 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-04-08 14:41
When shopping for a new Leblanc Symphonie VII (the new rosewood Bb with Ricardo Morales help to design), my dealer had the Leblanc rep bring several for me to take home and play until I chose one. He said, "You might switch bells and barrels around until you get the best sound. That's what happens when pros come to the factory to select an instrument."
So, I tried several bells and several barrels until I got the best intonation, tone, projection, etc. on my new Symphonie VII. Oh, sweet, sweet clarinet!!!!
I was totally surprised at the difference made by changing the bell.
I noticed also that Woodwind and Brasswind has an Accubore clarinet bell for sale and I was wondering if anyone had used one? I'm thinking it would greatly improve student instruments to change out the barrels and bells for better ones when they have a mediocre or worn-out instrument.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-04-08 16:56
Brenda--Have you ever tried rotating the bell, by small degrees, to find the position at which it plays best? The same for the barrel? FYI--it worked wonders for my Concertos. I think, however, that, as so many are giving the rosewood clarinets such rave reviews, I will be making an appointment to go down to LeBlanc and try a few Symp. VII's for myself. Thanks for your report and good clarineting!!!!!!!!
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-04-08 17:29
I read somewhere that at the factory for some makes of clarinet, the play tester selects the best "available" bell for the clarinet. The same book said that the maker's logo should be facing forward and centered. If this it correct, then this would be the "course" adjustment, and the bell could be "fine" tuned as William describes.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-04-08 20:04
Yes, you're correct. They are play tested and the logo is supposed to go where the "sweet spot" falls. And, I must say, my Symphonie VII couldn't be improved. But, I was curious about enhancing the sound from some of the intermediate clarinets I sometimes buy for students.
I may purchase one of the Accubore bells just to see what happens. I'll report.
But, the Symphonie VII still was improved with an Opus Moennig barrel. Sadly, they don't make the Symphonie VII rosewood barrel with the Moennig taper. That would probably be great.
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Author: Nate Zeien
Date: 2001-04-08 23:21
Brenda, you are correct. The Accubore products do greatly improve a student model instrument. Before I bought my R-13, I played on a 25+ year old Vito with an Accubore barrel and bell. This improved the intonation, resistance, and tone of the instrument greatly. Yet, I do not use them with my R-13. This is because I prefer the tone quality of the wooden barrel and bell, over their metal counterparts. In my opinion, it just lacks that warm and woody sound. As far as the effects of the Accubore bell on my Vito, it allows for more projecton of sound, and greatly improves stuffy lower right hand notes. The barrel helps the tone quality and resistance, as well as the throat tones. As I said, I still prefer the rich woody sound of the grenadilla of my R-13. Another thing to keep in mind, as these parts are metal, they will add weight to the instrument. I know from experience that a clarinet with Accubore barrel, bell, and a crystal mouthpiece makes for one heck of a heavy instrument! -- Nate Zeien
PS -- If you want a more detailed description of the Accubore products and their effects, just let me know. I tried to keep it short in the above post.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-04-09 02:16
Accubore barrel and bell are made of metals(aluminum?). Is this right?
Because of high heat conduction/dissipation rate of aluminum, their shapes do not change so much. I remember someone asked the same question in Klarinet mailing list about their bells. You may better search postings.
(My faint memory: someone may have mailed in extream environmental conditions the lower joint and barrel connection became too tight - wooden swells and bell's bore unchanged. )
I once tried their barrel. It surely made my tones somewhat solid. But I prefer my present Chadash barrel. It changed my tone quality itself.
Muncy sells a wooden bell(with ring or without ring) although I do not know whether they make one for Leblanc concerto. But theirs are more expensive than Accubore bell.
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Author: Nate Zeien
Date: 2001-04-09 05:47
The Accubore barrels and bells are not made of aluminum. If I remember correctly, they are made of white brass. I forget the exact makeup of the alloy, though. -- Nate Zeien
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2001-04-09 14:49
Nate, I have a feeling there will be responses from all the chemists/scientists/ on this board....what exactly is meant by "white brass"? Accubore states in their advertisting that the barrels are made from "aluminum alloy", but who knows what is added in that "alloy".
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-04-09 16:02
I was told the aluminum alloy that Deg uses in the Accubore products is "space-age" material. Well, that could mean anything made since the early 60's. But, it is really tough stuff and is quite "weighty." That's a down side to using them.
Yes, I agree about the wood sound for the upper level professional instruments. I've tried the Eddie Daniels Accubore (orchestra model) with my wood Symphonie VII and Leblanc LL and didn't like the results. But, on the Buffet E-11 for students/intermediate players it is a miracle of improved projection and intonation.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-04-10 21:04
Brasses [in general] are high in Copper, alloyed with a variety of many metals, seemingly Aluminum in particular. I did finally find in my Chem-Physics Handbook a white brass, 50% Cu 50% Al, otherwise there are reds and yellows of differing compositions. I had begun to think that the "white" might be a "German" [nickel] "silver" [Cu-Zn-Ni, many compositions!]. To pursue this further, go to the barrel maker [or thru him to the metal supplier!!] .Luck, Don
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