Klarinet Archive - Posting 000320.txt from 2010/11

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dniethamer@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Plating of clarinets
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 23:32:35 -0500


On Nov 19, 2010, at 6:20 PM, Keith Bowen wrote:

> Chromium plate though ... I do find that uncomfortably slippery. I did own a
> pair of Leblanc Concertos once, that were chromium plated; during an
> overhaul I had them stripped and silver plated, and much preferred the feel
> as well as the look afterwards.
>
I bought Dan Leeson's C clarinet, which had chromium plated keys. I didn't find them any more "slick" than standard nickel played keys, and don't ever feel like I'm "losing my grip" on the keys - at least not due to the plating! Silver does "grab" the finger better.

> I don't think there is a perceptible acoustic difference between any of the
> key materials or platings.
>
A year ago I bought a Yamaha CSG Bb clarinet with Hamilton plated keys. Yamaha claims that the Hamilton plating gives the clarinet a "warmer" sound, so I wanted to try them to see for myself. I had a dozen instruments to try, 6 with silver plated keys, 6 with Hamilton plating (an alloy of gold and nickel). All the Hamilton plated instruments played better for me than the best of the silver plated instruments. Since a Yamaha tech had gone over all the instruments, i can only assume that Yamaha isn't telling us everything that's different about the Hamilton plated clarinets, because it doesn't make sense that plating on the keys could alter the sound of the instrument.

David

David B. Niethamer
dniethamer@-----.net

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