 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2014-02-21 21:23
We all know every Buffet model has its distinctive character, but what about their bells? I wonder are they all the same mass produced ones or are they different on each model?
Josh
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2014-02-22 15:06
I'm sorry Donald, do you mean they are all the same or differnent on each model?
Josh
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2014-02-23 02:39
Portnoy would try many bells at Buffet factory for an R13
richard smith
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-02-22 21:46
Bb and A bells are also different lengths on pro Buffets - the A bells are longer.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: donald
Date: 2014-03-04 06:58
I was being deliberately obtuse and for that I appologise.
Of course all the bells are different as has been pointed out by BB members with better manners than I.
- R 13 is designed with a pronounced (and obvious if you look/feel) "choke", much discussed on this board. This is a sudden reduction in bore circumference at the bell socket and is often visible. This may be "out of round" (ie, not concentric) due to poor machining or joint/cork swelling. *I believe* this (essentially the lining up of the lower joint and bell) to explain why SOME players find they can improve the response/tone of some notes by rotating the bell. This practise is mostly done by players of R13- the clarinet with the pronounced choke....
- RC originally had less choke *I believe* (have seen different versions, not sure if some were "adjusted"). More than one R13 I have examined (via pro players in USA) had the bell reamed to be more like the RC, and the entrance choke reduced and/or made more concentric. The only RC I have owned (an A clarinet) had NO CHOKE, and I am certain it was the original bell, unadjusted. EVERY R 13 I've owned had the choke except one worked on/tuned by Moennig (and the reaming of the bell was obvious if you looked).
- Later (more reccent) RC bells have an indentation (sometimes called the "egg shape" I think) that runs the circumference of the bore, INSIDE the bell. I don't know if this type of bell also has a choke or if this matches the R13, but I doubt it.
- Tosca bell not only doesn't have a choke, but often a sudden jump (wider bore) in the bore where the bell meets the bottom joint. *I believe* the contour inside the bell to be less curved, more linear.
In addition to these differences, yes the bells are different lengths (as are the bottom joints of the clarinets) and there are different designs between A and B flat clarinets.
I use *I believe* to make it clear that these are points I can't be 100% sure of (and/or don't have lots of evidence)
I hope this was more helpful than my previous post
dn
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Author: Slowoldman
Date: 2014-03-06 01:54
Donald,
I play a 1969 (approx.) R-13 and have wondered about the visible reduction of bore size in the bell that you refer to as a "choke". What is the reason for this bore reduction in the design of the R-13?
If it is excessive, can it cause problems?
I have indeed noted a difference in my sound if I rotate the bell. Should it be reamed? (What would be the pro's and con's?)
Thank you.
Amateur musician, retired physician
Delaware Valley Wind Symphony, clarinet 1
Bucks County Symphony Orchestra, clarinet 2 (sub)
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2014-03-06 04:48
I understand that the reason for the choke is to introduce an impedance mismatch at this specific point and cause some of the wave energy to be reflected back up the bore. It is an integral part of the acoustic design of many clarinets (and has been for a very long time) and really should not be tampered with unknowingly.
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Author: donald
Date: 2014-03-06 04:21
I agree with Mr Smale, however you can tamper with it "reversably" by trying other bells. A couple of R13 and Festival players I know currently use Tosca Bells as these have no "choke". My personal opinion is that this makes the clarinet feel too "empty" (in fact, that is what I don't like about the Tosca design, though my current A clarinet is a Tosca). I've only really heard of 2 people who would/could ream a bell, both have passed away (Yan/Moennig) but i recall Dan Paprocki having this done to his R13 A clarinet many years ago- not sure who did this work for him.
Could be interesting to experiment with if you had extra bells lying around that you didn't need/use, but there are probably better ways to spend your time!
Many years ago I had an R13 B flat and Yamaha Custom 85-2 A clarinet as my main pair, and I miraculously discovered that each instrument played better with the other's bell (the Yamaha benefited from more choke, the Buffet from less). This was audible to several people I played them to, but the main difference was the "feel" I experienced as a player.
These days I try to spend as much time as possible playing and less time fiddling around.
dn
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