Klarinet Archive - Posting 000765.txt from 2002/11

From: Bi6W@-----.net (Bill Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] Howarth Clarinets --- and their description of tone
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 23:59:53 -0500

<><> Patricia=A0A.=A0Smith wrote:
Can you tell me a bit more about the wood?

Your question prompted me to visit Howarth's web page. I quote this
(in addition to my memory of conversations with their British office
when I was choosing an instrument) as a contribution to the discussion
of tone metaphors:

".... the new S3 model with its characteristically brighter tonal
quality, offering a contrast to the original clarinet.=A0 The original
model has been renamed the S2. Howarth clarinets and barrels are also
available with a synthetic body with silver plated keys. [snip] The
Howarth S2 offers a particularly smooth, rich tone quality within the
realms of French bore dimensions [snip] The S3 model has a
distinctively brighter, more direct sound. The bore is slightly narrower
than the S2, achieving a greater focus without compromising warmth and
evenness."

I ended up purchasing a used S2 which was of early manufacture (cracked
and pinned) according to the serial number. During my conversations,
the technician said that the S2 has changed slightly since then. So
describing the wood of my instrument may not be meaningful (only
grenadilla and plastic are offered, so far as I know); but there *are*
surface irregularities on my instrument and obvious grain on the
exterior surface. Looking down the bore, however, I see bright
reflections and no grain or irregularity whatsoever, similar to what I
see looking down my Yamaha's plastic bore.

(By "obvious grain", I'm not talking about color variations. I mean
that if I look at the wood from an angle which eliminates reflections, I
can see occasional 'groves' and 'ridges' that are the grain. These
grooves and ridges do not run the length of the entire instrument,
however.)

Cheers,
Bill

---------------------------------------------------------------------