Klarinet Archive - Posting 000740.txt from 1996/08

From: "Daniel A. Paprocki" <dap@-----.US>
Subj: wood vs plastic, beauty vs the beast
Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 12:01:31 -0400

I aggree with Dan L. on the beauty of a wood clarinet but then why
is the wood dyed black or is this some type of wood treatment? I've had
some bells where the dye was cleaned off and they look great when you can
see more of the grain.
I still feel that the most gorgeous clarinet I've seen is the
Selmer Rosewood Eb contra with silver keys and bell. The red and silver
motif can't be beat.
I do aggree that the keywork on student clarinets leaves something
to be desired. Also the bore between a student horn and a top model is
different. The tone holes are also cut different - fraized compaired to
straight cut. I would also think that the quality control is a little less
on the student line since the quantities produced are going to be larger.
The one exception to student clarinets that I've found is the
Leblanc plastic Esprit model. I've tried this clarinet a couple of times
and have always been impressed with the keywork, tuning, and responce.
Leblanc hit it right with this one.
Aren't some pro oboist using plastic top joints and wood bottom
joints? I think I've heard this somewhere.

Dan

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Daniel A. Paprocki
Instructor of Clarinet
Malone College
dap@-----.us

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