 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2013-01-04 01:59
I know that when shopping for after market barrels, the make/model of the clarinet matters (ie: Selmer vs Yamaha/Buffet/LeBlanc). Does the same hold true for bells, or is a bell interchangeable between the Big 4 (or anything else, for that matter)? I'm looking to eventually replace the bell on my Buffet R13A clarinet not because I'm looking for any kind of sound change, but because the metal bell ring on the bottom has a sharp edge because of wood contraction. Plus, I've had problems with that bell sometimes getting stuck ever since I had a crack filled in the tenon socket. So, I'm hoping to get a bell that's made without any rings on it (such as a Backun bell or something synthetic).
Thanks!
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-01-04 02:13
May respectfully suggest that you take it to a good repairperson who can sand a little wood off the tenon to prevent sticking and to fix the bell ring as needed. The R13 bells are fine but you could check the alignment for best sound by rotating the bell to different positions. Often, the Buffet factory has aligned bells before putting the trademark on them. Good luck!
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-01-04 02:31
Are you sure the ring isn't just on upside down? Maybe came off one day and was put back the wrong way? Many tenon rings are beveled on one edge and flat on the other. The flat edge is meant to be exposed at the end of the tenon. If it's on backward, you'd feel the sharper edge of the bevel and a space between it and the tenon wood.
If that doesn't explain the problems, I'd second Wes's suggestion to have a good tech repair the bell you have.
Karl
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2013-01-04 03:20
It's not the tenon ring, it's the ring on the bottom.
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2013-01-04 04:07
As is the case with barrels, Backun makes a distinction between Buffet/Leblanc/Yamaha bells and Selmer bells. The primary difference appears to be due to differences in the length (and perhaps diameter) of the lower joint tenons on Selmer's newer models. A Backun Selmer bell would thus probably not be a good choice for your Buffet clarinet. Your best bet, however, would be to contact the bell maker.
Note that, although Buffet makes a distinction between bells for its Bb clarinets and bells for its A clarinets, Backun does not.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2013-01-04 17:19
With many clarinets the entrance bore diameter is carefully sized to produce an acoustic choke.
I would expect that the bell design is an integral and unique part of any specific quality clarinet
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2013-01-04 19:30
I have a Buffet RC with the barely visible "hollowed out" section just below the bottom of the lower joint.
I've swapped that bell to other instruments and other bells to the RC.
I can't tell much difference --certainly NOT $450 worth of difference.
Bob Phillips
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-01-04 19:48
I have two large coffee cans filled with an assortment of soprano clarinet bells, and sometimes I'll go through them and try them on the latest clarinet I've been working on (those bells that fit the bell tenon, that is). The effect they have, if any, is mostly on intonation of the low E and F and to a much lesser extent the corresponding upper 12ths (low clarion B/C). I haven't heard significant differences in tone quality or any other characteristic from switching bells around, but it is nice to be able to sometimes swap bells to help correct the aforementioned intonation issue. I would NEVER pay big bucks for anybody's fancy-schmancy bell, but to each his/her own.
Re: bass clarinet bells --- same story (though I have far fewer spares to mess around with).
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2013-01-04 20:29
David Spiegelthal wrote:
> I haven't heard significant differences in tone quality
> or any other characteristic from switching bells around, but it
> is nice to be able to sometimes swap bells to help correct the
> aforementioned intonation issue. I would NEVER pay big bucks
> for anybody's fancy-schmancy bell, but to each his/her own.
>
I wish I could remember who said it but several months ago there was a thread regarding the usefulness of these super-expensive aftermarket bells and one poster here claimed that they made you play with more emotion. The logic behind the statement was something like this:
"You put the new bell on your clarinet and begin to play but soon realize that there is no real difference in your sound. This realization makes you angry because you just paid a lot of money for the new bell. These feelings of anger then cause you to play with more emotion."
Post Edited (2013-01-04 20:30)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-01-04 21:23
Call me weird, but I use the stock barrels and bells my clarinets came with.
I also use the stock headjoints my piccolo, flute, alto and bass flutes came with too, as well as the stock crooks my alto clarinet, basset horn and bass clarinet, as well as my alto, tenor and bari saxes and oboe, cor, bassoon and contrabassoon came with. I do happen to use a Howarth crook with my Marigaux oboe d'amore, but I still have the originals and use them from time to time.
Can you believe that? Incredible, I know.
I must be mental or something!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2013-01-04 21:28)
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2013-01-05 00:55
My stock bell cuts me, that's the only reason I'm looking to replace it.
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2013-01-05 04:04
gsurosey wrote:
> My stock bell cuts me, that's the only reason I'm looking to
> replace it.
>
Wouldn't it be easier to just dress down the sharp edge with jeweler's file instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a new bell?
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2013-01-05 14:27
If I could find a way to do it myself without wrecking anything (both the sharp ring and tenon socket), then yes, it would be easier and cheaper. I don't really have access to any tools and this isn't something I'm going to take care of anytime soon. I just had some work done (a couple new tenon corks on my A clarinet and corks/alignment of bridge keys of both my Bb and A), so my get-work-done budget is exhausted for a few months. So, whether I go with bell replacement or bell repair, neither one will happen until this summer most likely. I'm just gathering ideas at this point.
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: Bill
Date: 2013-01-05 18:17
A sad state of affairs when you buy a new Buffet clarinet and have then to buy a barrel and bell. In fact, there was a time (long ago) when you didn't even have to replace the mouthpiece.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2013-01-11 18:28
For the record, Gsurosey, my Festival A bell has the same sharp edge you describe. If you have a repairman you trust, walk it past him; it is probably a minor and inexpensive fix.
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Author: LCullman
Date: 2013-01-14 18:55
Yep, my new R13 came with a razor edge to the bell trim. A local clarinet tech set it right for $50.00. Buffet never responded to my complaint. So much for the "warranty."
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