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Re: Behn barrels ?

Author: Max S-D
Date: 2021-05-19 20:39

I bought a Behn Svelte barrel in a 65mm length for a Selmer 10G whose stock 67mm barrel was just a little too long for me. At the time, I had been using Fobes barrels on my R13 for about 10 years and been very pleased with them.

I found the Behn to be a bit less resistant than the Fobes barrels, with a bit more tendency towards a (subjectively) more colorful sound, where the Fobes barrels sounded a bit more covered to my ear by comparison, though neither was what I would consider overly dark or bright by any stretch.

I use the Fobes barrels when I am playing on mouthpieces that have less resistance built into the mouthpiece, since I think the very slight bit of resistance they add gives a balanced feeling of control with these mouthpieces. Unsurprisingly, Fobes mouthpieces are a good match, as is the Zinner Hawkins I played for a number of years. Paired with a more resistant mouthpiece I get a feeling like I am doing a lot of throat work to get around the instrument.

The Behn barrel matches well with more resistant mouthpieces since it is more free-blowing. It matches well with my Behn mouthpiece, but also with the Vandoren mouthpieces I keep around, like the B40 and B45. Paired with a less resistant mouthpiece, I feel a lack of control that the right resistance level can give.

This will all vary wildly from person to person, though. Right now I am using the Behn Svelte barrel with a Behn Sono mouthpiece and have been very happy with that combination, but I do keep my old Fobes barrel and mouthpiece around, since I am quite fond of them.

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