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Re: Tom Ridenour Clarinets

Author: stevensfo
Date: 2006-11-23 16:52

-- "I would actually like to see 2 clarinets, one hard rubber, one wood, designed by the same person, cut exactly the same and see which one sounds better." --

I think that's the sort of experiment most of us would like to see. Though not just wood vs rubber.

One thing that impressed me about Tom Ridenour's site was the testing where the 'listeners' were asked to rate the sound rather than the player. Anyone who's recorded themselves knows how our perception of the sound as player can be very different from how it sounds to an audience.

But how to make it really fair? If you asked someone to play a $3000 grenadilla clarinet and $30 CSO, isn't there just the chance that, recognising the instrument, they'd play the first clarinet in a different way to the second?

If I had a lot of time on my hands- and some willing volunteers, I'd blindfold the player, attach his/her favourite MP-barrel to a number of instruments and ask him to play the same piece as soon as he had each one in his hands - ie not giving him the time to judge from feel. Then ask the audience to rate how they sound.

The same 'blind' system was introduced into wine competitions in France many years ago, resulting in some very embarrassing results!!

Shame if the R13 lost to a pink plastic cheapy from Shanghai! ;-)

Steve

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Tom Ridenour Clarinets new

Neal Raskin

2006-11-22 02:05