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 What's up with the Power Barrel?
Author: WallRunner 
Date:   2023-10-30 19:42

I, after hearing a rival marching band, have been looking at ways to make myself louder and "The Doctor's" Power Barrel seems to be a good answer outside of practice and technique.

However, they also seem to be out of production and borderline collector's items. I'd love to get my hands on one and, based on the description given by a few websites, it seems like it wouldn't be too difficult to manufacture on a lathe. Would this even be worth the effort? How much are power barrels selling for online? Are they as effective and rare as they seem?



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 Re: What's up with the Power Barrel?
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2023-10-30 20:39

I had one and would say that I’ve gotten more difference in sound between ligatures. The barrel was a delrin core (looking for all the world like an hour glass). There was then a metal sleeve over that which had a multitude of ovate holes in it (more on one side than another). The idea was that you could change what partials you emphasized by facing one side forward vs the other. Again, I never experienced much of that. In general the barrel played a little brighter than wooden counterparts.


Playing loudly is a function of actively expelling air into the horn. Doing this efficiently requires engaging your abdominal muscles. I still like saying it’s like the time you turned to your kid brother and said, “punch me in the stomach.” Before he does, you firm things up by contracting those muscles so it feels to him as though he’s hitting a punching bag. That is the “feel” you want when you play, always working your mid-section.


The other key to a good, big sound is that delicate balance of lip muscle you apply in relationship to the air you’re using. That all varies with the specific note you are playing and the note’s dynamic that you are playing in any given moment.


Definitely not the barrel.



………….Paul Aviles



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 Re: What's up with the Power Barrel?
Author: musica 
Date:   2023-10-31 02:40

Message me offline if you are interested in purchasing one. I have one that I no longer use. Make me an offer.

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 Re: What's up with the Power Barrel?
Author: Ed 
Date:   2023-10-31 04:38

You can work on set ups to maximize what you can do, but there is a ceiling. Ultimately, there is only so much volume one can get out of a clarinet.

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