The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rev. Avery
Date: 2003-11-20 11:09
Hi, I went through the rosewood threads and seemed to come away with the idea that rosewood is used on the higher end/better model instruments?? Not sure if that's too much of an over simplification?? Thoughts ...
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2003-11-20 13:25
It's a reasonable generalization. Unfortunately, not all sellers on eBay can tell one type of wood from another. They see a little mahogany in the grain, conclude it is "rose" and the instrument, therefore, rosewood. Bad syllogism. Not all blackwood is black and sometimes its color is "enhanced" with black dye. If you look at some pictures of rosewood clarinets, you will see that they are much lighter and brownish in color. In addition to likely being cracked in the upper joint, I'd be willing to wager that the Lefebvre clarinet you purchased on eBay is some garden variety blackwood, not rosewood. Sorry.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Rev. Avery
Date: 2003-11-20 14:14
Jack I really appreciate your input. I can send it back if it's not to my satisfaction as far as the way it was described.
So, you are pretty sure from looking at the picture that it is not rosewood? Won't hold you to it :-) but am seeking your opinion.
I also wrote to the fellow (deals in antiques) if he's 100% sure it is rosewood.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-11-20 14:52
Rev - I was about to offer my opinion, also agreeing with Jack K, that your cl is prob. grenadilla, its being an intermediate, and likely a stencil horn. I have recently acquired a technically-detailed pamphlet describing African Blackwood, Dalbergia melanoxylon, also known as Senegal ebony, grenadillo, "Properties of Imported Tropical Woods" USDA Forest Service Research Paper, FPL 125, March 1970, {in case your library might have a copy!} It has much detail, listing 4 Dalbergia's, 2 of which are "rosewoods" and a "cocobolo, Retusa", with somewhat similar properties and colorations. It has specific gravities {relative weights}, machining properties and uses etc. We discuss woods rather frequently, so I wanted to mention this and a textbook, that our Library's bookstore {where I volunteer} received recently. I will post info as requested, possibly having portions scanned for addition to our archives, Mark, comments? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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