
Kessler Custom by Backun Clarinet Barrel
Made by Backun to Kessler Custom Specifications
The new Kessler Custom by Backun professional clarinet barrels were designed with one thought in mind: Performance does not need to be matched by a high price. To achieve this goal, we collaborated with the best in the industry – Backun Musical Services in Canada. The result of this collaboration with Backun lead to our new Kessler Custom by Backun Clarinet Barrel. With excellent craftsmanship and Backun’s exceptionally well aged woods, we have been able to produce a barrel that plays evenly and easily so that you can focus on simply playing, not on compensating.
Available in either Cocobolo or Grenadilla in lengths of 65mm or 66mm (sorry, no custom orders), these barrels are an excellent performer at a budget friendly price
Additional Information
Grenadilla Wood
Grenadilla is the same wood that most clarinets are made out of. Backun uses a premium quality, unstained Grenadilla for our Kessler Custom by Backun clarinet barrel. I find that the Grenadilla will produce a more tonally centered and deeper tone that the audience will hear as darker and richer. Personally, I always prefer the way that customers sound on the Grenadilla as I listen to them. However, the effect of the wood “behind” the clarinet will make the player perceive the Grenadilla as a bit brighter and more focused than the Cocobolo wood.
Cocobolo Wood
Cocobolo is a very dense wood and like the Grenadilla, Backun uses a premium quality, unstained Cocobolo for our Kessler Custom by Backun clarinet barrel. I find that the Cocobolo gives a broader and sweeter tone that is more open that the audience will hear as brighter and lighter. However, the player “behind” the clarinet will generally perceive the Cocobolo as the richer of the two because they are “hearing more” from the clarinet than they do with the Grenadilla.
2 Barrel Set
Grenadilla & Cocobolo are both great options for any clarinetist! So why not get both?! With our 2 barrel set, you get 1 Grenadilla and 1 Cocobolo Kessler Custom by Backun Clarinet barrel (your choice of size) for an discounted rate. We also include Free USPS Priority Mail shipping with one of our 2 barrel sets for an even better value!
However, if you purchase a 2 barrel set and in the end decide to only keep 1 (returning the other), the refund will be modified for the 1 kept barrel to be readjusted to the single barrel price (including shipping).
Kessler & Sons Music offers a 3 day trial / return policy by default on our Kessler Custom by Backun clarinet barrel. There are no cleaning fees or restocking fees (assuming that the item is returned in proper condition).
Before we ship any new Kessler Custom by Backun clarinet barrel, we actually inspect the barrel in the shop to ensure proper fit. We own full sets of Backun factory made reamers to check the tenon fits of the barrels. This ensures that the barrel should fit your clarinet. The barrel might be a hair loose compared to your barrel since your cork has likely compressed over time to your barrel. However, you can generally still test the barrel without much issue. If you do have any issues with fit, you can use a Teflon tape (also called Plumber’s tape) to wrap your cork to help provide a more snug fit of the barrel while not impacting the fit of your stock barrel. This Teflon tape can usually be purchased at your local hardware store for a very low cost.
Please read our terms & conditions (link at the bottom of the page) for full details on this policy.