Klarinet Archive - Posting 000744.txt from 2003/02

From: "Lacy, Edwin" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] RE: Mpingo Wood Supply for Clarinets (note spelling: Mpingo)
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 15:35:40 -0500

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph Wakeling" <joseph.wakeling@-----.net>

> << Any sawdust could be dyed black and the customer would never know=20
> the difference. >>
>
> Doesn't the *density* of the wood still play a large part, though? =20
> Which would suggest that not-just-any wood could be used to make the=20
> Greenline material.
>
<<<Nope. Density doesn't play any part in the sound. Unlike a violin
or piano sound board, the clarinet body isn't intended to vibrate. The
sound comes from the vibration of the air column and the air column
vibration is initiated and sustained by the reed.>>>

I would agree with this assertion. However, one wouldn't want the
instrument to break into many pieces during a performance. Something of
the density of balsa wood, or perhaps Styrofoam, probably wouldn't be
satisfactory.

Ed Lacy
University of Evansville

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