Klarinet Archive - Posting 000402.txt from 1998/03

From: GTGallant <GTGallant@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Scientific American Article
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 14:44:25 -0500

In a message dated 98-03-06 09:48:32 EST, you write:

<< I
consider this material to have the same acoustical qualities as a regual
grenadilla wood clarinet. It is not plastic, but a material with some
"life"
in it. >>

Ms. Klok -

I understand you are in the business of selling instruments, but do not give
the consumer misinformation. You can consider concrete wood if you like, but
it will still be wood. The composite material you've "created" has been
around for at least fifty years and is considerd a plastic by the plastics
industry. Do not feel that you have to tell potential customers that the
Greenline is still woodlike and not plastic. Physics and experimentation have
proven that their is no discernable difference in sound to the listener and/or
player between the two materials. I am already sold on the idea of plastic
professional clarinets that resist extreme temperature changes.
It takes time to convince players to change after years of tradition. When
makers switched to using blackwood exclusively around 100 years ago, the "old
school" claimed boxwood still had a sweeter and lovelier sound. Tell the
consumer that plastic is the way to go and guarenteed, the flock will
eventually follow.