Review and Testing Polaris Adjustable Barrels - With Free PDF Equipment Testing Guide! 🎶

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Timestamps for review and comparison:
Summary: 00:01:23
About the Gen 1 & Gen 2 Barrels: 00:03:15
My testing guidelines: 00:06:42
Yamaha stock barrel 00:11:42
1st Gen Silver 00:12:08
2nd Gen Stock Bore, Silver 00:12:40
2nd Gen Stock Bore, Rose gold 00:13:10
2nd Gen Stock Bore, Gold 00:13:37
2nd Gen Stock Bore, Black Nickel 00:14:09
2nd Gen Corbin Traditional Bore, Silver 00:14:36
2nd Gen Corbin Traditional Bore, Rose Gold 00:15:08
2nd Gen Corbin Traditional Bore, Black Nickel 00:15:33
2nd Gen Corbin Traditional Bore, Gold 00:16:02
Intonation Test: 2nd Gen Corbin Traditional Bore, Silver: 00:16:29
Here are my more detailed thoughts on each individual barrel. Keep in mind that this is not meant to say that all of these barrels in this type of metal will play exactly the same for everyone... the individual piece of wood can make a difference, your instrument, your mouthpiece/reed, etc, can all make a difference. They are ABSOLUTELY worth it, in my opinion.
Anyway, here are my notes:
Yamaha stock barrel:
Easy to play, not much resistance
Bright sound, not as much depth as I would like
Uneven sound/tuning when pulled out
Very sharp (even the longer length barrel must be pulled out)
1st Gen Silver
Nice feel, a little resistant
Good, rich sound
Tuning normal, doesn't change much when mechanism is extended
When I play on the barrel for over an hour or two, the mechanism can get stuck and the sound becomes more resistant. Not usually an issue if I take breaks.
2nd Gen Stock Bore, Silver
Sound concept very different than first gen silver - lighter sound, not as deep or rich
Not as even as I would like
Feel is very free blowing
Would describe as "brilliant, bright, light"
Also has some "noise" in the sound - not as smooth as I would like
High range difficult to control
2nd Gen Stock Bore, Rose Gold
Very free blowing, easy to play
Even sound
Clean articulation
Not as projected, but nice resonance
2nd Gen Stock Bore, Gold
Do not like the feel - too resistant
Resonance feels dead to me
Takes a lot of work to focus and center the sound
Even tone, articulation difficult compared to other models
2nd Gen Stock Bore, Black Nickel
This is my favorite of the stock bore!
Nice feel, not too free, not too resistant
Focused, projected, nice resonance
Rich sound, even in the high register
Very even sound and feel
Articulation effort felt average
2nd Gen Corbin Traditional Bore, Silver
My favorite barrel of all!
Easy to play, very colorful and ease of flexibility
Articulation is effortless and easy
Sound is about as even as other barrels
Very colorful, compact, vibrant sound
Intonation is excellent
2nd Gen Corbin Traditional Bore, Rose Gold
Not a fan - uneven sound (throat tones felt oddly resistant)
Unusual feel going over the break
Not much resonance, and surprisingly resistant
2nd Gen Corbin Traditional Bore, Black Nickel
More resistant feel than silver and rose gold
Nice articulation, warm sound
Nice resonance
Not as vibrant and colorful a sound as I would like personally, but could be a good fit for someone else!
2nd Gen Corbin Traditional Bore, Gold
More resistant
Even sound, even blow
Resonance felt a little dead to me
Very easy to focus air, though
*This is NOT a sponsored video* I made this video because I thought it would be helpful make a completely honest review about these barrels, as not many people have tried them yet with the Yamaha CSVR.
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[@callyclarinet]

As mentioned in the video, this is not a sponsored post, however, if you want to check out more information on the barrels, visit www.corbinclarinetproducts.com

[@romanchomenko2912]

Callys are your tuning barrels have the same bore diameter as the original barrel otherwise puting a custom barrel and the diameter is different it could make your clarinet to be out of tune .

[@bcleuton1]

I would like to congratulate by this work. Very useful. Some time I was looking for this kind os feedback, to by or not this kind of barrel. You gave us very detailed vision. I will download your pdf work to understand better your view. Thank you very much, and congratulate, again.

[@callyclarinet]

Thank you so much! 🎶 I hope it helps 🙂

[@billducker7404]

Thank you very interesting. I’m going to try one on your recommendation Cally even though I have a houseful of clarinet stuff. Best wishes Bill. UK

[@patrickmaples1147]

I liked the way Corbin traditional bore, silver and the Corbin tradition bore, Gold. I felt the gold was very nice and round. Both sounded great and you know what is best that works with you.

[@billducker7404]

Thank you Cally. I like your videos are excellent what can I ask you please not to blaspheme when something goes wrong. I know we all do things when we shouldn’t Best wishes with your videos. Bill. UK

[@J34U2]

Given “distance and such”, I prefer your sound on the Corbin nickel.

[@callyclarinet]

It was a very difficult decision!

[@davideichler5105]

From sound alone, I think I like the Corbin silver and gold best. Have you compared this with other adjustable barrels like Chadash and Behn?

[@jimis3167]

They are better than Paulus and Schuler zoom?

[@callyclarinet]

It really just depends on how you play and what you are looking for. I've tried the P&S Zoom barrels, and I personally like the sound from these barrels better. To me, the Polaris barrels have a richer, warmer sound and the resistance feels more comfortable. So, it's not really which is better overall, but which one works better for you, if that makes sense :-)

[@jimis3167]

@@callyclarinet Paulus and Schuler or Polaris have generally more resistance? Can you tell by memory?

[@callyclarinet]

I think the Polaris did a little bit

[@Metalpazallteway]

Hi there how is the Corbin silver your favorite holding up till date? Has a nice sound. Thanks for sharing dear

[@callyclarinet]

I replaced the original design with a newer model, and it has been great. I had to tighten the mechanism a little bit (it is 3 years old) just recently as the dry cold winter here shrank the wood a little. Works fine now that I made the adjustment.

[@kaiserthegreat]

What is *this* ligature?

[@callyclarinet]

Vandoren optimum!

[@markowalski1]

Great video :) What tuner app are you using?

[@callyclarinet]

Tonal energy!

[@nica1639]

Would love to try but they won't accept international returns post trial. Does anywhere else sell them?

[@callyclarinet]

☹️ not that I know of

[@billducker7404]

Polaris. Reed and squeak, London. UK

[@manuelgarciavidal8559]

Are the barrels compatible with Buffet clarinets?

[@callyclarinet]

yes - i have them for my buffet RC prestige clarinets too :-)

[@yeisonclarinete87]

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