 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kas585
Date: 2020-11-01 20:45
I purchased a Selmer RI L2358 at a yard sale in the original case for a whopping $20. It had apparently just been overhauled because everything was sparkling with all new corks and pads. It has the lined barrel. and the only flaw was a small chip in the bottom tenon where the bell fits that doesn't affect the fit. Everything is tight, and it plays like a dream, but the darn thing is so sharp, getting it to be close to 440 the barrel falls off.
The barrel it came with, which matched the instrument is 63mm. Trying different barrels, it looks like I need a 69mm to get it there.
Is this a common thing on these? I'd hate to go out and get an aftermarket barrel only to find it trashes the intonation for the rest of the instrument.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I really love the way it plays, but not everything is a solo...
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2020-11-02 12:15
My RI L3xxx does tune very well with a 66 mm barrel. I believe this barrel is original, however it doesn't have the metal lining. Could it be you have an high pitch version? I don't know if any early RI's were made in high pitch?
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Author: Kas585
Date: 2020-11-03 07:25
Thanks for the info. From what I could find on the "all knowing internet" all the RI models were Low Pitch. I think I have a plastic 66 I can try. I've run into some barrels that are just too tight for the top tenon. It's been an interesting trip on this one. I'm thinking about getting one of those slider barrels and when it works, figure out where it lands. 
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2020-11-03 13:46
Make sure this is what you need before getting one. I own a cheap recent and a vintage adjustable barrel that I had hoped would correct some flatness when using synthetic reeds but this has not been very productive, probably because the clarinet itself is wonky throughout. That said, if you have a clarinet that you love to play but needs correction for group work then it's probably worth shopping around for a good one rather than a stopgap measure. It might be more than you are willing to invest but there is a new adjustable barrel on the market now by Bradford Behn (no commercial lien with him, just saw this posted sunday on fb) that looks very nice. You can probably explain your setup to him and also check the tenon dimensions, he seems like a chatty informative and accessible person from his video presentations.
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2020-11-03 14:11
The RI barrel has a larger bore than current available slider barrels. Take care to find a barrel with the correct bore. Probably you need a custom made barrel. Playing the RI with a smaller bore barrel detoriates both the sound and the internal tuning.
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Author: Kas585
Date: 2020-11-20 07:19
Thanks for the tip on the Behn barrels. I've been in contact and he's willing to match my tenon and bore on an adjustable model that should do the trick nicely(fingers crossed) It may be kinda crazy to invest more than I did for the horn, but for me it's worth the cost if it does the trick. It is probably the most ergonomically comfortable clarinet I've ever owned. After almost 60 years, that's saying something...
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-11-20 20:26
Some RIs have a metal lined barrel that telescopes into the top joint - there's a considerable step in the top joint bore to accommodate the metal tuning slide as that leaves much less of a gap than the gap you get between the end of the socket on a regular barrel and the top joint tenon.
I have one that's had this void filled in with an ebonite sleeve so a regular (unlined) barrel can be used and have seen others with the metal lined barrel.
See if filling in the void in the top joint tenon will help the tuning - make a plastic sleeve with a 15mm bore and a good fit in the tenon so it doesn't rattle about.
Barrels shorter than 65mm are too short for older Selmers if you have established clarinet chops - if it's 63mm or less, chances are that was shortened for a sax player that doubles on clarinet but hasn't got clarinet chops as that's usually the case.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Kas585
Date: 2020-11-21 05:46
That is really interesting. The barrel that came with it is lined. I didn't really notice the step in the bore until you mentioned it. The barrel measures 63mm which fits what you are saying about the chops. I can get it almost in tune if I "yawn" for lack of a better word. I'll see if I can sleeve it with a different barrel and see what it does. Thanks for the tip!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-11-21 16:49
Someone brought over an RI clarinet late last year and I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the size of the top joint bore at the top tenon. Then I saw the barrel with what is in effect a tuning slide (as seen on conical wooden flutes) and the penny dropped. My RI full Boehm had that filled in - I thought the bore had been reamed out and sleeved, but seeing an original condition RI made me realise exactly what was done as that has a later (unlined) barrel.
If you want, make the bore sleeve with a wide diameter flange that goes over the end of the tenon so it can be removed easily (top hat-shaped). The thickness of the flange will double as a tuning ring.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Kas585
Date: 2020-12-01 01:20
What did they use for the sleeve? It seems the wrong material would be counter productive to the sound.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-12-01 13:19
Ebonite - but I'm now curious as to what the wrong material is that could possibly be counterproductive to the sound.
Felt or gelatine wouldn't be my first choices of a viable material and dog dirt is definitely not even a consideration.
Can you enlighten me?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Kas585
Date: 2020-12-03 07:47
I was just thinking if it had a plastic type insert it could change the resonance. Also I've seen metal lined sections, but it wouldn't be all the way, just a portion. This is outside my normal area and I'm just curious. I've just heard stories of mismatching and what a plastic barrel can do so I guess I kinda let that get into my thinking...
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-12-03 13:39
Provided the bore diameter or taper at the top end is correct, that shouldn't have any impact on the tone or intonation. The bore diameter and taper (if it is tapered) can be taken from the inside diameter of the metal liner.
Delrin or ebonite would be fine for this bore sleeve - or nickel silver if you want to preserve some authenticity. If you want to make it a permanent fixture, it can be hidden with a metal tenon cap.
On later BT, CT and Series 9 clarinets, the nickel silver top tenon cap extends into the top joint bore by a considerable amount rather than only covering the tenon ring and the end grain, but not intruding into the bore.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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