 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Emily
Date: 2000-03-23 23:59
I'm upgrading to an intermediate clarinet and I'm considering between 2 clarinets. Does silver plated keys make better sounds than nickel? Or is it a cosmetic and unnecessary feature so that the manufacturers can charge more? I'm quite surprised by the fact that some manufacturers supply inadequate mouthpieces... it's almost tantamount to selling a piano with bad pedals!
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Author: Drew
Date: 2000-03-24 00:05
Key plating material has no effect on how the instrument sounds.
Some people prefer silver to nickel; it has a different "feel." Hard to describe, but silver feels "softer." Silver has the disadvantage of tarnishing, while nickel won't tarnish. All a matter of preference, although manufacturers charge slightly more for the silver plating.
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Author: Kim
Date: 2000-03-24 00:26
I have been told that silver is also more slick than nickel.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2000-03-24 00:31
Silver-plated keys are a bit slicker to the touch, a quality which causes some players to prefer the nickel. (I have one of each . . . the silver looks a bit nicer.)
As for the mouthpiece . . . who can blame them? I agree that beginner horns ought to come with a good playable mouthpiece, but after that they figure that whatever they gave you (within reason) would just add to their cost and collect dust on your shelf (3rd option - e-Bay fodder!). There are so many options and preferences out there . . . but it is worth stating again . . . NO BEGINNER SHOULD BEGIN HIS/HER STUDIES OF THE CLARINET WITH A THROW-AWAY MOUTHPIECE. Alas, it happens far too often.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2000-03-24 02:57
I have a nickel and a silver plated horn and to my hands the nickel is slicker.
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Author: Roger Merriam
Date: 2000-03-24 12:06
I agree that beginner horns should have a good mouthpiece. Beyond that, it really does not matter. Pros and intermediate players probably have their own mouthpiece (which they have used for years) which they would use with any new clarinet. (Such is my case.) Manufacturers know this so that they do not waste too much time with mouthpieces on a pro line clarinet.
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Author: Alec Thigpen
Date: 2000-03-25 04:58
I agree with Robert, that the silver feels less slick than nickel. After playing on silver keys and switching to the nickel, my fingers tend to slide around more, especially with the little finger keys. That slicker feel is detrimental in fast passages, but somewhat nicer on the occasions when I want to slide from one key to another.
And not some manufacturers, but all manufacturers include cheap mouthpieces if in fact they include one at all. Not a problem, that is the most personal item in the package. It should be selected diligently, as should the horn itself. It's a bit like including a reed with the horn. It's not the one you'll end up keeping!
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-03-25 05:24
Alec Thigpen wrote:
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.And not some manufacturers, but all manufacturers include cheap mouthpieces if in fact they include one at all.
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Not quite true.
Selmer includes good mouthpieces on their clarinets (I had a C85/115 with mine) and Yamaha includes a 4C.
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Author: Amber
Date: 2000-03-25 18:53
I doubt that it really matters. My cousin is very allergic to nickel, so she can consisder only silver when she buys instruments and jewlery and such. But other than that nickel is fine. The top player at my school beat out 4 other silver keyed players with his nickel one. It seems to me the only reason people get silver is to spend more money and then brag about it later..."My clarinet has silver keys" so I doubt that it makes a huge impact on the impprtant stuff like tone and such
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-03-25 19:35
Amber wrote:
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It seems to me the only reason people get silver is to spend more money and then brag about it later..."My clarinet has silver keys" so I doubt that it makes a huge impact on the impprtant stuff like tone and such
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Maybe as children they brag ...
Silver & nickel feel and look different, so that's what matters. Many of the top-line clarinet keys are already silver plated.
As to tone - it hasn't been reliably demonstrated that the plating affects the sound one whit.
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Author: paul
Date: 2000-03-27 16:24
The horn has some affect on the performance. About 10% at most. The rest is up to the player's skill.
I have to admit that I'm a mere adult novice with a very sweet top-of-the-line silver plated keyed clarinet who has been more than once put back to the third row by kids and adults alike who know how to play the clarinet very well. To a point, I feel a bit sheepish about it. I should spend so much more time seriously learning how to play music on such a fine horn. On the other hand, many of us have seen a man or woman driving a very fancy sports car in rush hour traffic when you know it's really just a toy for him or her. I work hard for the serious stuff. I think it's only fair and appropriate to revel in a luxury, just for the fun of it. If it means that I play a very expensive horn as a mere hobby, so be it. I've earned that privilege.
So, if you're serious about it, definitely go for it. Get the horn that you need to make it work for you. If you are like me, that's fine too. I'll meet you in the third row where folks perform music only for the fun of it.
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