 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Titus
Date: 2014-04-29 06:37
Hey guys,
I'm a somewhat advanced high school student looking for a barrel upgrade. I play on the intermediate Buffet France model.
I've been looking to order the Fobes Barrel for some time now. However, he no longer offers a trial on his website. How good is the quality control for his barrels? I tried someone's out and it played well, but I don't want to get one that sounds too radically different.
Thanks!
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-04-29 08:15
Hi, Titus:
Clark Fobes' products are available from dealers who do offer a return policy, such as The Woodwind & Brasswind, which offers a 45-day return window. You could order more than one barrel, keep the best one, and send the rest back.
Cheers,
Greg
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Author: Ed
Date: 2014-04-29 16:07
Clark does great work and is quite consistent. Even so, wood varies and different environments may cause it to change slightly. The best bet would be to order 3 for trial from Muncy, WWBW or other and find the one that best matches your instrument, mouthpiece and style.
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Author: Cory
Date: 2014-04-29 17:17
I recently purchased a mouthpiece and barrel from Clark Fobes, no trial period, no return. I do not like the barrel design because it overhangs the clarinet and moisture seeps out towards the thumb key. I frequently swab out during playing and I shake out the barrel/mouthpiece before reassembling. The barrel does not feel loose on the clarinet.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2014-04-29 18:14
A barrel made of hard rubber or various types of plastic, if the manufacturing process is precise, will have less variability. It will also change less with time, temperature and use. And, it might have a sound that you prefer to wood ... it's all what works for you.
I played a Scott barrel made of nylon with an Vandoren M13 for years on my Buffet R13. The barrel made a nice difference in tuning and also made my tone a bit more mellow. And, I didn't have to worry about my saliva damaging the bore of the barrel. In contrast, I used a standard bore stock Buffet barrel with my Charlie Bay H1, because the Scott made the high register flat ...
You may find a hard rubber/plastic barrel that has similar acoustics to the Fobes ... if you like the Fobes. And generally speaking, the non-wood items will be less expensive.
Clark Fobes makes amazing stuff, and his QC is very good. He is a serious and completely trustworthy designer/technician/artist.
Tom
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2014-04-30 00:22
I'm very happy with my Fobes barrel. I've also used (or recommended) his Debut clarinet and sax mouthpieces, and have yet to see one that isn't of the highest quality.
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Author: Filettofish
Date: 2014-04-30 02:30
I haven't tried a Fobes barrel, but I'll definitely attest to the quality even put into all Fobes products. If you're looking into a new wood barrel, you should also research Morrie Backun's line of barrels.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2014-04-30 09:05
The Fobes policy is absolutely no "duds" come out of his workshop. If it isn't first-rate, it won't leave that workshop. He manages to fulfil that desire.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: efsf081
Date: 2014-05-01 03:24
Clark Fobes provide hard rubber lined barrel now. You may try this if you afraid of the wood varies. ruben wrote:
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Author: Tom Ridenour
Date: 2014-05-01 06:32
Clark is a top notch craftsman; very thoughtful in his approach to all things clarinet. He's also a top notch player which is extremely important when making mouthpieces, barrels, etc.
This is a summary of what Tom has said about Clark on several different occasions over the years.
Ted Ridenour
Ridenour Clarinet Products,
rclarinetproducts.com
sales@ridenourclarinetproducts.com
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Author: Bill Patry
Date: 2014-05-01 06:57
Clark is a pleasure to deal with, and everything of his I have bought -- many mouthpieces and reeds, have always been top quality. He's a great guy too.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-05-05 08:50
Can you clarify tis a little? What do you mean you say the barrel "overhangs" the clarinet? How does the barrel design connect to your having to swab (we all have to do this)?
"The barrel does not feel loose on the clarinet." If you mean the cork on the tenon is too thick for the barrel, this can be easily remedied. Clark has no way to know how thick a cork the barrel will need to fit.
Karl
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Author: Cory
Date: 2014-05-05 17:22
Karl: What I mean by the "barrel overhangs" the clarinet is that the exterior of the barrel is larger than the tenon, i.e. the design of the barrel. When I swabbed out the clarinet and gave the mouthpiece/barrel a shake and reassembled, is when I saw water seeping out from the connection of the barrel to the tenon and trickling down towards the register key. It is possible that shaking out the mouthpiece/barrel left water in the connection to the clarinet. The cork on the tenon is fine and the barrel fits perfectly.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-05-05 20:39
Cory wrote:
> Karl: What I mean by the "barrel overhangs" the clarinet is
> that the exterior of the barrel is larger than the tenon, i.e.
> the design of the barrel.
Do you mean the outside of the barrel is larger than the outside of the clarinet?
> When I swabbed out the clarinet and
> gave the mouthpiece/barrel a shake and reassembled, is when I
> saw water seeping out from the connection of the barrel to the
> tenon and trickling down towards the register key.
Why do you swab the clarinet and not the barrel (you give the mouthpiece/barrel only a shake)? I'm not sure how the barrel's design would cause this? The only way to completely get rid of all standing moisture anywhere in the clarinet (mouthpiece to bell) other than leaving it out long enough for everything to evaporate is to swab. Shaking won't get rid of all the water, although it may cause the water to move down toward the end of the bore.
It isn't that I want you to love Fobes barrels, necessarily. I don't have any personal connection to Clark's products other than owning several. I only found it puzzling when you wrote "I do not like the barrel design because..." and then cited three reasons, two of which, I think, if I've understood you correctly, have nothing to do with the design of the barrel.
Karl
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Author: Cory
Date: 2014-05-05 22:20
Karl, yes, the outside of the barrel is larger than the outside of the clarinet. Why would I keep the barrel attached to the clarinet when swabbing out during a brief break during playing and risk having to check and adjust the reed if necessary. I have never had the problem I wrote about with the stock barrel of a clarinet or with two other handcrafted barrels that I have. What I have written is what I found with the Clark Fobes barrel and my opinion. I too have found Clark Fobes to be great to deal with and his service is the best. Unfortunately, his policy is no trial period and no return, and I accepted that.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2014-05-05 23:00
From what you describe, I would have a tech look at the instrument to be sure that the corks are sealing. It may be possible that somehow the joint leaks. I have not know of any issue like this with any barrels, Fobes or other.
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Author: Cory
Date: 2014-05-05 23:33
Ed: The clarinet is a Buffet Festival less than two years old. I hardly think the corks aren't sealing or the joint leaks.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2014-05-06 02:10
I have seen weirder things happen. Age of the instrument and cork does not matter. I am merely trying to help and offer suggestions. If you care to disregard it, that is fine.
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