 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2010-02-12 20:38
Making NO judgements about the products themselves, I wonder how many bell, barrel, and mouthpiece makers who don't offer multiple-item trials are able to stay afloat. And I wonder how many of those that do stay sane.
B.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2010-02-12 20:57
"There is no such thing as a sanity clause" (from Night at the Opera)
Since you ask, bmcgar::
I do not offer multi item trials and the last time I checked, I was not institutionalized. For custom orders, I confer with the client (phone or email), send one barrel, then re-do it if necessary. Only about 5% ever return one for a full refund!....and I can usually guess which persons they will be ahead of time. I would count that as successful
Then again, I am not a marketing juggernaut.
For non-customized items that I offer on that innominate auction site, I do have an anti-tire kicker restocking fee. This little twist enables me to stay out of the Stelazine range.
(who are those guys in the white coats?)
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
Post Edited (2010-02-12 21:08)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2010-02-12 21:05
It's apparent that many clarinetists use the numerous types of aftermarket custom bells and barrels that are now available.
I wonder if we will ever see the day when the "Big 4" clarinet manufacturers will give you choice of purchasing just the upper and lower joints of new clarinets, thus leaving you the option of buying an aftermarket matching a bell and/or barrel of your own preference?
After all, why buy a 4 piece clarinet, when you are going to replace two of the pieces?
...GBK
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-02-13 04:13
Personally I would always like to try several bells or barrels at one time, not just one. It's like choosing a new clarinet, would you only try one? What would you than compare it too? When I bought my Backun bells and barrels I tried well over a dozen barrels and close to a dozen bells for each of my Buffet clarinets. Although I didn't have that many to choose from for my Selmer Bb I did try about eight barrels and four or five bells. They are all slightly different, just like mouthpieces. So I was able to choose the ones that I thought were as close to perfection as I would find. I don't know why anyone would not send a person at least 3-4 bells or barrels if they were given a charge card number to guarantee payment and then charge for shipping and restocking if at least one was not purchased. As long as the charge card was valid. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2010-02-13 04:24
something I was wondering about recently. Those of you who go to the factory to pick an instrument, or to buffet in jacksonville, do they let you pick out a barrel and bell to go with it? or do you have to take whatever ones come with that clarinet?
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-02-13 05:28
GBK - "I wonder if we will ever see the day when the "Big 4" clarinet manufacturers will give you choice of purchasing just the upper and lower joints of new clarinets, thus leaving you the option of buying an aftermarket matching a bell and/or barrel of your own preference?"
That is not a bad idea. I personally have not used the original bell of any clarinet I have owned for many years. Sometimes I use the barrel, but I always change the bell. Don't know why, but I find this to be necessary for me almost 100% of the time.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2010-02-13 15:18
I am wondering when they will sell clarinets without those door stops they include which they call mouthpieces!
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-02-13 17:15
I agree, it is strange that they include a mouthpiece that probably no one ever uses. At least when I bought my Selmer bass clarinet, though it was 45 years ago, it came with a C** mouthpiece that I used for 35 years. Do they still include a Selmer bass clarinet mouthpiece today? When I bought my Bb Selmer Signature 4 years ago it did not include a MP. Who ever heard of anyone using a Buffet stock mouthpiece? ESP
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-02-13 18:35
I used the Buffet stock mouthpiece for marching band, which was about all it was good for. Marching band isn't worth any equipment that you value, anyway. Of course, it was not on the R13 at the time, but on a Bundy beater.
Jeff
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-02-13 19:19
Since we are talking about mouthpieces, it's worthy to note that the new Leblanc Concerto and Opus come with an Eddie Daniels..... a good all around mouthpiece.
But since it "comes with the clarinet" is this considered a "stock mouthpiece?"
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2010-02-13 19:47
I know that many clarinetists buy different barrels.
But bells?
Come on guys! Who on earth buys bells and if so, what difference do they make and if you think they really do, then prove it with a blind test!
Sheesh! The clarinet marketing guys must have dollar signs in their eyes!!
What next? You buy the upper joint and are expected to supply the rest yourself?
Steve
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Author: trice035
Date: 2010-02-13 23:32
(Regarding the mouthpiece half of this thread:)
Most Selmer clarinets seem to come with a C85 mouthpiece these days. Sopranos, anyway. I acquired a C85 105 with a new horn 3 years ago and have played it ever since. A very nice mouthpiece.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-02-14 01:08
"I know that many clarinetists buy different barrels.
But bells?
Come on guys! Who on earth buys bells and if so, what difference do they make and if you think they really do, then prove it with a blind test!"
I do!
Actually, I have never really *bought* a bell, but I often change the bell of one clarinet with another. My daily clarinet is a Buffet Festival that I use with an B&H Edgware bell... the rest of the clarinet is in a landfill someplace, but the bell was a keeper!
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Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2010-02-14 02:13
Has anyone ever had any success with Mr. Vaccaro's M&M hand made mouthpieces? I'm extremely interested in getting one, since today I tried a bunch out at his vendor booth at Clarinet Day at Cal State Fullerton today. And they are fantastic and perfect for my style of playing. Anyone?
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-02-14 18:25
Selmer and Leblanc make mouthpieces that people actually buy from stores so I wouldn't call them "stock" mouthpieces. Buffet on the other hand, well, have you ever heard of anyone buying a Buffet mouthpiece, on purpose.
Steve, Bells! You have a good point but bells actually, or at least can, make a difference. As I said, I used to feel the same way, what difference does a bell make? I'm sure in a blind test you may not notice the difference if I played my stock bells or my Backun bells, and probably the same thing the other way around. BUT! I feel more comfortable. When I choose to buy my first Backun Bell I felt it made going over the break a little more even in resistance and I truly felt that my altissimo register felt richer and warmer. Can the listener hear a difference, maybe not, but I feel the difference and that makes me a better player in my mind. Well worth the money in that case, not to mention, that for me, it's a tax deduction so I get back a little of my tax money.
When I bought my last clarinet, a Selmer Signature Bb, I bought it because I loved the tone quality and after a few months I decided to try Backuns bells and barrels because I use them on my Buffets. With each addition, barrel then bell, it just felt better and better. I love them but I tried many. ESP
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Author: Bill Patry
Date: 2010-02-14 18:41
My daughter has a Julian Bliss/Leblanc Bb composite wood; when she got a Backun/MoBa bel (thanks John Parrette!), it made a discernible, positive difference: as Ed said, richer and fuller. I have a number of MoBa bells, and the flat bell projects more to me, although I would be hard pressed to say there is much of a difference among my ordinary tapered cocobollo, rosewood, and tulipwood MoBa bells. I just love the way they look.
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Author: donald
Date: 2010-02-15 10:07
ok get this...
i have a pair of Buffet Festivals, these ones are great examples, oh boy... i've had people tell me that my A clarinet is the best A they've ever played...
all right- so imagine my surprise when i put a PLASTIC bell from the "Bliss/Leblanc" student clarinet on my Festival B flat... it had no influence on the tuning, but B was much clearer in tone, and D-C-B (over the break) were much more even in sound. Low F-E were pretty much at the same pitch as with the Buffet bell.... hmmmmm
maybe i should buy a Bliss plastic Bell as an aftermarket item?
So then i tried the bell from my Mazzeo Bundy (plastic again)
while i didn't like the feel of this, people listening (and not really able to see me because i was in the same room but sort of around a corner...) actually preferred the tone of the Bundy bell.... the intonation sadly was not good using this bell.
seriously considering a Bliss bell for my festivals!
dn
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