Klarinet Archive - Posting 001633.txt from 1998/04

From: "Steven Goldman" <GPSC@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: [klarinet] Wood vs. Plastic vs. Metal
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 15:24:50 -0400

Alas, I fear there will be no end to this controversy. The facts are
incontestable... material makes no practical difference in sound
quality...period. Small differences in bore size, tone hole placement and
construction,
and mouthpiece architecture do. Student models simply use less time
intensive techniques in all of the above. No material would make them sound
like a professional model such as {fill in the blank}. But wood has an
aesthetic power that seems to override many musicians rational assessment.
No clinical data will ever
convince those whose emotion blinds them to the hard facts. But then that's
what may make them great musicians. They may be dead wrong, but if they
think they sound better and thus play with more confidence, more power to
them (as long as they don't cause the extinction of blackwood for future
generations).

PS: Rosewood and boxwood clarinets can sound darn good, but they are much
more fragile and more care is required if they are to last.

DR. Steven J. Goldman
gpsc=sprynet,com

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