Klarinet Archive - Posting 000621.txt from 1999/05

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] re: blow out
Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 16:02:33 -0400

On Fri, 14 May 1999, Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu wrote:

> I have an opinion too. Blow out is a phenomenon suggested to exist by
> musical instrument manufacturers for the purpose of selling
> instruments; i.e., it is a sales tool which has come to be accepted by
> the clarinet-playing community as a whole.

My goodness, Dan! You certainly are have your cynic's hat on today! ;-)

Well, I have an opinion, too. It is that blowout does exist. However, I
have never been told this by an instrument manufacturer or salesman. I
have two sources of information on which I base that opinion. The first
is my own observation, based on playing some grenadilla instruments, very
old, but in very good mechanical condition, and then comparing them with
some newer ones, also in good condition. The second is from technically-
oriented people in the field of materials science, who know about and have
described the phenomenon known as "depolymerization," and who have
observed its effects under the microscope.

> The evidence for the non-existence of this problem is copious.

What is that evidence?

> The evidence for its existence falls in the realm of urban legends.

I have a hard time regarding the knowledge and experience of the entire
field of materials science as "urban legend."

> And the last way to win a technical argument is to suggest that "xxx
> says so!"

Then, you will be pleased to learn that, while I remain willing to be
convinced that blow-out is only an urban legend, I won't make that
intellectual and philosophical jump based on the fact that you say it
doesn't exist.

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu

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