Klarinet Archive - Posting 000118.txt from 1997/09

From: "Dr. Ronald P. Monsen" <RPMONS00@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Greenlines cracking
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 1997 08:20:38 -0400

The material which the Greenline clarinets are made of consists of mpingo
(grenadilla) wood in a powdered form mixed with (I believe) a polycarbonate
material (90 to10 ratio) which acts as a binder. I am not trying to sound
like I know anything about the chemistry-science of all of this. There are
several folks on the list that would know much more about this than myself.
However, the Greenline was not designed with not cracking in mind but as I
have been told it was a project to enable the use of the wood which would
have to be scrapped because it did not or would not hold up to the turning
process. There is a tape "The Tree of Music" shown on PBS which went into
some of the details on why the wood has undergone some changes in structure.

One of the segments of the tape was done in the Buffet factory and shows a
bell being turned. As the wood is nearing completion in this process it
"exlpodes" on the lathe and is useless. I believe that Buffet-Crampon spent
a great deal of time and money on developing this material. The Greenline
clarinets I have played have been wonderful. They are slightly heavier (my
regular instruments are Selmer Recitals so the added weight did not offer
any problem). I am sure there are folks out there who are playing the Greenlin
e instrunment. Many more who are much more informed about the entire
project. This may have to be the future as the wood we all seem to value
is indeed becoming harder to secure. Ron Monsen

   
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