Klarinet Archive - Posting 000700.txt from 2000/08

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Plastic vs. Wood
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 14:09:44 -0400

Lacy Schroeder wrote:

<<<But, Bill, I think when you asked the question as to whether a clarinet
has a "sound board", think about the reed! At least that's how I understand
it.>>>

Indeed; reeds vibrate. Several members of the list have had considerable
success playing on "plastic" reeds, though -- I prefer Fibercell on tenor to
a can reed, but don't care for them on clarinet. Others really, really like
the Legere. So there is a question over whether material is that important
even when it's the vibrating material. As Mark points out, moreover, it's
not the reed that produces the sound; it's the air column.

The walls of the clarinet either do or do not vibrate, depending on whose
"scientific" findings you choose to believe/recognize. The amount of such
vibration vis-à-vis that necessary for an acoustic effect perceptible to the
audience is another question that has been discussed.

It's interesting that Ed Lacy doesn't find much of a difference. Perhaps
that's because he's played an artist-quality Loree with a plastic top joint.
My wife has one; in her playing comparisons, she found *zero* acoustic
difference, and paid significantly more for the crack-free horn. (btw;
cracking is MUCH more of a nightmare for our oboe-playing friends!).

I would be very, very interested to hear a report on a comparison of the
wood & plastic Howarths.

kjf

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