Backun Essence Barrel

Price range: $190.00 through $200.00

Model

Clear

Description

Backun Essence Barrel
Clarity Meets Character

When your playing calls for warmth, fluidity and focus, the Backun Essence Barrel is your natural fit. Built on decades of Backun innovation and shaped by input from top artists around the world, Essence delivers a centered, resonant tone with exceptional clarity and projection. Its bold new design and sculpted metal rings do more than turn heads, they enhance response and tonal control, bringing out the best in every register.

This barrel isn’t just an accessory – it’s a performance upgrade. Developed to highlight the lyrical qualities players love, the Essence barrel brings out the soul in your sound without sacrificing power or precision.

Launched for Backun’s 25th Anniversary, Essence barrels set a new standard for players who want to be heard and remembered. Because great sound should feel effortless.

Available in Grenadilla or Cocobolo woods. Adaptable to both Bb and A Clarinets.

Available Sizes
Both Grenadilla and Cocobolo models are available in half increment sizes from 62mm to 67.5mm. Note, unlike previous Backun barrels, the half millimeter sizes (i.e. 62.5, 63.5, 64.5, etc…) are NOT for Selmer Paris models. ALL of the Essence barrels use the same, standard fit receiver. This will allow the barrel to sit flush on most clarinets. However, modern Selmer Paris model clarinets use a slightly longer tenon by 0.5mm, so an Essence barrel can still fit on them, but even when flush, will look like it is pulled out by 0.5mm.

The Backun Essence Barrel is available in 2 different woods: Grenadilla & Cocobolo. There are many differing opinions on which is best and even differing opinions on what the wood does to the sound. So here are the personal opinions of Dave Kessler in regards to these woods:

Grenadilla Wood
Grenadilla is the same wood that most clarinets are made out of. Backun uses a premium quality, unstained Grenadilla for the Backun Essence 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 the Backun Essence 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.

Kessler & Sons Music offers a 3 day trial / return policy by default on any in stock Backun Essence Clarinet Barrel. There are no cleaning fees or restocking fees (assuming that the item is returned in proper condition).

Before we ship any new Backun Essence 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.