Klarinet Archive - Posting 000649.txt from 2002/10

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Selecting a clarinet
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 07:59:19 -0500

At 08:58 PM 10/26/2002 -0700, Robyn Brown wrote:
>I have heard that the tone holes of the Buffet E11's are made from hard
>rubber plugs (or some other non-wood material). Can anyone enlighten me
>as to whether this is true or not?

It is entirely possible. This method of construction is not uncommon. I
know for a fact that it has been used on some professional-grade Yamahas
and was also used on the Pan-American "propeller wood" clarinets in the
late 1940s. It is much easier to drill a large, plain hole in the body and
fit a well-formed tone hole insert into it than to do the complex carving
necessary to make an integral tone hole. How it affects things beyond the
complexity of construction I am not so sure. To those who believe that the
body material is very critical to the sound of the instrument, I would
think this would be very bad, causing significant degradation in tone due
to the unlike materials and extra glued joints, etc., affecting the
resonance of the whole clarinet and making it completely unsuitable. Those
who think design and construction are most important might even see the
inserts as an advantage, since the tone holes can be made to finer
tolerances as separate pieces.

>P.S. Some time ago I inquired about the safety of using Crisco or some
>other (unflavored) shortening as cork grease. I'm still curious if anyone
>knows whether this method would have a negative effect on the quality of
>the corks or the wood. Anyone?

I'd advise against it, just on general principles. The spoilage factor, at
the very least, would give me pause!

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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