 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jbosacki
Date: 2012-12-11 04:05
I have an inquiry and want to see if anyone can help me.
I read a few years ago about how due to wear and tear, cleaning it swabbing it with the combination of the acid in your spit, a clarinet barrel (any type) should be replaced every 5 years or so because the measurements are so precise. I've spoken to a few clarinet professionals that agreed around the same aspect.
As a side note not relating to this topic I was discussing I have a buffet Festival with a 660 Backun Tradition.
What are your takes on how often a clarinet barrel should be replaced?
Also take into account a side if money was no object, to keep your clarinet in ideal condition.
-Jeff
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-12-11 04:29
Personally, I would not replace a barrel unless there was a specific reason to do so, for example if my present barrel was not delivering the sound that I wanted. Apart from cracking or similar mechanical damage I've never yet come across a barrel that was in need of replacement due to the rigors of playing and cleaning.
Tony F.
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Author: reed and MP dude
Date: 2012-12-11 05:28
How did you choose this barrel your first time? For sound, intonation, something else?
My concern would be these 2; sound and intonation. If the barrel and the clarinet in general are playing the way you want I'd keep it, but add another barrel.
However musicians are often looking for something different. I have 11 barrels. Too many actually. They all work very well. So for me it is related to the size of the barrels, such as 440 or 442. A short barrel and the long barrels need to tune properly throughout the horn. Why so many barrels? Weather mainly. Dry winter upstate Michigan weather V/S Florida type of weather. I travel a lot. If you don't travel much I think you should pick up a second barrel. Not only for what I've said, but for cracks.
Do you have an "A" clarinet, a "Bb" clarinet? I think you need 2 or 3 barrels per horn mainly for tuning. Then pick your favorite barrels for sound and intonation when buying another one.
I just read what Tony F said. We pretty much said the same thing.
A and Bb r13's new.
Bb r13 1963 backup
Vandoren 56
Ciaccia custom mouthpiece
1.07mm facing amazing mouthpiece
2 Kaspers as spares
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-12-11 15:16
Jbosacki wrote:
> I read a few years ago about how due to wear and tear, cleaning
> it swabbing it with the combination of the acid in your spit, a
> clarinet barrel (any type) should be replaced every 5 years or
> so because the measurements are so precise. I've spoken to a
> few clarinet professionals that agreed around the same aspect.
>
There are a number of prominent players who have suggested that the entire clarinet should be replaced every few year. If I recall correctly Harold Wright once said that he considered the useful life of a clarinet to be about 7 years.
At any rate I think this is nonsense. I will point to the countless number of vintage clarinets (many of them decades old) that are still being actively played as evidence to support my opinion. Given proper maintenance there is no reason why a barrel cannot be used for as long as the clarinet remains in service.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2012-12-11 15:29
Some great points above. I agree that there is no need to change the equipment unless you find that it is failing you in some way (tone, pitch, response, etc) I would not change anything because of a timeline.
I have heard many times of Wright or other players opinions on the life of equipment. Very few of us play as much as Wright or at his level. I am sure his needs were different than most of us.
In short, do what works for you.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2012-12-11 16:06
Is there a specific problem with your current barrel?
Have you tried others?
Disclaimer: I make and sell custom barrels and was involved in the design of an aftermarket production barrel for which I receive ongoing compensation.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Jbosacki
Date: 2012-12-12 07:49
No. There's noting wrong with my current Barrel. I love my current barrel and I've had it for about 6 years now, I have no plan to really replace it.
I was asking for the sake of curiosity and getting a new opinion.
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Author: Jbosacki
Date: 2012-12-12 07:54
reed and MP dude:
I do in fact have an A clarinet, but for it I use The standard 650 barrel that came with it. My goal is to replace that with the same as I have on my Bb for intonation and keeping a similar sound between my clarinets.
I would love to experiment with a few different barrels, having different ones for changes in climate would be nice. Right now I have a 660 Backun Traditional. A 660 and 650 Festival that came with my Bb and a 640 chadash that came with my A. The 640 is a bit too much for me both sound wise and intonation wise so I hardly use it.
I asked the question above for the state of my own curiosity, but I appreciate everyone's opinion and will keep it in mind if this ever comes up again!
-Jeff
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2012-12-12 13:39
OK. got it now.........
If you are looking to alter the sonority or match you A and Bb more closely, then experimentation is good.
In all likelihood, the A barrel that you eventually select with have a slightly narrower bore than the Bb (excepting some notable models). You might consider a trial of different woods.(True ebony, Kingwood, rosewood, cocobolo), and some synthetics for good measures
Also, change the axis of the barrel (logo in front, back, side position) that you currently have and check the result. Keep an open mind (and wallet ![[happy]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley12.gif) )
The previous disclaimer still applies.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-12-12 17:51
I'm surprised that anyone insists on replacing barrels at any set time interval who doesn't also subscribe to the "blowout" theory and replace his/her entire instrument on a schedule. And if you're going to replace the instrument, a new barrel will come with it.
Karl
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Author: whonderwhy797
Date: 2012-12-12 18:06
Karl,
What is the "blowout" theory? Is it the theory that over time the bore gets "blown out" by all the playing you've done?
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-12-12 18:34
whonderwhy797 wrote:
> What is the "blowout" theory? Is it the theory that over time
> the bore gets "blown out" by all the playing you've done?
I touched on this a bit earlier in the thread. There are a some people who claim that after a certain amount of time the playing quality of a wooden instrument will beging to decline and that as a result it will no longer be a viable instrument and should be replaced. This phenomenon is most frequently described as the instrument being "blown out".
There has never been a consensus about what causes "blow out" or whether it even exists but there have been many theories put forward. Some claim that over time the structure of the wood starts to break down and the instrument becomes less resonant. Some claim that over time moisture from the players breath causes the bore to change and ruins the intonation. Still others claim that years of running a cleaning swab down the clarinet will erode the bore and ruin intonation.
I don't subscribe to the "blow out" theory but there have been numerous prominent figures in the clarinet world that have endorsed it. It's one of the handful of never-ending arguments among clarinet players.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-12-12 18:41
The specific claim about condensation being a factor sounds too suspect to be considered legitimate. If you look down the inside of your clarinet after playing a bit, the whole bore is pretty wet and a majority of it tends more down around the center. Of course I don't see how acidity (and I'm a top acidic person ruining keys left and right) would negatively effect wood (which is treated with oil anyway).
The "blow-out" can occur over longer periods of time perhaps 10-15 years but this is (and it seems more likely to me the older I get) perhaps a function of the bore becoming less round as the wood eventually "warps" into a more oval configuration (much more likely an effect than being eaten away). This then can be remedied by a very skilled craftsmen carefully reboring the instrument (rather than chucking it for a new one).
....................Paul Aviles
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