 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Volknur
Date: 2013-01-20 06:15
Hi everyone,
I'm new to the forums, but I have a question to ask about the bell of the Bb clarinet. I've been thinking about maybe making a miniature bass clarinet bell for the Bb clarinet, but thought I would ask fellow clarinetists before I went any further.
Would the different shape alter the sound of the instrument? My theory is that it would help to project the sound more, as the air would be moving upwards, rather than downwards. If anyone could answer my question, that'd be great, and if anyone's actually done this before, and is willing to share their results, that'd be even better.
Thanks for your time.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-01-20 07:29
Do a search on Saxonette. Instruments like this have been made by Gretsch and Buescher.
Tony F.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2013-01-20 13:21
The flaw in your theory is your assumption that most/all the clarinet sound comes out the bell. It doesn't. It mostly comes out the toneholes. The curved bell would not improve projection much, if at all. Think about it. If a curved bell improved projection, wouldn't you expect to see more clarinets with curved bells available commercially?
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-01-20 15:05
I disagree with the notion that the bell only affects the sound of the lowest note.
I was "fortunate" enough to suffer a cracked bell only a few years ago. The sound of the entire horn became tinny, thin, non-resonant. In fact, if you were to tap upon the cracked bell it would sound like you're tapping on a cardboard box. Tapping on a fully functional bell yields a sound similar to knocking upon a marimba bar.
There are many factors involved in the acoustics of the bell. If you look at some of the after market products for bass, such as the nueveau wooden ones. you'll hear (should hear) a marked difference in sound....... whether you like it or not, it makes a considerable audible DIFFERENCE.
.....................Paul Aviles
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2013-01-20 16:42
"I disagree with the notion that the bell only affects the sound of the lowest note."
Sounds like a straw man argument to me. Who ever said the bell only affects the sound of the lowest note? (They must have never experimented playing with the bell on and the bell off -- or they had wax in their ears when they did.)
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: dperreno
Date: 2013-01-20 18:48
If you re-read Jack's initial post, he said the bell doesn't really affect the "projection" of the sound for all but the low notes, not that it didn't affect the tone. I believe that directly addressed the OP's question which concerned projection.
I don't know that this is true, but I would bet that the reason alto and lower clarinets have a curved bell is mostly to make the instrument more compact. Once you get to a low C bass clarinet, you'd have to sit on a stool to use it with a straight bell. Stephen Fox has designed a bass clarinet that can be assembled to have either a straight bell or a curved bell - pretty cool. http://www.sfoxclarinets.com/Bass_Clar.html
I put in an inquiry to him as to whether he is selling them a few weeks ago, but I haven't heard back.
Doug
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2013-01-21 02:14
Something else to consider. When playing in a band, often the clarinets sit to one side or another of the conductor, not always directly ahead, facing the audience. If the bell curved upward it would direct the sound into the chair in front or into the stand. A straight bell allows the sound to move toward the floor and resonate in the hall.
I'm no acoustics expert and maybe my assumptions are wrong.
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2013-01-21 03:25
Perhaps your question can be answered by considering the soprano saxophone- they are commonly available with either straight bells ( like the clarinet ) or curved bells ( like the alto sax ). Some sax manufacturers offer both types. From a short distance away, I never could hear any difference in tone between these types. They do sound a little different to the player, however. Most sax players prefer the straight model, although the curved models do look cuter..........
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Author: Volknur
Date: 2013-01-21 08:17
Interesting. I never knew about saxonettes before now. Guess you really do learn something new everyday, don't you? I'd barely be able to play one, I think, on account of my long fingers. I was thinking that the curved bell would be "better" for soloists, but I am, by no means, an acoustics expert, and the resonation off the floor makes sense.
In response to jnk's first comment, I've been playing clarinet for a relatively short time (about 6 years), and bass clarinet for 1/2 of that time, so I forgot about how the sound of most notes come out of the tone holes of the instrument.
Anyway, thanks for all your responses! It was great to get opinions from fellow clarinettists on my idea.
Volknur
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-01-21 12:55
Not that it answers your question, but very little air comes out the bell.. or goes in the mouthpiece. Sound travels by pressure waves.
Upper harmonics do come out the bell. The higher the frequency sound wave is , the further past the first (or second etc) open tone hole it will travel. That is why you can place a piece of carpet on the floor in front of you to change the sound.
The bell seems to have a particular influence on the open G.
I know that sax bell bows (the bottom curved part) can be problematic. I believe the Selmer Mark VI went through two or three design changes to the bell bow. Of course clarinets have different harmonics and would have no tone holes past the curve.
You could make a curved bell and place an extra tone hole to correct the pitch for the E/B key
What a great experiment.
Steve Ocone
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-01-21 13:02
All opinions aside, however educated, you'll really only answer your own question by building the thing and trying it out. No mountain of theory and conjecture is worth as much as the result of a well executed concrete experiment. 
Karl
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Author: JHowell
Date: 2013-01-21 13:55
You must have some pretty advanced metalworking skills. If you have the chops and the time, don't let what I think it will sound like stop you -- if it's not great, it will at least be unique.
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Author: Volknur
Date: 2013-01-21 21:41
Well, heh heh, I was thinking I could make the prototype as two separate parts, and then glue and screw them together. I realise that that will probably diminish the potential sound quality of it, but if it works ok, then I would go to a custom part maker to get a more refined model.
Still thinking of whether wood, metal, or even hard rubber would be best for the prototype stage.
After reading these last few posts, I've decided I will try and build one. Hopefully, it works out all right! I'll post my results when I'm done.
Post Edited (2013-01-22 03:01)
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-01-22 13:06
Make the curved part out of metal. You can steal a suitable curve from a brasswind bow. Your original bell or another wood or metal bell can be attached to the end. Rossi (the clarinet maker) puts wood bells on bass clarinets. He cuts the original metal bell and modifies it to accept a rosewood bell of his making. You will have to drill a hole to vent the bottom notes.
Steve Ocone
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Author: Volknur
Date: 2013-01-22 22:06
Ah, yes, that would suit my design perfectly. Thanks for the tip, Steve!
By the way, how would I go about getting one of these "brasswind bows"? Whenever I do a google search on them, it comes up with violin bows.
Post Edited (2013-01-23 00:40)
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-01-23 13:13
It's been so long since I've done brasswind work. A repair shop with a good bone yard may be able to help.
Steve Ocone
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Author: Volknur
Date: 2013-01-23 23:43
Ok, maybe a better question would be what do these bows look like? That way I at least know what to look for.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2013-01-24 04:54
A brasswind bow is simply a section of tubing that's curved 180 degrees. You could obtain one by cutting the needed tubing off of a junked brass instrument. A tightly-wrapped 3/4-size tuba might yield what you need to make a clarinet bell.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2013-01-24 06:39
I'd fabricate the prototype of plaster bandages. Form the negative (what would be the bore of the bell) out of a block polyurethane foam. (in a pinch, you can use construction PU expanding foam sprayed into a plastic sheet, then let dry)
Once you have the dimensions right, see a brass shop that also does small series of "homegrown" instruments.
--
Ben
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