 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2006-03-23 02:06
http://www.nagyvaryviolins.com/
There was a TV program about his development in Japan.
He found Stradivarius's secret was that he used insectiside,Borax (Na2B4O2(H2O)10),in his varnish.
Now he manufactures violins by himself. He boils violin wood with water with 20 mule team borax laundry booster(TM)(how much is unknown) for half day, and then dry it up in oven.
After that he hitted the woods with his fingers, and I could know by the sound easily which piece of wood was treated better.
Although I am not so bold to try this method with my Rossi, I may try iit with my spare mouthpiece, which does not sound like my Greg-Smith.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-03-23 13:42
(Disclaimer, I am maker of the Forte' clarinets)
Hiroshi thanks for the fascinating articles. The sound produced by the violin depends a lot more on the resonance of the wood than the clarinet where sound is primarily produced by the tone holes and the composition of the tube IMHO plays a minor contribution. This mode of historical research using modern analytical techniques to determine composition of materials and treatments used to make historical instruments is important. We run into trouble using what we think are modern day equivalents which are more highly refined and lack some of the contaminants, or additatives, used in old formulations used to make instruments. The borax used was possibly needed as an insect repellent but also as a catalyst for the polymerization of the other chemicals in the varnish. Some of the concoctions mentioned are flights of fancy IMO and it is hard to determine which if any contribute to the sound altering properties of the varnish. I would not recommend treating my wood with borax!
Like some modern day instrument makers, the spectrographic frequency distribution is used in the Forte' clarinet to mimic the sound signatures (frequency patterns) characteristic of various types or brands of instruments. My own research indicates that there are distinctive sound signatures of various major makers’ clarinets and these can be mimicked by careful adjustments and placements of tone holes irrespective of the player.
We may also be imprinted with an expected sound signature which is a product of the type of instrument or setup we have experienced in the past. No doubt individuals contribute significantly to the production of their own particular sound but there is no golden standard for the clarinet as the Stradivarius has become for the violin. We all have our idols who we wish to emulate or incorporate some aspects of a famous players sound into our own. Perhaps the optimum sound pallet should resemble the human female voice as intimated for the sound signature of the Stradivarius?
L. Omar Henderson
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2006-03-23 13:58
Ah, dear old Death Valley Scotty and Ronald Reagan and the Twenty Mule Team.....radio at its best.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-03-23 14:32
Unfamiliar as I am re: this chemistry, I looked in my HB of Chem/Phy, which shows the common name borax as Na2B4O7-10H20 [a tetraborate] . Since there are many sim. cmpds., wouldn't some heat treatment tend to change the "active ingredient" in violin wood treatment to others? The possible catalyst activity as mentioned might be useful in our grenadilla cl wood treatment-aging process. Interesting ! Thots, LOH ? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-03-23 14:59
Oh Bob you remind me how old I am because I do remember the Ronnie Reagan TV ads with the twenty-mule team ususally associated with a Lone Ranger episode (most reading this will not have a clue what we are talking about)! Don - it is a real detective matrix trying to determine the starting ingredients from the finished chemistry. Borax chemistry has been documented for centuries and was used in various forms as a polymerizing agent for natural oils, plant gums, and polysaccharides of which are mentioned in the articles - also as an insect repellent (still works great for cockroaches) !!! Heat of course is the common accelerating mechanism but also brings about rearrangements in chemical structure especially among plant and animal proteins and oils. My favorite ingredients mentioned were chicken blood, ox bile, and ground up precious stones!
L. Omar Henderson
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-03-23 15:08
So Doc -
Does the Forté match any particular maker's sound signature? Can you (are you willing to) make one that plays like the original R-13, before the changes in the 1970s?
Or shall I get my own ox bile?
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-03-23 16:08
(Disclaimer - I am maker of the Forte')
All of the pre 1970's and more current clarinets of a major maker have some sound characteristics which are very similar, and IMO designate that brand as contrasted with the sound signatures of other makers. Both the "feel" of a major maker's keywork and my own approximations of a possibly similar sound signature have been incorporated into the current Forte' Bb clarinet. Selected portions of frequency patterns and key "feel" are not patentable items (according to my attorney) so there is no infringement. I do not however have a reliable source of authentic ox bile for you.
L. Omar Henderson
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-03-23 18:00
So create a formula for synthetic ox bile, patent it and get rich by selling it to those millions of violin makers.
April 1 is almost here.
![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
