional part of the mouthpiece from the facing to the bore to the baffle is hand finished and customized to play beautifully. Due to the nature of hand finishing and customization, every one plays differently and has its own unique voice and character.
Having these 5 Vintage and Signature collection mouthpieces, I find myself switching to one or another for a rehearsal or practice session just because it has a unique and most importantly INSPIRING voice. Going from the -6 angle to the normal +4 is no problem at all!
5. Glad these mouthpieces exhist!
I do refacing and customization on a regular basis for mouthpieces in my collection or for students\friends. I feel that if Zinners or various chedeville vintages were the best thing out there that I would be constantly adjusting mouthpieces and switching mouthpieces in search of something better.
The unique qualities of this rod rubber as well as the inspired designs by Brad Behn make them hands down better than anything I could make. While I could, and have, performed on my own mouthpieces to put them through their paces, I'm content knowing that my primary mouthpiece is going to assist me in creating an inspiring sound with ubelievable ease and flexibility that isn't achievable otherwise.
So, I would say give these mouthpieces a try. If the curved thing bothers you, try some Vintage collection. If that's too high a price point, the Behn Artist collection mouthpieces are fantastic. I would argue that just trying these mouthpieces for a week would be an inspiring experience, it certainly has been for many!
Disclaimer: I study refacing with Brad and work at his table at ICA. I have no financial contract or commission for any mouthpieces sold at any time by Brad Behn, just a happy customer and student!
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2012-01-04 05:28
Nathan,
Thank you for your long, detailed response.
Would you care to address the type of cork used on these mpcs? Several responders to my previous thread about Brad's Signature "angled" mpcs expressed displeasure and/or concern about the quality of the cork being used.
I tried to email you directly but no email address was listed.
Thank you in advance for your comments.
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