 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2001-05-12 12:57
I was just wondering what your opinions are on the standard 650mm barrel that comes with Buffet RC and R13 clarinets. My Festival came with two barrels and the 660 is fine, but the RC only came with the one - a 650, and I have a terrible time playing in tune with it. I was wondering if anyone else has this problem and if I should maybe order a longer barrel?
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Author: Leesh :-)
Date: 2001-05-12 13:49
Hey!
I had the same problem with my A (R13) clarinet for about a year (using the 650 barrel). When I changed mouthpieces last year (Fobes) it helped the tuning a lot. Now that I am using a Greg Smith mouthpiece I am almost under 440. I think it also has to do with the amount of time you spend playing your A. Now that I am using mine all of the time I think I have also become more use to the tuning on it. I would persist with the bad tuning for a little longer, I wanted to burn my A at one stage because I was so frustrated with it but now I love it to bits. Have you tried using a 660 barrel on your A at all? Just make sure you experiment a lot before you go and buy anything new.
Leesh.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-05-12 14:50
FYI--Tuning: I recently purchased a Greg Smith Chedeville mp and found that--all of a sudden--I was playing flatter than normal. To correct this, I switched to a Chadash A-640mm for my Concerto A. In addition to improving the sound and response of the clarinet, it puts me right at A=440 when starting to play the instrument cold. As the clarinet warms, I then pull the mp a bit to maintain the pitch. On my Bb, I use the stock Concerto barrel which tunes the clarinet in a similar manner. There is nothing sacred about the length of your barrel, it is the bore demensions and taper that make the "big" difference in sound and response. You need to have a barrel of the proper length that will put you at A=440, instrument semi-cold (as in sitting on your peg while you are playing the other). Other wise, you will always play flat and out of tune as you switch back and forth. The trick is in finding out how much you have to adjust--by pulling the mp or barrel--as the instrument warms and the pitch goes up. (Listening and embouchre control is also a must). Hope this helps a bit--good clarineting!!
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Author: Aaron
Date: 2001-05-12 16:14
I have had no realy problems with the tuning on my Bb with the gerg smith mouthpiece(and it plays wonderfully by the way) but I have noticed a few little things with the A clarinet at first. It takes time to get adjusted to your A clarinet with any new mouthpiece. The tuning is going to be very different, expically if all you've played is the Bb. You are going to be playing what feels like a C on the Bb. however on the A its going to sound like a B, played on the Bb clarinet. This is going to make it more difficult to try to hear the pitches befoer you play them and its going to make playing difficult. However with using the "p" word..practice, it all get better.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2001-05-13 02:20
For some reason Buffet still provides two barrels for the festival and only one for the r13 & prestige but you can order whatever length you want as an accessory, bizarre but not unexpected ot of a large corporation. Get a new barrel I reckon somebody has to keep the economy ticking over, be prepared to pay.
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Author: Gregory Smith
Date: 2001-05-13 04:47
Just a point of clarification that I hope helps in this discussion.
My mouthpieces are designed to play at A = 440 with standard length barrels - 66mm Bb and 65mm A.
To play my mouthpieces at A = 442, one would play 1mm shorter barrels - 65mm Bb and 64mm A.
For instance, since we at the Chicago Symphony play at A = 442, I have a set of barrels (65 Bb and 64A) that allow me to play my mouthpiece on my Buffets at that pitch. Outside of the orchestra there are many instances when A = 440 is required (ex. playing with piano tuned to 440) and I have a seperate set of barrels that are of standard length in my clarinet case for those occasions.
Best,
GS
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