Klarinet Archive - Posting 000498.txt from 1996/05

From: niethamer@-----.EDU
Subj: Re: Clarinet plating rubbing off
Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 22:13:25 -0400

On Sat, 11 May 1996, Christopher H. Rohrs wrote:

> >If you think you'll own the clarinet for many more years, I think it would
> >be a sound investment to look into silver-plating the keys (but I admit I
> >wasn't aware this was possible). One of the reasons many people like silver
> >keys is because they doesn't corrode as easily as nickel.
>
> Is it really worth it? Unless there are actually holes in the keys, I would
> guess that most people have better things to spend their money on--reeds,
> for example. Besides, a slightly weathered clarinet has "character"!

Once the plating wears away, the base metal is a bit softer and wears
more quickly. I had a Buffet where the RH rings really wore - became
quite thin, and made the rings hard to align properly for a seal on the
three rings and the pad above.

I now have silver plated keys. My A clarinet is over 10 years old and it
looks like the day I bought it.

My C clarinet has chrome plated keys, which are quite slick compared to
the silver. I've only had it since October, but the plating was done a
good bit ago and still looks new. I have no idea how expensive that is,
but it is apparently indestructible.

David Niethamer