Klarinet Archive - Posting 000045.txt from 1994/01

From: Tom Ascher <U15310@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Tom Ascher's comments
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 1994 16:43:17 -0500

Okay, I too can go either way. I have no great stake in the wood vs
plastic vs banana peel cartel! Let's take the other side. Suppose it
IS true that there is no difference between the sound of wood and plastic.
Then, next question. Why can't THEY make better clarinets out of plastic?
I'm not asking this rhetorically. I really wonder why it wouldn't be
possible to make a more consistent, better instrument this way. Plastics
can be fashioned to very precise tolerances. And once molds and processing
are in place, it would seem that there would be much more consistency.
Once fabricated, it would seem to me that a plastic clarinet would last
longer and maintain its quality longer and under a wider variety of
climatic conditions. (Or should I say climactic conditions?)
I would assume much lower maintenance costs and worries with a plastic
instrument. Can anyone recommend a good one?

Tom Ascher Internet: u15310@-----.edu
University of Illinois at Chicago Phone: (312) 413-3665