 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JustBored
Date: 2026-01-07 06:17
I don't like the flat shape on the bottom of the bell of newer Buffet clarinets because of what I hear it does to the sound. I have a E13 clarinet and put a R13 bell on it and it sounds much better. The bells of a E13 and R13 have different bell shapes. The R13 bell is rounded at the bottom while the E13 bell is flat. Can you tell Buffet to only make bells with a rounded shape?
Post Edited (2026-01-07 07:47)
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-01-07 07:06
You can email them yourself...
or you can buy an aftermarket bell that you like (you may like a Brad Behn hard rubber bell)...
or upgrade your entire clarinet to one you like...
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #5 reeds
ATG System and Cordier Reed Trimmer
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-01-07 14:54
It only encourages players to stand their clarinets up on the bells without using a stand even more than normal, so not a good move.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2026-01-07 22:20
Back stage (back in high school) I used to twirl the clarinet like a top on whatever table was back there to see if I could make anyone visibly ill. Flat, might even work better for that, but I've lost my nerve since breaking a bell just dropping it off the front of a chair during a rehearsal (much more recently). Boy talk about changing the sound! A bell with a crack in it makes the whole clarinet sound like a kazoo.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: John Peacock
Date: 2026-01-08 16:09
The flat bottom bells were introduced close to 10 years ago, but on RC models only. Buffet claimed they improved the RC response, but I never had the chance to compare the effect of different bell designs (not easy, since every bell has an individual character). What I didn't like is the execution: it looked like they made a normal bell and then ground it flat, leaving a sharp edge - so it's ugly, never mind the sound. If Buffet are now using this design on models other than the RC, that's news to me, and it's a pity.
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Author: lydian
Date: 2026-01-09 00:02
Aaaare you gonna take me home tonight?
Aaaah down beside that red fire light.
Aaaare you gonna let it all hang out?
Flat bottom bells, you make the rockin' world go 'round
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Author: Neil
Date: 2026-01-09 03:15
I was thinking it was more of a case of Eric Clapton's "Bell Bottom Blues."
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