Klarinet Archive - Posting 000122.txt from 1997/09

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Greenlines cracking
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 1997 09:10:49 -0400

A very well-thought out and informative response. Of course, I am in
agreement with what Dr. Monsen has written here!

Roger Garrett

On Wed, 3 Sep 1997, Dr. Ronald P. Monsen wrote:

> 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
>