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 Barrel Shopping
Author: Caco185 
Date:   2007-08-17 23:59

Hey folks!

I am currently looking at buying a new barrel. The three recommended to me were as follows:

Buffet Chadash
Buffet Moennig All 66 mm
Morrie Backun Cocobolo

Does anyone know if any of these three barrels stands out as the winner from the rest?

It's mainly for wind ensemble, symphonic, chamber music, and solo repertoire. My current set-up is using a Buffet stock barrel. The plain ole' barrel that came with the clarinet in 2000.

I am also purchasing a Gregory Smith mouthpiece in the fall, if this helps at all. Currently, I'm playing on the Genussa Excellente.

Thanks for any information anyone can spare.

Dale Huggard
Clarinet Performance Major, Michigan
Buffet R-13 - Silver plated
Genussa Excellente
Spriggs Floating Rail Ligature
Vandoren V12 #4

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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: redwine 
Date:   2007-08-18 00:01

Hello,

Definitely check out John Weir's after market barrels and Allan Segal's.

Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com



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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: JJAlbrecht 
Date:   2007-08-18 00:30

Something else to consider is that Greg Smith offers barrels matched to the mouthpiece you purchase. Maybe you should discuss it with him. This is not to discount the recommendations Ben made. The gentlemen he recommended are fine merchants.

Jeff

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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: Ed 
Date:   2007-08-18 01:24

You really have to see what works on your set up. That being said, try Clark Fobes barrels. They are outstanding.

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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: Alseg 
Date:   2007-08-18 01:34

Quick answer.......the one that works best for you.

And thanks, Ben, for the nod.

Long answer, or another question: What is it that the new barrel must do to help you achieve what you want.
Example: My clarion notes are sharp by 10 cents, my long notes are flat by 5 cents, my throat tones are fuzzy, and my sound is unfocused.
OR: I tried my friend's X barrel, and it helped, but........

Armed with this info, the crafty barrel cobbler can help you.
Present the info to the elf at Boutique d'Baril, and you can get one that will help.

Disclaimer...I make and sell barrels, and sometimes even talk people out of buying them (drat)


Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-





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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2007-08-18 03:32

I recommend the Chadash match that Greg Smith offers. There was one that he sent along with the cocobolo Kaspar of his that was just crazy resonant. I had a little issue with the tuning but the sound was just beyond amazing.


..........Paul Aviles



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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: SVClarinet09 
Date:   2007-08-18 04:02

Don't rule out the Muncy Buffet Barrels!



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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: DavidBlumberg 
Date:   2007-08-18 12:57

As you see there are many makers of high quality barrels. Try as many as you can and pick what works the best for your setup and playing. Any of the above will play better than a stock (straight) buffet barrel most likely.

http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com


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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: Bob Phillips 
Date:   2007-08-18 20:35

i think you need to experiment.
i tried like 2-dozen barrels at ClarinetFest with John Weir listening in. two Orsi & Weir barrels with the same taper and material were hugely different. Two of different materials and the same taper were hugely different.

Oh, and get a second/third opinion about how you sound with different barrels.

Bob Phillips

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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: Ed 
Date:   2007-08-19 03:28

BTW- I have heard very good things about Alan Segal's barrels as well.

As mentioned, have a good idea what you feel you need improved or changed. Besides listening to tone, evenness, response, etc. Be absolutely sure to spend some time with a tuner. Recently I had a chance to try a new barrel that had a very nice tone with a decent response, but the pitch was pretty far off. Not only did it make my instrument tune quite a bit higher, the pitch also varied quite a bit from note to note and register to register.

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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: kuteclar 
Date:   2007-08-19 04:30

If you can spare the money for awhile, buy a whole bunch at one time and compare. At least you can get a good idea which ones really work and which don't for you. The cleaning and restocking fees seem minimal when you can actually get the barrel that works best for you! Also, record yourself - many times what I can hear when I'm playing sound different recorded....at a distance.

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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: bob49t 
Date:   2007-08-20 21:53

Here's a thought........... use your own barrel and rotate it gently, to find what might be the most "ringing" position. Mark this in some way to relate it to your top joint. Get the most out of your own kit before moving on to compare.

This very trial stopped me in my tracks from EAS (Equipent Acqusition Syndrome), shhhh.....but I did buy a Vandoren Klassic lig. (fantastic)

Disbelievers don't believe the barrel and bell twist has any effect at all and discredit it as mumbo jumbo. Ignore it at your peril !

Bob T

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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: claritoot26 
Date:   2007-08-20 22:43

Dale,
I also play the Gennusa Excellente with about the same reeds you do. It works pretty well with my Moennig 65 mm barrel on the A, not as well with my Chadash. I haven't really tried Morrie's barrels, but heard the wood tends to crack. The mouthpiece also works well on my new Prestige Bb R-13 stock barrel. I may go barrel shopping for that one day (I'll probably start with the Moennig), although I'm pretty happy overall for now. Do try a bunch, and good luck.

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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: Alseg 
Date:   2007-08-21 00:18

bob49t is correct.
The rotation along the logitudinal axis DOES change the "sweetspot."


Usual commercial disclaimer applies.


Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-





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 Re: Barrel Shopping
Author: Aussie Nick 
Date:   2007-08-21 00:59

Out of all the listed barrels in this thread (I have tried most) I like Backuns the best BUT they for some reason make my upper clarion C (back thumb only) flat. I really liked the new Zinner barrels when I tried them.

Can anyone tell me any remarkable difference between the Chadash and the new Muncy's?

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