Klarinet Archive - Posting 000289.txt from 2000/07

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Differences in Wood
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 23:01:06 -0400

At 10:01 PM 7/6/2000 EDT, Derek (OrionDJ12@-----.com) wrote:
>Whenever I look at new larinets, there is always a little tag that says the
>stuff about the clarinet. Like jump or offset keys and what type of wood. I
>am always puzzled by these. First, what is the difference between the kinds
>of wood? Second, what is the difference between jump and offset trill keys?
>
Pretty much 99%+ of all wood clarinets are made of Grenadilla wood, also
known as African Blackwood. Rosewood and Cocobolo are the only significant
alternatives, and these generally require custom ordering (read "much
money, long wait"). Adherents claim different tonal qualities, plus they
do look different.

"Jump" trill keys are an exclusive Leblanc feature. The trill keys are
designed to ride over the tops of the other trill key pad cups rather than
having the keys take a sudden bend where the pad cup goes in order to get
out of the way of the other keys. The theoretical advantage is that the
holes can then be placed farther away from the "bottom" of the clarinet as
it is being played, making them less likely to get water in them. Compare
virtually any Vito, Normany, Noblet, or Leblanc (except the Opus (!)) to
almost any other clarinet and you will be able to see the difference.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://homepages.go.com/~zoot14/zoot14.html
Essexville, MI 48732 ICQ UIN 4862265

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

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