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Re: Tom Ridenour Clarinets

Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2006-11-24 08:14

I can see both sides of the 'does the material matter?' argument. The acoustics of tubes is no respecter of materials, so what does the material matter? If a rubber or plastic (insert your favourite manufacturer / top of the range model here) clarinet was made, finished and set up appropriately, the physics says that it should sound as good as a wooden one for a given mouthpiece / reed/ lig / player combination.

The clarinet has been evolving for 200+ years, other instruments for longer. Over time, craftsmen and players have discovered that certain materials work and others don't. Wooden clarinets are (mostly) made from grenadilla. Why not pine? Why do we use Arundo Donax cane for reeds? Violin bodies are made from maple. Why not oak? Why are brass instruments not made from aluminium? For the simple reason that these materials provide what the players want in terms of responsiveness, tone, intonation, a million and one undefineable personal preferences....

In the real world, the only way non-wooden clarinets are going to become acceptable to all is if the world's top players and teachers collaborate with the large manufacturers and to produce and promote non-wooden clarinets that are as good as the wooden ones. Such is human nature.

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Tom Ridenour Clarinets new

Neal Raskin

2006-11-22 02:05