 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: klipimong
Date: 2013-08-04 22:15
I'm looking to get a Backun 66mm Cocobolo barrel and I;d like to know the difference in sound between the traditional ones and the ringless ones. Thanks.
Abd, if anyone has any info on it, the sound difference between the grenadilla ones and the cocobolo ones.
Crestview High School Big Red Machine
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2013-08-06 21:10
Every barrel of every manutfacture will play slightly different on every clarinet and mouthpiece combination. You really have to try several to know what fits you best.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2013-08-07 15:14)
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2013-08-06 21:21
Yes, try, many, before buy, but differences may be small
richard smith
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2013-08-06 22:23
I have a small selection of barrels made of Ebony & Ebonite and I"ve yet to hear any different in tonal qualities between them except intonation as their sizes range from 63mm to 67mm.
However , all my barrels have metal rings.
My experience as a Clarinet player is that the function of the Tuning Barrel is to , well, tune the Clarinet.
What does make a difference of course is the reed / mouthpiece combination , and perhaps the ligature.
Oh , and obviously the person breathing into the pipe.
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Author: JamesOrlandoGarcia
Date: 2013-08-06 23:15
All the differences are completely subjective between different types of wood and other technical specifications. It's more about what feels best to you and allows you to be you.
As per usual, Ed is right on. You're just going to have to try them out. Morrie can send you a ton of barrels to try on trial.
Sound wise, you're going to sound like yourself either way. I was actually kind of shocked today when I was listening to a recording of me playing Eb in the lower register and how matched it is to how I sound in the same range on my Bb clarinet.
When trying them out. Make sure to check for pitch and consistency in the throat area. You might even want to get your clarinet tuned up before you even try the barrels out. Good luck, the world of equipment can be a fun one!
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2013-08-07 04:57
>> All the differences are completely subjective between different types of wood and other technical specifications. <<
The differences are not subjective. People's opinions of what those differences are (which are not necessailry what the differences really are) are subjective.
As far as the difference between ringless barrels and barrels with rings, it's a secret...
Post Edited (2013-08-07 04:57)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2013-08-07 15:21
I should add that the more advanced a player is the more likely the player will notice a difference. Also, most barrels have a "sweet" spot, the placement of the barrel that plays the best so turn the barrels to different sides. Of course use a tuner once you find the one that sounds the best. It has to tune proberly or it's useless.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2013-08-07 16:03
Ring or ringless makes no difference at all.
I made quite a nice cocobolo barrel a number of years ago, and performed on it for quite a while until I got my Toscas. It had a very nice tone and tuned very well on the clarinets I was using at the time.
When I made it, I was fairly new to barrel making, and did not cut the grooves for the rings correctly, so it was quite easy to slip the rings off and on, even though they were fairly tight when I had them on.
So I had an ideal situation to test whether a barrel sounded better with or without rings.
My final opinion? Tone and response wise, it made no difference at all whether the barrel had metal rings or not. I could not tell even the slightest difference.
I want to echo Eddie's comment above. Don't fall in love with a barrel until you test the tuning very carefully, especially at all volumes. Pick out the ones that tune exceedingly well FIRST, then select the one with the best tone and response. If it doesn't do all three, don't buy it.
Walter Grabner
www,clarinetxpress.com
New festivals are in for the Fall!
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Author: pewd
Date: 2013-08-08 03:09
"You really have to try several to know what fits you best"
That applies to clarinets, mouthpieces, brand/strength of reeds, ligatures, barrels, whatever piece of the pie you're looking at. Try different stuff, pick the one that works for you.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2013-08-08 14:23
The dimensions and surface texture of the bore of the barrel (and the rest of the clarinet) make a difference.
So possibly the thickness of the gap between the end of each tenon and the bottom of its respective socket.
The effect of any other features, unless the rigidity of the material is exceptionally low (which is not the case), may be largely or entirely in the player's mind.
Of course there will always be a market for nifty ideas that pander to the imagination, like taping special (expensive but overpriced) stones to strategic places, or wrapping with (overpriced) gold thread, or making it from crystal, or attaching (again overpriced) tongue studs, ... or... or....
Tha rings have a purpose (unless Buffet made them from brittle plastic!).. REinforcing the timber to lessen the chance of splitting. (They look quite good too, especially if the observer is at a distance and the player is wearing black!)
End of sceptical rant.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-08-08 14:39
Grabnerwg wrote:
> When I made it, I was fairly new to barrel making, and did not
> cut the grooves for the rings correctly, so it was quite easy
> to slip the rings off and on, even though they were fairly
> tight when I had them on.
>
> So I had an ideal situation to test whether a barrel sounded
> better with or without rings.
>
Which begs the question, is any difference between ringed and ringless (if one exists) the result of the rings tehmselves or the thicker body at each end of the barrel that's needed to compensate for the lack of rings to reinforce the socket? Your barrel still had the contour and wood mass of a ringed barrel. Would simply taking the rings off any barrel designed to have them be the same thing as making a barrel with heavier walls?
Karl
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-08-08 14:55
The barrel I play has no ring
'cause it is the latest 'style' thing.
I asked for permission
to take an audition
but "No" they said, "Talent -- please bring!"
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2013-08-09 22:00
"Would simply taking the rings off any barrel designed to have them be the same thing as making a barrel with heavier walls?"
No. Because that leaves a very thin-walled, unsupported cylinder of timber that can easily be put under tension (just by the pressure of the tenon cork during assembly, or slight misalignment during assembly) sufficient to crack it.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-08-10 03:20
Well, of course, it would be a dangerous thing to do on a continuing basis. I was just reacting to Walter's anecdote about the barrel he made. He didn't it think sounded or responded any differently when the rings came off or when they were in place. I just wondered whether that barrel, designed with rings and having the thinned out grooves cut out of the sockets, was a good example of ringless barrels, which are indeed designed with thicker wood around the sockets to prevent the cracking dangers you're describing.
Karl
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