BELL RINGS Review

TheSaxophonist.org Magazine reviews the Bell Rings by Peak Performance Woodwinds

[@brekedekdang39]

What I find really freaking hilarious is that the link to this video came from the manufacturer. I cannot tell any difference in your tone with or without the ring. The only difference that I believe the rings are supposed to do is help with the tuning on the low end of the horn. And I mean only the bottom 4 notes, or the overtones.

[@dus777]

If it is a true improvement, would manufacturers start building it into the instruments?

[@TheSaxophonistorg]

It's all personal taste.

[@vincentgaglio5106]

Ok. Strange but interesting at the same time

[@jmconnollyus]

I can't hear any difference in your tone, intonation, response or any other aspect of your sound whether you have rings in or out. I share your abhorrence of mutes for all the reasons you mention: impacts on intonation and number of overtones, timbre of the sound, etc., etc. If you're having response issues in the low register, tuning issues anywhere or a thin sound, the first place to look is your embouchure. No gadget in the world is going to make up for a poor embouchure, bad voicing, a closed throat and/or lack of air support. My $0.02.

[@TheSaxophonistorg]

jmconnollyus thanks so much for your comments. I agree that solid pedagogy is first and foremost. Sadly the audio doesn’t capture the change. I promise you that the difference is wonderful especially for the player.

[@jmconnollyus]

@@TheSaxophonistorg The real danger of these types of devices (the klangbøgen, the farfeknugen and all the whatucallits out there) in my humble opinion is that they are marketed as short-cuts around pedagogy. Low Bb sharp? Get a cloth ring and stick it in your bell. Can't get your tone to open up? You need a plastic reed. Tired of messing with reeds -- this mouthpiece will solve all those issues. One college prof (not where I attended school) told me that before I could take a demo lesson with him, my mouthpiece needed to be refaced -- without ever hearing me play or even looking at my mouthpiece. All of these are the musical equivalent of get rich quick schemes or fad diets. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I am not a virtuoso, nor will my playing ever be recognized by anyone for anything. But I sound like me. I have done enough work on my horn to know that if I have an issue (intonation, response, articulation, whatever) that the problem is 99.999% me -- not my horn or the setup. No gadget will change that. All that said, people will not stop inventing these gadgets nor will those seeking shortcuts stop their efforts. Please file this under: "Cranky Old Guy on a Soapbox." ;-)

[@lukasalihein]

I could hear a small difference, but I think the bigger deal is probably from the players perspective in terms of response and resistance. I know my horns play better with a wine cork dropped down into the bow, but it doesn't necessarily sound noticeably different; it's just easier to hit the low notes and subtone. I can play just fine without it but it definitely helps.