Klarinet Archive - Posting 000411.txt from 2003/06

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Needle springs
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 10:21:00 -0400

At 08:45 AM 6/13/2003 -0500, Mark Thiel wrote:
>Oooooh, nice. How long till I can have a carbon composite _clarinet_ with
>titanium keys? --- And how long till I can afford it? I clicked on
>"pricelist" and it started a mail message -- if you have to ask you can't
>afford it. It's been a while since I've had a flute in my hands, but
>wouldn't a flute with the pads as strictly in a row as this be an ergonomic
>disaster?

"In-line" keys have been the norm in intermediate and pro flutes for some
time, the offset-G design being relegated to student-flute status. More
and more lately, however, the offset-G is making a return to the upper
echelons of flute-dom. Apparently, the supposed sonic benefits of having
the holes all in a row have been discovered to be not so great as the
ergonomic advantage of keywork that does not cramp you hands! Note that
Selmer Paris figured this out back in the late 1940's when they designed
their Super Balanced Action saxophones (lower stack offset from upper
stack). It does not seem to have caused any significant sonic problems in
their line, and now EVERYBODY does it that way.

Bill Hausmann

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

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