Klarinet Archive - Posting 000668.txt from 2004/07

From: "Clark W Fobes" <clark@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Materials and vibration
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 15:31:28 -0400

Even though we seem to go around and around on this it still perturbs me
that the "theorists" who have never made a barrel or a mouthpiece in their
lives can still make such stong statements that material CANNOT influence
the sound of a clarinet.

This is ludicrous. The mass or weight of the barrel and the finish of the
bore (functions of material qualities) both affect sound. Granted, the shape
of the bore has the greatest affect on sound (as can also be demonstrated in
mouthpiece design), but the material does play a role. I have made barrels
from both African Blackwood and Amazonian Rosewood to almost exact similar
dimensions and the sound is very different.

I have also made barrels from Delrin, solid rubber, and rubber lined
barrels, barrels with metal ferrels, barrels with plastic ferrels and now
barrels with no ferrels. All of these variations create subtle differences
in the sound that the player may percieive as warmth ( a reduction of
harmonics) or brightness ( an increase in harmonics).

In my experience as a mouthpiece maker that quality of rubber has a
significant affect on how the mouthpiece "feels" to the player. I find that
the Zinner blanks have exceptionally fine rubber which produces a very fine
finish and also gives the mouhtpiece more "bounce to the ounce". A good deal
of the "bounce" that I am getting from these mouthpieces has to do with my
particular design, but this very fine rubber allows me to produce the best
mouthpieces I have ever made.

I would NEVER get the same results from a crystal mouthpiece. Material is a
SIGNIFICANT factor in barrel and mouthpiece making.

Clark W Fobes

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