 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Marge
Date: 2002-11-05 21:34
Fairly recently, I acquired a Leblanc Dynamic 2 B-flat clarinet (large bore, evidently from late 1950s or very early 60s). However (and alas), it does not have its original barrel (who knows what might have befallen it), but an H. Bettoney barrel that is probably the shortest barrel I've ever seen.
The barrel appears to be made of wood (grenadilla?), though I suppose it's possible it's a composite with longitudinal grain-like lines added for effect. Etched into it is "H. Bettoney","CB Co." [presumably for Cundy Bettoney?], "Boston," "USA," and "U.S.N." The last makes me wonder whether this barrel originally might have been part of a clarinet made for U.S. Navy band use. When? 1930s? 1940s? If so, I wonder whether the upper joint might have been unusually long, essentially compensating for the shortness of the barrel. Or maybe this went with an intentionally really high-pitch horn? Or maybe it was a replacement barrel for a clarinet (or player) that played VERY flat? Anybody have any thoughts or information on this?
As best as I can measure (without having calipers), the length is 61 mm, impossibly too short to use with this Dynamic. I have no easy/accurate way to measure the bore.
Coincidentally, a few days ago I decided to do an ebay search for barrels, and what turned up among the results was a sort of related curiosity. It's an H. Bettoney ADJUSTABLE barrel (59-70 mm).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=917380312
[Sorry, I don't know how to make the URL clickable.]
After I saw that item, I began to wonder whether my barrel is the lower component of what originally might have been an adjustable barrel, now minus the top gizmo (which I sure would love to have to lengthen the whole to maybe 66-68 mm). On the other hand, my Bettoney is definitely not as short as 59 mm. And I wonder whether the ebay barrel would be the best replacement for what I now have, which is totally hopeless. Probably I should go for a replacement barrel of fixed length (67 mm? 68?)?? What should I be looking for in bore size to be a good match for the Dynamic 2?
Thanks for any info!
Marge
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-11-05 22:56
Even if the bore of the Dynamic 2 is large... the smallest barrel should likely be 60+ mm long.
Can you even install a mouthpiece in this gizmo?
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Author: Marge
Date: 2002-11-05 23:14
Mouthpieces fit on it normally, and the other end fits normally onto the upper joint. With this barrel, though, the clarinet plays VERY sharp, beyond what I would think is correctable with tuning rings.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-11-05 23:48
I wonder if that barrel is from an old, HP (high pitch) instrument?
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-11-06 01:06
As a passing comment, my fairly new Amati ACL-602 was delivered with two barrels, one of 59.5mm and one of 60mm. And its upper joint is 188.5mm, compared with a Noblet on the bench which is 190mm. Bore means a lot. (The Noblet's original barrel is 66mm, while another barrel once used with that stick -- curiously marked only "2 mm" -- is slightly less than 65mm.)
Were I you, without any knowledge of what barrel could be best, I might go for the Bettoney adjustable. Then again, don't forget: bore means a lot. Buying an untried barrel may be a loss, but perhaps it's worth a try. I would imagine it very unlikely to be worse than what you now have.
Regards,
John
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-11-06 19:08
Narge - I have both a wood "U S N" Bettoney and a Dynamic 2, so I'll look at each in regard to your problemS and contact you via E-Mail, likely tomorrow. Yes, Interesting. Don
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-11-07 16:20
Hi Marge - The [no-name] barrel fitting my Bettoney USN wood # 441G [WW I?] upper joint is too small, IMHO, for the UJ of my Dynamic 2. I have measured it [# 1430] at .590" [15.0 mm] the same bore size as another Dyn., the H, and the Pete Fountains, as far as I know, the largest bore size of the LeBlancs of the 50-80's [?] time period. I suggest you go on a "barrel-hunt" in your repairer junk boxes, new ones are quite expensive, and use {my] little finger test method to pick one [an old LeB, possibly an old Selmer!] that feels and looks like the least "step" between the bores. My Dyn 2 barrel is 67 mm, a 66, possibly pulled [ringed?] would be OK, BUT, check out the intonation of the horn, at least by octaves, fourths/fifths if no tuner is available. LUCK, Don
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Author: Hank
Date: 2002-11-08 13:12
Hi Marge,
I have changed the original 67 mm Leblanc that came with my Dynamic 2 with a Robert Scott 68 mm aa2 barrel which is what he suggested. The stock 67 mm barrel was just too short for warm summer days and warm room playing.
The use of this barrel has cured some faulty upper range sharpness as well. You can contact Robert at his email address which is in the merchant's section of the BB I think.
Hank
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-11-08 14:32
Thanks, Hank, I'm sure your Dyn 2 experience far exceeds mine, my current favorite [sop] cl is a VG Selmer P Series CT, so I had not found intonation problems as ?yet?. My # 2 cl is my LeB L 7, where I have found some [minor?] differences vs Sel and Buff - playing friends, but am now mainly a bass player. I also will contact Bob Scott for barrel suggestions, as I really should renew our acquaintance, being from Lansing, MI years ago, and having enjoyed his oboe playing in their symphony. TKS, Don
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Author: Hank
Date: 2002-11-08 16:05
Hi,
When I talked to Bob via email, he suggested this configuration specifically for the small problems I was having. I could not quite get him to tell me whether there was a Moenning or Chadash type taper in the barrel but then, if since it worked, do I really care? I think these craftsmen like to keep their little "secrets" to themselves.
HRL
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Author: Marge
Date: 2002-11-14 05:36
Ordinarily, I would have returned to this thread, since the information and suggestions you responders so kindly offered have inspired questions and further comments of my own. However, on the 6th I started with a nasty upper-respiratory, flu-like "bug" that pretty much knocked me out. I still have it, largely unabated, but have finally made my way back to the computer, at least, though I haven't picked up a clarinet since the 5th (and skipped band rehearsal Mon. night). And after I saw the large number of new e-mails in my inbox, I punted and headed for this BB, for a diversion.
I see that the adjustable Bettoney barrel on ebay went for a rather pricey amount (about $76), and another similar no-name one ended up pretty high also. Maybe more will turn up, or I'll shoot for something with a seemingly appropriate bore that's 67 mm, since you say that's originally what these horns came with (and if I have to pull it a little to get 68, so be it). Alas, we're in a rural/small-town area with music stores/repairers at a considerable distance, so getting to such any time soon isn't likely. But yes, best to try first if possible, as I guess there are more barrel variables involved in what will work (and sound good) besides length (as the Amati info indicates).
It must be nice to be able to get one's little finger down barrels to see how smoothly (or not) they meet the upper joint! I actually managed to do it, but barely, with the short Bettoney (and there's not much of a step), but with anything longer I'd probably end up with a permanent large, black pinky ring.
To those of you who have a Dynamic 2: do yours have a metal (brass?) tenon ring (or maybe it would be called a cap) at the top of the upper joint? I'm wondering whether this is an original feature (as appears to be the case) or an addition. The clarinet seems to have no cracks, repaired or otherwise, though maybe such a later-added gizmo could conceal such.
Since this thread is now pretty long in the tooth, with nobody now likely to participate in it, maybe I'll e-mail privately the two of you who have Dynamics.
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