Klarinet Archive - Posting 000779.txt from 1998/09

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Solid Aluminum Clarinets?
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 05:58:24 -0400

At 06:22 PM 9/21/98 -0500, dee Hays wrote:
>Metal clarinets were made in great numbers earlier in this century. While
>most were made for the student/marching trade, there were some designed for
>professionals. However for whatever reason they did not really catch on
>although they were apparently very good. When good plastics became
>available, they appear to have pushed the metal clarinet off the market in
>the student end of things.
>
>Using cast material would be very expensive. When metal clarinets were
>made, they were formed from rolled sheet stock. Aluminum would have no
>special advantage over the metals used in the past other than that it would
>be lighter in weight.
>
A aluminum casting or other alloy might also be made to LOOK more like a
wood clarinet, with the same wall thickness, color, etc. That could help
acceptance. It would also allow undercutting, which I don't believe was
possible with the old metal clarinets.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------