 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GLHopkins
Date: 2015-02-21 09:52
I am in the market for a barrel or barrels for my mid-70s Selmer C clarinet. I'm thinking I need a 44 or 45 mm. Any ideas?
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-02-21 11:37
Clark Fobes makes C barrels, you could get in touch with him.
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Author: GLHopkins
Date: 2015-02-21 20:33
Chris, it's just a plain nickle plated 17/6. I don't believe the barrel is original. There's no logo on the barrel, but the bore seems to match. I just bought it in an auction. It needs a repad so I haven't played it yet. I'm going to take it to the shop this afternoon, strip it down and re-hydrate it for a couple of weeks before I pads and corks.
The barrel in the case is a 57mm. I'm sure it's way too long for a c clarinet.
Post Edited (2015-02-21 22:56)
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Author: spage
Date: 2015-02-22 13:47
57mm does sound long, even for a Selmer. Mine, which is 1980/81 has a 53mm barrel.
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Author: GLHopkins
Date: 2015-03-04 18:59
The barrel that came with the clarinet I bought was a 57mm. I borrowed and tried a 47 Scott and it was too short. I pulled out 3mm to get it to play at 440. It actually plays well in tune at that length. So I'm in the market for 50mm Selmer barrel. I've searched the web looking, but no Selmer barrels in that length available as far as I can tell.
Would contacting Selmer in France get me anywhere?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-03-04 19:12
I made a 52mm barrel for my Masspacher (Couesnon) C clarinet as the one it originally came with was too short for me. I used Selmer mouthpiece socket rings on both ends as they were the best outer diameter for the instrument (the barrel can be put on any way round as both sockets are the same!).
I don't know if there is a standard length for C clarinet barrels as there is for Bb/A clarinets - similarly with Eb clarinets as each maker has their own idea on barrel and top joint lengths.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2015-03-04 20:59
GL - For my Forte C clarinet, I had a shorter barrel made by barrel-maker (and list-contributor) Allan Segal. The improvement on my C clarinet with the Segal barrel was more radical than any improvement I have experienced on Bb/A clarinet with a better barrel. I ordered the shorter barrel primarily to raise the throat tones, but the improvement in tone, homogeneity, lack of choke and increased headroom was an unexpected bonus!
I imagine Dr. Segal has the measurements for your Selmer C clarinet.
Simon
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2015-03-04 22:49
Attachment: Cocobolo C 41.6 barrel 003.jpg (1001k)
Simon, thanks.
The problem with making barrels for C-clarinets is 1. the variability in the size of the upper joint tenon and 2. the barrel bore.
Buffet has been relatively standard for years.
The Forte that Dr. Omar Henderson made had a short bore which was narrow and tapered.
The Recital Selmer had tenon widths all over the place in the Eb and even the Bb at times.
So...even though I have short billets sitting here in cocobolo and grenadilla for C instruments, I would need at least a reasonable measurement in hundredths of an inch (not mm, please) of the tenon width above and below the cork, and the depth from the end of the tenon to the shoulder of the joint...or, better yet....the presently used barrel itself as a sample templet for socket measurement.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: GLHopkins
Date: 2015-03-05 06:06
I can measure the tenon diameter and length as well as the bore at the upper tenon. When I've come to terms with the reality that I will probably not be able to get a Selmer C clarinet barrel for my instrument I'll give Dr Segal a jingle and see what he can do to help me out.
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Author: GLHopkins
Date: 2015-04-11 05:19
Spage, I put the C clarinet on the back burner for awhile, and just now got back to it. After some fiddling around with it and a couple of borrowed barrels, it appears that a 52-53mm barrel might be what I need. I was given a couple of Selmer Bb barrels of about the same vintage, and the bore matches. I'm going to put one on the lathe and cut it down to 53mm. I'm going to have to take some off of each end so that the logo will center. I guess I'll see how well it tunes when done.
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