Klarinet Archive - Posting 000165.txt from 2000/01

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Re: Clarinet maker
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 15:04:50 -0500

>
> So, to be honest, filling a clarinet with gold will probably do but two
> things: make it heavier and more expensive. Gold plated keys, I'm told,
> are slightly heavier, and have to be replated less often, but wouldn't
> affect the sound (or so one would think).
>

The plating on the keys not only feels different from metal to metal, but it
seems that there are subtle differences in sound. I just recently tried out
a large number (at least 12-15) of Buffet R-13 clarinets at a local shop.

One of my teachers (Yehuda Gilad) said that the different platings sound
different on instruments. I was quite skeptical until I tried them out.
The nickel plating had a bit more robust sound than the silver on every
instrument I tried. The silver had (for lack of a better term) a "smoother"
sound. Both were good and I found instruments made with both kinds of keys
that I liked, but there was quite definitely different characters to the
sound.

Nickel keys also tend to be a bit smoother/slicker in their feel than
silver. I find that my fingers tend to grip silver a bit better. I have
played gold plate horns, but not for a long time and not Buffet so I cannot
comment on sonic differences. However, I do remember that the "feel" of
gold was not totally unlike the nickel.

Just my $0.02... Flame away! :-)

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
benmaas@-----.com
http://www.fifthcircle.com

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