The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nadia_clarinet
Date: 2022-11-20 17:57
Hello all,
I currently play Yamaha SE Artist clarinets. I have a new Vandoren BD5 13 series mouthpiece. The tuning on my Bb is great (better with the 13 series) with the shorter Yamaha barrel. (65mm) but I am having difficulty getting the pitch up on my A clarinet. I don’t think Yamaha make shorter barrels than 65. So I was wondering about getting a Backun MoBa 64mm barrel.
Does anyone know if a 64mm MOBA is equivalent in tuning to if it were a Yamaha 64mm barrel?
Has anyone else had this issue? Did a 64mm barrel help with the tuning?
I’m very short of available time to try out in the shop before an important gig so thinking of just buying one in the meantime to solve the tuning issue!
Thanks everyone!
Nadia
Nadia Barbosa
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2022-11-20 22:34
Hi Nadia,
I had exactly this problem with my Yamaha Custom CX and having the barrel shortened by 1mm solved my problem entirely. The clarinet is still completely in tune with itself. I don't know about the A as I only have a Bb.
A professional player near me had a Yamaha pair that had been about £6400 (I'm not sure what model) and she had to have her barrel shortened too, but it was fine after that.
I'm an adult learner - only about grade 3, so there may be complexities that I don't know about.
Jen
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Author: donald
Date: 2022-11-21 02:06
Clark Fobes makes excellent synthetic barrels (very reasonably priced) that go down to 64mm and he HAS nade 63mm in the past. If he doesn't have the 63mm available ask him and he may get some made (he did thus for me a few years back). These should work fine with Yamaha "non CSG" models)
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2022-11-22 02:46
I have both a BD5 13 (440) and BD5 Standard (442) that I play occasionally on my CSGs. The Standard version tunes maybe 10% sharp (with the 56.5mm barrel) while the 13-series tunes maybe 10% flat (with the 56.5mm barrel) and dead-on with a 55.5mm barrel.
Personally, I find that the Standard (442) version is safer for tuning as it gives you a bit of "head-room" (in case others are sharp), and it is more flexible with respect to tone-production than the 13-series which has a bit more resistance that limits tonal voicing.
After trying all the BD mouthpieces (BD4, BD5, BD7), I find that the Standard BD4 (442) is the best choice for me for playing in an orchestra: it tunes well with standard barrels, it produces a round, resonant (if somewhat livelier) tone, voices easier, and responds better than either the BD5 or BD7. Interestingly, the BD4 13 has the same issues as the BD5-13: it has more resistance, tunes a bit flat, and is not as easy to voice.
I would recommend giving the Standard BD4 or BD5 a try before searching for a viable 64mm barrel. If you must go that way, it might be wise to consider the Behn, Paulus-Schuler or similar adjustable barrels. These support a range of adjustment and, judging by their popularity, must have an acceptable sound.
Bob Barnhart
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Author: m1964
Date: 2022-11-23 23:17
Nadia_clarinet wrote:
"...I currently play Yamaha SE Artist clarinets. I have a new Vandoren BD5 13 series mouthpiece. The tuning on my Bb is great (better with the 13 series) with the shorter Yamaha barrel. (65mm) but I am having difficulty getting the pitch up on my A clarinet. I don’t think Yamaha make shorter barrels than 65..."
I'd look for a clarinet repair shop that has selection of different MPs and can either find you a different MP (maybe a non-13 series BD5) that would work on your instruments or shorten the barrel of your A.
An advice form a highly qualified tech who also plays clarinet cannot be underestimated. At least that was my personal experience.
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