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The Fatboy is at home in the world's most prestigious concert halls, famous jazz clubs, and everything in between. It's our best-selling barrel, and for good reason. Artists who are called upon to interpret a wide variety of music appreciate the Fatboy Barrel’s unique flexibility and versatility. Note: In Japan, this model is known as the Backun Barrel.
Specs: Grenadilla or cocobolo wood. Compatible with Bb and A clarinets.
One barrel, one velvet bag, and one barrel tube.
| FIT | BRANDS |
| Standard | Backun, Buffet, Yamaha, Leblanc, Selmer USA (Centered Tone, 10G, Series 9), and most other brands |
|
Selmer Paris |
Selmer Paris (Not including: Selmer USA, 10G, Centred Tone, Series 9) |
Overall rating: 4.9 / 5 from 288 reviews.
Backun's "Fatboy" Cocobolo barrel is a delight to me because it so readily and easily supports and helps provide a full volume of lovely mellow sound! Well done! Kudos to Backun!
Store owner replied: Thank you for choosing Backun, James! I am glad to hear you love your new clarinet barrel! Best regards, Brian
I liked that it helped me produce a darker tone. When it was shipped, I didn't find any issues wrong with the barrel. Overall, it was a great purchase!
Store owner replied: Thank you for the great review and photo, Sherryl!
Gran producto, sonido oscuro, centrado y con consistencia.
This 64.5mm Fatboy barrel was a perfect fit for my Selmer clarinet. It helped give me the extra projection I needed for playing solos and being heard in our big band. Thanks also for the quick shipping!
Great love it
Best Clarinet Barrel sound.
I've noticed a significant improvement in my sound quality since using this product. The clarity and depth are unparalleled, and it's taken my music to a whole new level. Whether I'm practicing or performing, I feel confident that my tone and tune are spot on. The build quality is also exceptional, and the design is sleek and visually appealing. I've received countless compliments from fellow musicians and music enthusiasts alike. But what really sets this product apart is its ease of use. The intuitive interface and user-friendly features make it accessible to musicians of all levels, from beginners to pros. Overall, I'm thoroughly impressed with this product and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to elevate their sound and take their music to new heights!
I liked how I sounded both from playing and from the recording with a new barrel, but I am not sure if the difference is worth the money
I play a used Buffet R13 vintage and tried out a bunch of different barrels at a music shop in Salem, Ore. I liked my sound so much better (darker but also my dynamics).
Beautiful and warm sound!
The new Fatbay Barrel granadilla help me to improve the entonation of my clarinet in Bb and A in all weather (humid) and temperatures (extremilly warm) in San Germán, Puerto Rico. Also, I am very happy with the projection and the tone quality. Congratulation for the quality of your products.
I have a Yamaha SEVR clarinet and the Fatboy barrel definitly adds warmth and bottom to the sound. It's a keeper.
I think its a good product
Great sounds and control!
3rd Backun clarinet barrel. Each has been wonderful! I think the Fatboy provides less resistance and amazingly rich tones.
Even as an 'advanced beginner', I can hear the difference in my tone from the standard Buffet barrel: the Fatboy is fuller, more resonant. I look forward to finding the nuances after I have broken it in.
Store owner replied: Thank you for choosing Backun, Barak!
For the past couple of weeks, I have been using a Backun barrel on my B♭ clarinet, and it has completely changed the way my instrument feels and sounds. Before getting this barrel, I assumed barrels only made a small difference and that most of the sound came from the clarinet, mouthpiece, and reed. After practicing with the Backun barrel, I realized the barrel affects almost everything about playing, including tone, tuning, response, projection, articulation, and comfort. The first thing I noticed was how much warmer and fuller my sound became. My clarinet immediately sounded richer and more focused compared to my old standard barrel. Notes in the lower register felt deeper and more resonant, while the middle register sounded smoother and clearer. The upper register also became less harsh and easier to control. Even though I have only had the barrel for a short time, the improvement in sound quality was obvious almost immediately. Another major improvement was response. Notes speak much faster and more evenly with the Backun barrel. Before using it, certain notes would hesitate slightly, especially when slurring between registers or starting softly. With the Backun barrel, articulations feel cleaner and soft entrances are easier to control. This especially helped during scales, long tones, and lyrical passages because the clarinet responds more naturally. Tuning stability is also one of the barrel’s strongest qualities. Clarinets can sometimes be difficult to keep in tune depending on the room, temperature, or reeds being used, but the Backun barrel made the instrument feel more balanced overall. Notes that used to feel naturally sharp or flat became easier to adjust, and the throat tones sounded more stable and open. The clarinet also feels more comfortable to play. Even though the barrel is a small part of the instrument, it noticeably changes resistance and airflow. The clarinet feels more open and free-blowing while still keeping a centered sound. I do not feel like I have to force as much air through the instrument, which makes longer practice sessions feel easier and less tiring. The craftsmanship of the Backun barrel is also extremely impressive. The wood looks smooth, polished, and professional, and the barrel itself feels high quality compared to many standard barrels included with student clarinets. The fit on my clarinet was secure without being too tight, which gave me confidence that it was carefully designed. Another thing I noticed was the improvement in projection. The sound carries farther and stays focused without becoming overly bright. In larger rooms, I could hear more resonance and clarity in my tone, which would be especially helpful in concert band, orchestra, honor band auditions, or solo performances. The barrel also improved flexibility between dynamics. Playing softly became easier because the instrument responds more naturally with less air pressure, while louder dynamics still sounded controlled instead of edgy.
Store owner replied: Thank you for choosing Backun and for your awesome review, Ruslan!
I’m a professional flute player, but I double on clarinet, sax, and oboe. I recently upgraded my clarinet mouthpiece (to a V B45 on my Buffet E11) and felt a bit more back pressure than I had previously. Did some reading around, and heard the Fatboy barrel can relieve some of that back pressure. Took a gamble and WOW! My horn now feels completely new.
Store owner replied: We're glad to hear that you are enjoying your new barrel, Hope!
Love it!
I evaluated several of the Backun barrels over the period of an hour or more and selected this Fatboy b-flat clarinet 65mm barrel for its responsiveness and ability to render evenness and tone-quality clarity centeredness across the entire 4-clarinet registers.
Store owner replied: Thank you very much for choosing Backun, Gary!
Amazing the difference in tone and responsiveness particularly in altissimo. Love it!
Amazing barrel (63mm). Clarinet is a double and unfortunately my intonation was borderline atrocious. Not only did this fix that, but the sound quality and resonance are ridiculously good. It is surprisingly heavy if you are only used to the standard barrels that come with your horn. I am thinking of adding a bell next to see what that can do. There was a bit of an issue initially with shipping but shout out to Sean for being wonderful to work with.
It improves the sound.
Amazing quality barrel! Must buy!
Very nicely produced
My vintage Buffet R13 finally plays in tune up and own the scale! As a saxophone and flute player, it's always a challenge to master the embouchure, air flow and tongue position necessary for the clarinet, but this barrel seems to make it easier to achieve those. It makes clarinet playing fun!
Store owner replied: Thank you for choosing Backun and your fantastic review, Jon! We're glad to hear you love your new Fatboy Barrel!
It’s an amazing product also projects a great sound.
I bought a 63.5 mm 'fat boy' barrel to replace my 'fat boy' 65 mm barrel to try to bring up the pitch of my Buffet clarinet. It worked!
Much more focused throat tones better low e and f
I've only recently become aware of Backun and your wonderful product line. This is the 2nd barrel that I've purchased to improve the pitch on my old and new R13s. They raise my pitch as needed, sound and look beautiful. A bonus that Backun is a Canadian company providing excellent service and quick delivery. Thank you!
I tried a Fatboy to brighten up my sound a little after settling with a Signature Hawkins mouthpiece. It did that, and so much more! I played my first gig with it this weekend. I did not have to do my usual small intonation adjustments and the projection was amazing even from the pit. Highly recommend! (Buffet Vintage clarinet, Backun Signature Hawkins mouthpiece).
Store owner replied: Thank you for choosing Backun, Denise!
Great barrel. Love the look and sound of Cocobolo. Wasn't quite as much of a tone improvement as I had hoped, but make no mistake...it IS an improvement and it DOES sound great. I definitely notice an improvement in the throat tones, and it has a warm mellow sound overall. Great job, Backun!
Store owner replied: Thank you for choosing Backun, Michael! Please always feel free to let us know if you have any questions regarding your new barrel at sales@backunmusical.com. Best regards, Team Backun
I started woodwinds as a boy, grew up deeply fond of the sound of clarinet, and knew I’d wait to play as an adult. Well, the adult arrived. Not as bad as I thought. And at first I wondered, “How could a roughly 65mm hunk of tree sanded smooth on a lathe make a difference in my sound?” Could a barrel really impact my ear, my musicianship that much? Those felt like big questions. But I got the Backun Fatboy and slapped it on my vintage horn. Then the ancient plastic student horn. Then the Uebel. I’m no salesperson. But what you don’t know can surprise you, change everything for the better in an instant. Or a lifetime. If you’re on the fence, pick. I don’t think you can go wrong here. Backun’s got you. Just my opinion.
Store owner replied: Thank you for choosing Backun, Jeffrey! We are thrilled to hear that you love your new Fatboy Barrel. Best wishes, Team Backun
I already own a fat boy barrel in Cocobolo I purchased a new one because I needed a shorter barrel. This time my preference was a grenadilla barrel I like it very much. Now I have more options when playing.
I play a Buffet E 11 which is about 25 years old. Mouthpiece Hawkins Backun G. The barrel has increased my Staccato unbelievably. It is amazing.
Love the warm tone it allows me to create!
Needed a shorter barrel for tuning and this so far has worked great!
Had issues with my barrel for my Selmer Privelege. This helped me with tuning and the response is very nice and easy. I would recommend this over most other barrels for a Selmer Privilege.
I just added the fat boy barrel to my collection so that my single Bb clarinet can have a longer barrel as well as my set, C, and Eb clarinets. I especially noticed the difference with the C clarinet.
My new Fatboy barrel makes my Lumier sing with even more "ping" and projection than before. I love it.
