 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: TJTG
Date: 2011-07-06 21:33
Hello again,
I have an RC Prestige Bb '04, and an A r13 from '91.
As you may know the Bb bell comes with that egg shape. Until recently, I never was able to discern a difference in focus and tone between the A and Bb. Now the A bell is stock and I would like it modified to play more like my Bb.
I was wondering if there was somebody in the Chicago land area that did modifications such as this to bells. I'm not one for the backun bells so don't go recommending anything like purchasing one.
Also, My Prof. had Hans Moennig make modifications to his original bells too, but I'm under the impression it was a different sort of change than what I'm asking.
Thanks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hartt
Date: 2011-07-07 02:54
several issues.........
first, for your purpose know that this ream is often referred to as an egg shape ream. It is in the bell of both the RC Prestige and the RC.
the RC has stained African Blackwood.............as does the R13 (the RC Prestige has unstained AB)
Perhaps there is clarinet technician in your area who can accommodate you. However, the cost of such work could be prohibitive. Also, this egg shaped ream is accomplished at the Buffet factory by machine using a special reamer. The chance of this reamer being had by a technician other than a clarinet or Bell maker (eg: Chadash) is slim.
The RC A bell is available from Buffet. One online retailer who offers it is Weiner Music.
You may also want to contact Guy Chadash,,,,Chadash Clarinets. Guy is also a Buffet Acoustical advisor .
Know that a Bell, like a Barrel, but to a lesser degree, will influence the projection of sound. ....more/less resistant , etc. As such, trying several Bells would be ideal.
BTW; the work done by Moennig to the Bell of an R13 A , was shorten the Bell, add a longer barrel and then start tuning the clarinet. This was documented by an apprentice, Alvin Sweeney.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald
Date: 2011-07-07 04:40
I remember Dan Paprocki telling me many years ago that he had had his bell (R13 stock) reamed out slightly to diminish the "choke" (on R13 bells the bore diameter starts slightly smaller than the top of the lower joint). I'll email him and ask who did this work for him.
dn
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: skygardener
Date: 2011-07-07 09:09
It seems to me that the easiest solution is to just buy another Bb bell and using that on your A.
Even if you need to cut a Bb bell a few mm to be short enough for your A, that job is very simple. Putting the "egg" cut into the bell you haue is a much bigger job and the bell might be destroyed in the process.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald
Date: 2011-07-07 09:18
Good point Skygardner... btw not all RC bells have the "egg" shape inside the bell- i owned a very nice RC A that didn't, and have also played an RC bflat that didn't...
dn
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-07-07 12:23
The RCs from the '80s didn't have chambered bells - that came in sometime in the '90s.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
