Klarinet Archive - Posting 000704.txt from 2000/03
From: Topper <leo_g@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] A statement to Mr. Francois Kloc
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 16:22:35 -0500
At 01:42 PM -0600 3/23/00, Dee D. Hays wrote:
>
>It is impossible to tell whether a piece of wood has an internal flaw that
>will eventually cause a crack.
Impossible for whom???? One Can rule it out with careful inspection.
Your statement comes from a mal-informed source(s). The "flaws" you speak
of are not flaws at all but natural variations during growth; density,
porosity and grain patters and structure. Weather and disease also will
show in raw material. In addition to the vertical bends, twists, ellipse,
of the harvested materials.... bends and the internal dead giveaways of
where even the slightest had grown... from these are all signs to take into
consideration.
With all the sonic and magnetic imaging I'm sure somebody would bring old
world excellence to the modern front.
Curing and age is another factor.
Not to mention where the block is centered to be turned, the turning speed,
and if heat is allowed to build.
I will wager there are clarinet tacticians who have seen enough cracks to
establish a pattern. And those who had extensive woodworking experience to
understand. As tight as grenadilla is and as dark it can be made I have
noted patterns in ALL-- EACH and EVERY crack and chip one can see why.
There is absolutely no doubt. There are those few clarinets you see new
that are as perfect in grain as the old ones which have survived freezing
and the trunk of a car, or in summer so hot that pad cement may have gotten
a little soft. Then there are the ones that look as though they might have
cracked and have not. - Is that what you are talking about?
As a hobby I used to carve necks by hand to make guitarre and bass from
every wood from black walnut, maple tone-wood, mahogany, paduak, rosewood,
mahogany:.
http://helius.carroll.com/p/leo_g/parts/hondurasnecks.jpg
I made these about 35 - 40 years ago - my second and third neck.
You will see that perfect straight grain is not always desirable. But also
rosewood and grenadilla, even ebony are not the straight grain. For these
woods one must work with the flow and see ahead. My classic guitar neck
could be made into a Violone neck or even re-slotted, attached to elongated
body for a 35" scale electric bass (different headstock) have the perfect
bow, never warp and not need a truss rod.
I also have turned ebony, grenadilla, and other woods so I know what I'm
talking about. Did you know the best grenadilla should be wax-dipped after
it is cured, then aged? And after all that even the most perfect looking
grain for a 12" piece may have to be barrels?
Even careful selection from the highest
>quality fully cured wood cannot guarantee that there is no internal flaw in
>the wood. To say that high quality instruments should not crack is
>uninformed and naive.
>
>
>Dee D. Hays
>Canton, SD
>
>
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Cheers, Leo
Autions' Underway: http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/leo_g@-----.com/
"You Take The High Notes" http://helius.carroll.com/p/leo_g/ Our musical
instruments, parts, tools, classical LP, 1800's and 1900's piano music and
with violin editions. A family collection for sale and auction. Items for
sale date from before 1813 to 1987. Please bookmark or link page as new
items are catalogued weekly. Links will be exchanged upon request. I am
especially interested in Musical Instrument History and technical data.
Please email me with interesting links. Thank you:-) Leo
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