Where it All Began
These hand-finished clarinet barrels come in a variety of woods, lengths and tapers to suit the most discerning artist. Perhaps the most astonishing feature of the Traditional Backun Barrel is the wooden tenon rings, which replace the force-fit metal rings found on most commercially available clarinets. The wooden rings breathe new life into the barrel, allowing the barrel and rings to act as a cohesive unit, rather than suppressing the sound and constricting the vibrations. The Traditional barrels are available for most makes and models, and have a bore and taper that can be customized for each individual player. They are made for Bb, A, Eb clarinets. Orchestral, solo, chamber or jazz, this barrel can do it all. Whether you need more resistance, or less, have problems with the lower register, or the high, the Traditional Backun Barrel will help elevate your playing to an entirely new level.
Woods, Lengths, and Tapers
Backun products are available through Conn-Selmer in two options: those for Buffet/Leblanc/Yamaha clarinets and those for the newer models of Selmer clarinets. While it is important to find a good fit for the barrel and bell, some of these products work best with specific models. For example: barrels ranging from 62.5 mm to 66.5 mm are made specifically for Selmer clarinets, while those from 64 mm to 67 mm and 67.5 mm are for Buffet/Leblanc/Yamaha models. This can be understood when looking at the size of the barrel taper and tenon, as Selmer barrels are approximately .560 in the taper and Buffet/Leblanc/Yamaha barrels range from .589 - .575. For older models of Selmer and various other clarinet makes, it is best to try the Buffet/Leblanc/Yamaha models of barrels and bells. With regards to wood selection, grenadilla is considered by many to be a more traditional choice that is best utilized for orchestral and wind symphony playing. Cocobolo is the preferred choice of wood for many Backun artists. It offers the player a great range of projection and warmth of tone.
Testing Backun Products
Because wood is a living organism, like clarinets, barrels and bells do change from time to time so it is best to test several pieces when looking. When trying Backun barrels and bells please be sure to use a generous amount of cork grease and never try to force a barrel or bell on to the tenon, as this might cause the wooden ring and tenon to crack. It is also important to note that many players choose to mix and match Backun barrels and bells. With the many options available to customers, the combinations are endless. For those who perform different genres of music or play at different pitches (such as those players performing in Europe or Japan), the fine tuning and adjusting that can be done with mouthpieces, barrels and bells truly customizes the clarinet like never before.
Warranty
Backun barrels and bells come with a one-year warranty against any defects and cracking. If the products crack or have any defects within one year of purchase Backun Musical Services Ltd. will repair the part. If repair is not possible Backun Musical Services will replace the part at no additional cost to the customer.