 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: locke9342
Date: 2016-05-20 02:49
I'm looking to buy a new barrel, but I'm not exactly sure what size I should get. I know i need something around 64mm, but should I over or under estimate and by how much?
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2016-05-20 03:12
What is the length of your current barrel and what are you trying to accomplish?
HRL
Post Edited (2016-05-20 03:31)
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-05-20 04:23
Is your current barrel playing flat or sharp?
If sharp, pull out until you get correct pitch then add the distance pulled out to it's length to get a pretty close estimate.
Obviously if flat then you need a shorter barrel but by how much depends on be how flat.
For many makes of clarinet 64mm would be considered shortish but then it also depends on the mouthpiece.
Can you borrow a barrel, preferably same make and model clarinet, from another player to try how it pitches.
Within reason you can always pull out a short barrel but you can never push in a too long one.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2016-05-20 05:13
If you're playing a Buffet, 64 mm. is WAY too short and will throw out the intonation on short-tube notes at the top of the chalumeau and clarion registers.
The solution is to find a mouthpiece that plays higher, plus strengthening your embouchure and support.
Ken Shaw
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Author: locke9342
Date: 2016-05-20 05:31
I play a 576 bc and i use the shorter barrel which im pretty sure is 64mm. The reason I'm unsure is because I'm pretty sure its out of adjustment. If i tune my throat tones in tune then my low d-f are flat about 15-5 cents depending on the note. I'm looking for a darker more focused sound in the clarion.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2016-05-20 15:51
Locke9342,
What strength reeds do you play, with what mouthpiece, and is your embouchure "correct"?
If you pull on the short barrel to make the throat tones "in tune"...what happens to upper clarion A5, B5, and C6 -- are they in tune or flat?
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: locke9342
Date: 2016-05-21 00:00
3.5 v12 and I believe i am using a correct embouchure or at least am so good at faking it that everybody at all county and my band mates have never noticed. The clarion A is flat but the others are in tune
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-05-21 00:46
I find all this a little confusing, but it sounds as though whatever is going on with your tuning is not going to be solved by a barrel. That A5 and D4 are both flat when G4 is in tune suggests that maybe the tone hole for fourth LH finger is undersized (or dirty, or both). Or, if C4 and G5 are also low, maybe the top pad on the bottom section is too close. I think I'd have a good technician check the instrument with one of the barrels it came with and see if some of this can be adjusted.
As to getting a "darker, more focused sound in the clarion" it depends very much on what you mean by both of these terms whether you'll find any such thing, but a barrel probably has the next least influence over this (after the bell) of any part of the clarinet (with the player having the greatest influence).
Karl
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Author: locke9342
Date: 2016-05-21 02:00
I know, originally I posted this asking about none of those things. I only posted that information because people asked for it. I'm just wondering would it be better to have a short barrel and pull out if needed, or if I should just try and get it spot on.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-05-21 02:48
You should aim to have a barrel that plays a properly warmed up instrument at correct pitch when pulled out 1 to 1.5 mm. This gives you the latitude to be able to play a cold instrument up to pitch by pushing in, especially useful if you double on Bb and A clarinets or on sax when you may need to pick up the unused clarinet without chance to fully warm it.
Too short a barrel that needs to be pulled out further will become unstable or wobbly and also creates a larger perturbation in the bore.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-05-21 05:18
But if you are worried about pulling out a little more.....don't.
I would much rather have the "room" to move up if needed. Also keep in mind that in cold weather when halls are cooler, you'r pitch will be lower by virtue of the ambient air temperature. Therefore you should leave room for that as well.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-05-21 08:43
Since it's Tom's horn, ask him for a barrel. He's a good guy.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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