Klarinet Archive - Posting 000165.txt from 1994/09

From: "Robert J. Resnik" <rjresnik@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: other than other woods...
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 1994 12:32:30 -0400

On Wed, 21 Sep 1994, Steve Prescott wrote:

> The composite clarinets being refered to, though I haven't had the
> opportunity to play one, should behave in the same manner as the
> Conn "plywood" clarinet in that it would have a rather dead tone.
> To the best of my knowledge, hide glue is the only glue that allows
> for vibration. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
>
>
The composite clarinets, the ebonite ones, and any "laminated" ones
are all going to give you the resonant qualities of the glue or
bonding material which holds things together. Hide glue (or any
other adhesive made from an animal source) may possibly vibrate more
only because it may be softer and more pliable when it is cured than
the more modern glues. The reason that hide glue is used in the
construction of violins is not for it's acoustic properties: it is
popular because it is easy to unstick if you need to do repairs, while
at the same time it is pretty tough when cured. Not to mention that
it is the "traditional" way to do things.

The reason that there are some good sounding clarinets still around which
were made of good old-fashioned "bowling ball"-style rubber is because
the density and mass of hard rubber is pretty close to that of African
blackwood....but what do it know? I am presently playing most of my
music on a sky-blue ebonite Vito Dazzler, and it sure doesn't sound
"dead" to me!