 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: wkleung
Date: 2017-06-09 11:30
I see that some after-market barrels are designated for A clarinets. How well do these work on Bb Clarinets?
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2017-06-09 18:44
I asked that question a couple of years ago. It seems the answer was that A's are a different length than your standard Bb barrel.
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Author: wkleung
Date: 2017-06-09 18:48
Perhaps I should ask this:
If I look for a 67mm barrel for my Bb clarinet, would a 67mm barrel designed for A clarinets work?
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Author: Klose ★2017
Date: 2017-06-09 19:50
In most cases, even for the same model, the bore of A clarinet is different from B flat. So the answer is no.
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Author: John Peacock
Date: 2017-06-09 20:43
Probably you just have to try it. Most clarinets indeed have different bores for A and Bb clarinets, so swapping the barrels will affect tuning and response. But tuning and response are also affected greatly by mouthpiece choice. The last time I tried out a range of barrels for an R13 Bb, the one I liked best with a Selmer C85 120 MP was an A barrel.
As Roxann says, there is a length issue. For Buffets, at least, A barrels tend to be shorter (standard supplied sizes are 66mm for Bb and 65mm for A). But looking at Howarth's website, you can get R13 barrels between 64-67 for both Bb and A. So I'd suggest trying out all the 67mm barrels you can, and not worry whether they are meant for Bb or A (just the Bb ones will all play differently, in any case).
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2017-06-10 02:40
It does certainly depend partly on the make of your clarinet.
Some makes, e'g' older Leblancs, B&H, older Selmers etc et had identical bores for the Bb and A instruments, so the barrels are readily interchangeable.
But as stated above, the only true test is to try it and see.
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2017-06-10 05:35
WK...I got so fed up with my ligature/Reed moving when swapping from A to Bb (no matter how tight I cranked down my ligature), I started to using the same barrel on both for a better 'handle'. I haven't notice any ill side effects (tuning the most important) with either my Fobes or my more recent Behn hour glass rod rubber barrels.
I realize what I'm doing is sacrelige. But I'm not playing enough A clarinet to cause to much detriment to my quality...well no one is throwing rotten eggs at me.
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2017-06-10 05:53
Man do I agree with Robt. I never managed to regularly switch the mouthpiece without messing up the reed alignment. Fortunately, what I play now and have on order both use the same barrels for A and Bb, but look; different models of clarinets from Buffet, Selmer and Yamaha have different "bores," meaning it's very uncertain that the top of the upper joint on any given model is going to match exactly an aftermarket barrel that didn't come with the instrument and probably isn't made by the same company, whether it's marketed as an A or Bb. And all of those models with their different bores are intended to be played with the same mouthpieces, which I'm guessing are pretty close to a Bb R13 bore size, because that's what people are going to play them on. You probably just need to trust your ear and your tuner as to whether a given barrel is going to work on one or both of your instruments.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2017-06-10 06:22
As many have stated, often the bore, length and shape or taper are different. Some people use the same on both and there are a few makers who do not designate Bb or A barrels.
I have tried swapping the barrels for my Bb and A or attempted to use the same barrel on both instruments. On my set up, for me it does not work well. I have some intonation issues, there are differences in response and significant differences in timbre from note to note.
You have to see what works for you on your set up.
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