Klarinet Archive - Posting 000312.txt from 1999/04

From: "Steven J Goldman, MD" <sjgoldman@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Wood/plastic, etc...
Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 14:59:44 -0400

African blackwood is becoming scarce and more expensive. This should make
it necessary to switch to man made material; however, the psychological
allure of wood is probably too overwhelming (just review the posts over the
years). There is apparently a huge supply of hardwoods in Australia that is
probably of instrument quality but it is mostly just used as firewood now.
The Australian Government is studying the possible use of these woods as a
replacement for the endangered hardwoods currently in use. So plastic may
never achieve the status it is capable of.

Steve

Steven Goldman
624 Huber Lane
Glenview, IL 60025

sjgoldman@-----.com

-----Original Message-----
From: HatNYC62@-----.com]
Subject: Re: [kl] Wood/plastic, etc...

The problem is that there is little interest by either manufacturers or
professional performers in a plastic clarinet. And the cost would be high.
The hunk of wood that constitutes a top clarinet costs less than $20, last I
heard. Therefore, the plastc alternative would be at least as expensive, and
likely more expensive, as new tools that are capable of cutting the plastic
would have to be made (and made to the same high tolerances as the wood
cutting tools). You can't use the same tools on plastic as wood. And many
prototypes would have to be hand built. More $$$. And then no one would want
it, at least not for the same price!

-David Hattner, NYC

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