A product review by Leslie Craven for CASS
Backun Musical Services Limited
www.backunmusical.com
 I recently received a package of three
bells and eight barrels manufactured by Backun Musical Services. Joel Jaffe
their contact in Vancouver sent me these to try with absolutely no obligation.
He said I would not be disappointed, this turned out to be a considerable
understatement. I was (as usual) sceptical about the difference the
barrels and bells would make to my Leblanc clarinets but undertook a thorough
testing of all the products sent.
To my absolute delight the barrels and bells made a phenomenal difference
- more depth of sound in the lower register and a kaleidoscope of different
colours in the upper register to say nothing of improved throat notes and
generally improving (although it is good on the Leblanc Opus) the tuning
scale to make it virtually perfect but still very flexible.
The beauty of sound these bells and barrels achieve is truly remarkable
and not only do they sound Warm and full of interest but they are works of
art, the machining is perfect and the wood looks fabulous - in my case the
bells are cocobolo wood.
Having decided that I enjoyed the difference in timbre they contributed
to my overall sound concept, I decided to see if my colleagues and students
liked the results.
Every one of the ten students I played to agreed that the sound difference
was considerable and immediately audible. Sometimes differences in timbre
are perceived by the player but not the listener, the feel or resistance
the governing factor (as is often the case with ligatures) - not so with
the Backun barrels and bells - the sound is audibly enhanced with different
colours and complex nuances - rather like a fine vintage wine.
I allowed my advanced students to try the bells and barrels for themselves
and in every case the same delighted smile registered with each and every
student once they heard the remarkable improvement in the sound. One student
who had been struggling with the intonation on her Buffet Vintage clarinets
suddenly grinned from ear to ear when we checked her instrument with a tuning
machine after changing to the Backun barrel and bell that I had selected
for her to try. The clarinet suddenly for the first time seemed to play almost
perfectly in tune. This particular student has "perfect" pitch
and was acutely aware of the minor (but to her significant) imperfections
of tuning that she could not correct until she tried the Backun barrel and
bell. All the students noted improvement in the intonation and sound quality,
particularly the "bell" notes E, F, and their corresponding twelfths.
Each and every barrel has different playing characteristics with its own
timbre and resonance, depending on type of wood and barrel design employed.
The Cocobolo wood gives a complex, slightly less focused but nonetheless
well projected sound which feels less resistant (than the conventional grenadilla
barrels supplied by clarinet manufacturers). I found the cocobolo barrels
facilitated high register production and enabled rapid staccato more readily.
I prefer to play with slightly thicker "oversized" barrels rather
than standard ones; I believe this gives more depth to the sound. The barrels
sent me by Joel Jaffe included some of the "oversized" variety
and it is these that I preferred to the standard sized barrels.
My colleagues Daniel Rye and Peter Fielding of the WNO Orchestra were equally
impressed. Mr Rye a staunch Selmer Recital man (like myself for many years
until I changed to Leblanc) had to admit that my Opus clarinets with these
barrels and bells were significantly improved - he was rather taken aback
by the change in the depth of timbre and was visibly impressed when he tried
them - the familiar grin of the extremely pleasantly surprised clarinettist
(exactly the same result in fact as with the students). He may yet be converted
to Leblanc, but only with the addition of Backun bells and barrels.
Surprisingly I found the bell made almost more difference to the overall
sound of the clarinet than the barrel, and seemed to give a rich, resonant,
ring to the whole range of the instrument.
I tried the other varieties of wooden barrels sent me and found that the
darker wood (I think it was Grenadilla) gave a more focused sound with a
compactness (perhaps more suited to resonant acoustics) although equally
beautiful in sound.
The Cocobolo bells enabled loud dynamics to be played without the associated
edge that some clarinets produce. I played them in the orchestra pit and
everyone seemed to prefer the sound compared to the conventional barrels
and bells.
I will be playing them soon at the Proms - it will be interesting to compare
their performance in a large venue - I have a feeling they will sound great!
Morrie Backun the designer of these bells and barrels uses computer technology
to programme the different tapers, grooves in the Bells and other innovations
found in his products.
Using computer technology means that he can reproduce the accuracy of taper
time and time again to a tolerance of two ten thousands of an inch - amazing
accuracy - particularly in hardwood.
The barrels have not got the traditional metal rings but beautifully designed
wooden rings which give the barrels an old fashioned period instrument look.
The bells also have no conventional ring which enables the wood to vibrate
more freely, enhancing the sound.
The barrels and bells are guaranteed for life against cracking. This does
not mean that they will not crack, wood is a living material and is therefore
prone to climate change and few companies would have the confidence in their
product to give such a comprehensive guarantee.
The Backun company also makes curved "crooks" from wood and is
making entire bespoke clarinets to suit the individual with several choices
of key style, position and metal available. The instruments will have individually
made to measure sterling silver or 14 karat gold keys (no plating) plus any
enhancements required; for instance a voicing mechanism for the throat Bb
or a low F vent to aid tuning. I am (as you will have gathered from this
review) convinced that these products are the ultimate so far in clarinet
development - I strongly advise all who wish to improve their sound to try
these Barrels Bells and indeed instruments - in the words of Joel Jaffe - "You
will not be disappointed".
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