Many of the parts utilized in modern-day handbells are made of plastic, urethane, neoprene, or other modern polymers. Your manufacturer chose these materials carefully. Their supple and pliable nature wears well, is responsive to fine adjustments, and these light components help to keep the weight down on each bell making them easier to handle and causing less ringer fatigue. However, these materials don’t last forever. As they age, they become less pliable and more brittle. Their responsiveness to adjustments lessens, and eventually this results in cracked or broken parts that cause your bells to acquire a harsh, strident tone, inconsistent playing action, and in some cases, the bells become completely inoperable.
Today’s handbells feature adjustable clapper heads
allowing for
individual voicing of each bell.
This voicing flexibility is an important feature that can make or break the sound of your choir. While these adjustable components are designed to be user serviceable, unless you work with this concept of voicing on almost a daily basis, you probably won’t be as comfortable or effective voicing your bells as a competent professional technician would be. |