Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-02-15 18:21
Paul Wusow wrote:
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If thie is the case (materials make no difference) then why are so many clarinets made from grenadilla wood?
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A recent tradition. Clarinets, of course, have been made from many materials over the years: boxwood and metal for many years, along with rosewood, cocabolo, kingwood and other woods. Grenadilla is relatively impervious to moisture, easily turned, and is strong for mounting posts and springs.
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A quote from "Clarinet Acoustics"--which, by the way, does cite the Bonade book--"The physicist's definition of density (mass per unit of volume) IS important in a woodwind, for it and the quality of an instrument's inner surfaces determine not only timbre but also energy losses in the walls."
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Benade - easily confused with Bonade - disputes the "density" argument thoroghly in his book. Gibson and Benade both agree on the quality of the inner surface, however.
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Gibson does mention "blindfold" tests, and how through the opinion of the listener, these factors are less critical. But you cannot argue with science... materials do matter, or else all clarinets would be made from alternative materials.
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That's not even a good straw man. They _are_ made today from materials other than grenadilla. Single blind tests have shown no repeatable difference in sound for equivalently constructed instruments (e.g. - R-13 and R-13 Greenline, RC Prestige and RC Prestige Greenline, Howarth Grenadilla and Howarth PVC).
Now, as to why people buy wood clarinets: If you see a beautiful wood clarinet next to a plastic one, both for the same price - which would you choose? I personally enjoy the aesthetics of wood.
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Traditionally thay have been constructed from grenadilla. Gibson also states that wood of a certain should be used in a clarinet of a certain pitch.
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I don't think Gibson's argument would stand any test, and it has been empirically shown that this is wrong for equivalently contrstucted clarinets.
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So I am not disagreeing, Mark, I am only trying to clarify. What sounds good to the listener is of primary importance... but materials do make differences.... Think about gold flutes vs silver vs wood... box wood clarinets sound lighter and more neutral... etc..
Thanks for the input, as all of these facts are interesting and important... especially when purchasing an instrument...
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I haven't come across a boxwood Boehm system clarinet yet (they may exist - but I haven't seen one) so I can't make that comparison. I have heard 3 and 5 key boxwood, but that can't be compared with a modern clarinet. The flute people have been having this same argument, too, and many were taken aback a couple of years ago at a conference when during a live demonstration none could hear any discernable difference between a silver, gold, or concrete flute. Until I see empirical evidence to the contrary, I will not believe that materials (in the case of a clarinet) make any difference - even though I _feel_ they should.
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