 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ving
Date: 2006-03-15 15:24
While I am visiting here, I have another question regarding barrels. I have been keen to try out some other barrels for my Buffet, and have found that the one that came with my horn is shorter than the chadash 65 I tried--is it normal for an older (I believe pre R13) Buffet to require a 64 barrel? Anyhow, I had heard that older Buffets need shorter barrels, and wnated to check with the "experts" to find out the real story...!
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-03-15 21:52
I have a pair of 1908 Buffets with wraparound register keys. The Bb uses a 67 mm. barrel and the A uses a 68 mm. Kal Opperman told me these were the usual lengths at the time.
Buffet tinkered with their design a lot, and the early instruments had keys hand-fitted to each one. Finally, Hans Moennig and others did extensive alteration and customization. For Robert Marcellus's, A clarinet, he made an extra-long barrel and raised all the holes. See http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarinet/1999/05/000596.txt.
You go with whatever length (and taper) plays in tune and responds well.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-03-15 22:22
Disclaimer....I make barrels and sell them.
Ken is astute as usual.
Even with an inverse cone taper, Buffets commonly use barrels that are longer than their contemporaneous Selmer or Conn or XXX conterparts. Yes, it would be ideal when substituting a conical barrel to alter the bell tenon length, but not always necessary. (see prior articles on alterations by Moennig).
So what is the story on your short barrel?
Was it supplied with the horn when new? Doubtful.
Was it meant for an A-pitch clarinet....possibly.
Was it cut down to accomodate a higher pitched ensemble... likely.
The other question is...what is the internal dimension of Mr. Shortstuff?
perhaps it was meant for another model.
Agatha Christie mystery aside....use what works...as Ken said.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Bill
Date: 2006-03-16 23:44
Fascinating topic. My 30's-40's Selmers were all received with extra-short barrels. I sold 'em. My Buffets (21xxx and 25xxx) have 65-mm barrels. Those I kept.
Again, Vytas Krass is a good authority here.
I could never undertsand why these older instruments come to us with such short barrels, and my conclusion is that the "regular" length ones just busted from (over-) use.
I use ONE 66-mm for all my Selmers, L-, M-, N-, and P-series. "It's ridikalus!"
Bill.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2006-03-17 01:18
If those older clarinets came from sax players that doubled on clarinet, they often used short (or shortened) barrels to compensate for a loose embouchure. You'll still find that in the sax world today.
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Author: Phurster
Date: 2006-03-17 05:56
My thinking would be to do as Ken says ie,
"You go with whatever length (and taper) plays in tune and responds well."
My experience is the optimum barrel length is influenced by; the mouthpiece, the clarinet, the pitch you are (often assumed) meant to play at and the temperature you play at.
For many years I struggled to bring the pitch of my RC prestige down to 440. In Aus we try to play at 440 even if it is 35 degrees!!!?
At the time I was playing on either a B45 or an M15 vandoren mpc.
The result was a number of gaps the size of the grand canyon between my tuning barrel and upper joint and between the upper and lower joints.
Salvation would come when the brass (due to pit temperature and lights) would start to play sharp then I could push things in. Note that although we were meant to be playing at A=440 the pitch was more realistically 442-444.
My next solution (in order to play in tune with piano under normal conditions) was to buy a 67mm barrel. This made the throat and some of the lh notes a little flat but with practice I could make this work.
My present solution is using the Vandoren series 13 mpc. This means I can go back to my 66mm barrel and this mpc(B45 13) has a reasonable tone quality.
Consider these things when choosing a barrel.
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