 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2014-11-01 17:12
I just bought a new (to me) R13, which appears to have been made around 1998. It came with a Moennig barrel which I measure as 67 mm overall length including the rings. Mostly it plays in tune, but I do need to make sure I voice a few notes up to pitch at A-440. I suspect a 66 mm barrel would be standard and might give me a little headroom for the pitch.
My teacher has an older R13, with a standard Buffet barrel. I measure his at 66 mm overall. When I tried it on my clarinet, it did not push on all the way. I think it may have bottomed out on the tenon on the upper joint before the barrel and upper joint rings met on the outside. I didn't see any other obstruction, but I did not really try to force it farther on. The fit was fine as far as the diameter goes, and the mouthpiece fit fine on the other side of the barrel.
I also tried a brand new E11 barrel, which was 64.5 mm, and not helpful. I think E11's have a wider bore anyway, but I'm not sure if the barrels are supposed to be the same or not.
So, the question is... what's up with Buffet barrels? One size does not fit all? If I were to order a new production barrel (standard, Moennig, or Chadash) would it fit correctly on my R13?
Jim C.
CT, USA
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-11-01 18:02
Buffet barrels are pretty consistent (particularly the ages to which you refer). My guess is the wood is binding (either the interior of that barrel or the top of that clarinet's tenon).
Having a pitch that is too low is NOT a good thing (but keep in mind your pitch will be lower this time of year......cool air = flatter pitch).
Depending on your mouthpiece/reed set-up and how you play, you may want to try a 65mm while you're at it just to be sure, but the 66mm should be ok.
And speaking of pitch tendencies, I tried some Chadash Buffet barrels that sounded just great, but the throat "A" and "Bb" needed so much added adjustment to bring the pitch down I gave up on them.
What was it about the E11 barrel that didn't work?
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: pewd
Date: 2014-11-02 06:40
And good repair tech. can fix a binding barrel with a piece of sandpaper in a few minutes. I do that all the time for students.
E11's are pitched at a-442, thus the short 64.5 mm barrel.
66mm is standard on new R13s.
I have a custom 65mm which I prefer, as my mouthpiece is a tad on the flat side.
I keep a 67mm around, but rarely use it unless its extremely warm which makes most clarinets sharp.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2014-11-03 01:26
The E11 and R13 are totally different acoustic designs so interchanging their barrels is not a really good idea. Of course there is nothing to stop you trying and see what happens but don't be surprised if it doesn't work.
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2014-11-03 05:54
I know I tried the E11 barrel, but I don't remember the result I got. I'm sure it didn't work well. It might have been extremely sharp.
I ordered a 65 mm Moennig barrel today from Weiner Music. Should have it in a few days. I figure that should fix it, even if I need to pull it out a little.
Jim C.
CT, USA
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2014-11-06 08:25
And the answer is...
I received my 65 mm Moennig R13 barrel today. It raises the pitch nicely. After a few minutes as the instrument warms up, I need to pull it out a little. Once fully warmed up, the 67 mm barrel also plays pretty much in tune, so maybe for practice purposes I would have been ok without the new one. When I perform, however, the instrument is almost always cold when I pick it up to play, so I will be taking advantage of the shorter one.
The fit and the sound, by the way, are fine. Now I need a nice case with room for the second barrel and an extra lig.
Jim
Jim C.
CT, USA
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