 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2012-03-10 20:47
When searching for the serial number of a recent post, I plugged in my A and Bb R13s just for fun (mostly to see how far apart in age they are; turned out to be 14 months).
Interestingly, my Bb serial number came up as BCF1131.NI. What does the F mean? Could that mean that my Bb clarinet is in fact pitched at 442 instead of 440? That actually would make sense to me (that clarinet plays a lot sharper than my A using the same mouthpiece and 64mm barrel).
I could probably use my Vandoren M13 on my Bb in orchestra and get away with it, but it's way too flat to use to with my A, so I only use the M13 in lessons and when playing with piano. I use a Fobes CWF in orchestra (both good mouthpieces IMO).
Thanks!
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: genekeyes ★2017
Date: 2012-03-10 21:18
BC stands for Buffet Crampon.......I'm not sure about the F.
11 means it is a Bb instrument and the 31 means it is an R13. NI means the keys are nickel plated.
Stock barrel for that clarinet was a 66mm so a 64 is kind a little on the short side. Stock for the A would have been 65mm. 64mm is it also a little short for the A but A and Bb barrels have different dimensions so using a Bb barrel on an A clarinet could possibly be another reason for the pitch discrepancies. Your mouthpiece, reeds, embouchure as well as the characteristics of the particular instruments also play a part in the pitch differences.
It's also been my experience that the M13 tends to play on the low side..esp in the throat register........this is not meant to be a criticism of the mpc....just how it reacts for me with my setup.
Post Edited (2012-03-10 21:33)
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2012-03-10 21:54
I knew about the other numbers, but I'd never seen an F in the middle before. The only F reference I knew (or thought I knew) was than an F preceding the actual serial number meant that the clarinet was pitched at 442.
I bought my as a set on the auction site a few years ago. There were 2 barrels: a Moennig barrel that's stamped '1130 640' (R13 64mm) and a Chadash barrel stamped 660 with a B (66mm Bb clarinet) on it. The Moennig barrel has 2 cracks running along the interior, so I don't use it. It's also out of round in the bottom socket (I had a tuning ring that wouldn't go it because it would catch sideways). The Chadash was shortened before I got it (the numbers are different, but when you put the barrels side by side, they're the exact same length).
I can't spring for a new barrel right now, so what I have will have to do for now. When I can, I'll have to get something that's not specific to Bb or A because I can't swap just the mouthpiece without all hell breaking loose. That's why I need something short enough to play the A in tune; I can pull out and/or lip down on the Bb, but I can't lip pitches up.
Your experience with the M13 rings true for me, too. I had hoped Vandoren would make an M13 that wasn't series 13, but there are no such plans (that's what they recently told me via e-mail).
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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