 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: MusicalMoon
Date: 2016-09-26 21:10
Hello everyone, I have been in the market recently for a new clarinet barrel for my Buffet Festival. I currently play on the stock barrel which isn't bad, but the sound is a bit bright for my taste. I have a grenadilla Backun MoBa barrel that I got for $5 from a Kessler promotion and I do not like it. It causes my sound to be buzzy and stuffy when playing in lower registers and when quiet. So does anyone have experience with some barrels that would possibly fit my needs that I should try out? I'm looking for a bit darker of a sound without sacrificing clarity of the lower register. Thanks!
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Author: Ed
Date: 2016-09-26 21:34
There are so many out there these days. Lots of people will give you suggestions based on what they like, but that may not end up being too helpful. It needs to match your mouthpiece, instrument, you and your style and taste. The results any one of us will gets will be different than yours.
You might look to one of the retailers, such as Muncy Winds and try a few of what they carry. You might also consider contact someone like Allan Segal http://www.clarinetconcepts.com who can make a very nice custom barrel to fit your needs.
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Author: ClarinettyBetty
Date: 2016-09-27 06:57
Moennig barrels have completely changed my ease of playing. Articulation in the high register, smooth feeling leaps and octaves. Moennigs feature a reverse taper to create this feel. Make sure you test a few at a time before you buy. Just like everything else clarinet, they're like snowflakes.
I also just recently dealt with Taplin and Weir. Their customer service was amazing and they sent me three Moennig-cut barrels and three Moennig cuts with the EU style (which looks like Backun but doesn't dampen the sound as much).
Happy hunting!
-----------------------
Eb: 1972 Buffet BC20
Bb: Selmer Paris Presence
A: Selmer Paris Presence
Bass: 1977 LeBlanc
https://gentrywoodwinds.com
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Author: TomS
Date: 2016-10-01 17:30
Don't forget the Ridenour barrels ... made of hard rubber and hand reamed. Two different bore designs and various lengths available. "C" bore worked wonders on my Libertas with non-13 series Vandoren MPs.
I just got several Backun ringless barrels on a closeout deal (Kessler Music) in blackwood and cocobolo, to use on my Yamaha 650 (or sit on a whatnot shelve). Do they work better than the stock barrel? Not sure, but they all seem to have a smaller mostly cylindrical bore, that is, little or no tapered at all. And, they all play/sound different from each other ... (it's a wood thing, I guess). They are pretty, though.
Don't know if the Scott barrels are still around ... the AA3 and VD M13 worked very well on my R13s.
I kinda like the idea of using plastic or hard rubber for the barrel ... I think that portion of the clarinets gets more moisture and needs the extra dimensional stability over time.
Tom
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-10-02 02:23
Ed's advice is spot on - your result will differ from any other player's, based on the way you shape your sound, the other equipment you use and what you really are listening for in the sound you produce.
Also, you can't generalize about a line of barrels from your experience with one - particularly, as it turns out, with Backun's barrels, which can vary quite a lot in internal dimensions.
But don't completely discount the possibility that what you don't like in your sound will not be changed or resolved by a barrel - any barrel. There is unlikely anything really wrong with the "stock" barrel on a Festival - it's probably the best match physically of barrel to instrument available. Different barrels can make a difference in the sound resulting from the overall system from player to bell, but it isn't the biggest influence. The player and the reeds he or she uses have a much greater impact.
Karl
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2016-10-04 16:25
This Ed agrees with that Ed. No one can tell you what will make you sould the way you want. Just like mouthpieces, every single barrel is different even the same model by the same manufacture. I have several Backuns, love them, but I tried many before choosing the ones that fit me best. I also use a Segal on one clarinet, it fit my Selmer best, while the Backuns were better for me on my Buffets. I used to use the Moenigs and Chadash but as I tried others over time I changed my preference. If you get a chance to go to one of the clarinetfests or a clarinet workshop at one of the universities where many manufacture are on display you can try out many. Other wise just keep trying as many as you can. You may find the right fit on day one or in six months. Remember, you can try five of the same model and one will stand out while the others won't. Make sure you pay attention to intonation when choosing. Prime importance.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2016-10-04 16:52
Quote:
Make sure you pay attention to intonation when choosing. Prime importance. So true. I'd also add to have others listen to you play and try barrels as what you hear as you play may NOT be what comes across to others.
I recently tried out a few barrels at Weiner Music in Long Island. I fell in love with the sound of some Fobes barrels, and also tried some backun barrels and buffet chadash barrels. I liked the backun MoBa 'ok' and loved the sound of the fobes.
My wife helped me choose. She's not a musician, but she presented herself as an "audience" and simply told me whether she liked the sound or not. I mean we're all playing for audiences, right? So I figured let me get an audience's opinion. She liked both the fobes and the backun. I was surprised cause I didn't think the backun came across as high as she did compared to the others, but she assured me that it was one of the top two, even if I didn't "hear" it myself (probably due to head voice, vibrations, etc. etc.)
I checked the tuning of the Fobes, and for me and my setup, it was good, but not great. THe tuning of the backun was much much better.
So long story short, having an audience helped me separate what I THOUGHT I sounded like and what THEY heard me playing. And after narrowing down the winners of sound, I then checked the tuning to see which of those would be best. It could have been the case that NEITHER tuned well and it would have been a sad day. Luckily I found a good barrel for my setup.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: jimk
Date: 2016-10-05 15:50
I've selected barrels, mouthpieces, and ligatures by collecting several examples from any popular places and the one or two pieces I plan to use for all the auditions. I'll line up the candidates and the incumbent and start the auditions, hopefully eliminating half the candidates quickly. Next I'll do paired comparisons the incumbent and each candidate. That might eliminate a few more. I like to repeat the paired comparisons again the next day, if possible. Then I'll make the decision. Sometimes I return all the candidates as nothing wins over what I'm already using.
There have been a very few times I've just ordered based upon a recommendation. I'm thinking of a situation where my mouthpiece had obvious damage and I needed a replacement immediately.
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