Klarinet Archive - Posting 000213.txt from 2007/07

From: X-BakerBotts-MailScanner-tom.henson@-----.com
Subj: RE: [kl] Re: Clarinet Manufacture - Differences between French and German - Wood is a "Living" Material
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:24:03 -0400

The tap test they perform for resonance is akin to taking a mallet and
hitting a wooden sound bar on a marimba.

A trained ear should be able to pick out the wood with the best sound
resonance or vibration. This may also be something they can feel with
their hands, not sure as I have never done it. I'm also not sure if they
are expecting to hear a specific note as well. Yes, this is a subjective
test in as much as it is done by ear and not machine as far as I know. I
suppose it would be possible to perform this test in a sound-proof type
room with an microphone and oscilloscope, but I don't think they do
anything near that elaborate. This is one of those things that has been
handed down from the experience gained by previous generations of
instrument makers in Germany and I understood many of them do this.
Morrie Backun also told me that it was possible to do tap testing of the
wooden blanks for resonance quality evaluation.

Tom Henson

=20
<< Tim Roberts asked:=20

As an engineer, I cannot help but be struck by this paragraph. "Tap
tested for resonance qualities"? What units does one use to measure
"sound resonance"? What evidence is there that a higher "sound
resonance" actually makes a better clarinet? >>

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