 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: chinaboy61
Date: 2007-03-04 21:10
I know the difference between nickel and silver plated keys...Silver has more grip and of course its prettier while nickel turns dull real fast... A question to all the Pro clarinet players out there..Which do you like best? and why?
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Author: mk
Date: 2007-03-05 00:08
the dulling appearence usually is not as obvious with silver plated horns. i have seen pros with both types. I think silver feels warmer to touch....maybe just my imagination
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2007-03-05 03:57
Try a search with words like "nickel or silver keys" and you will find several threads from the past few years with much discussion by pros and others on differences, advantages/disadvantages, preferences, etc of silver vs. nickel keys. Eu
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-03-05 06:17
From my experience nickel doesn't turn dull fast. Silver or nickel is just a personal choice, because they feel a little different. My main clarients are silver plated but since these models are not available with nickel plating there wasn't much choice.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-03-05 11:26
There are several pros vesus cons to silver over nickel. Just on an aesthetic note, silver has a brighter appearance - looks very sharp on stage. Silver is also a harder substance and will endure the abuse of acidic finger grease sitting on top of it for a longer time (but will eventually oxidize as well). And of course, as was mentioned above, fingers don't slip off of it as easily.
So my preference then is, of course, GOLD. Gold is just a tad less "sticky" than silver and it is completely impervious to finger acidity. I have had my Hamilton plated keys for over half a year, and have consciously NOT wiped them off for months. There has been no visible wear or oxidation at all. Compare that to silver keys in the same scenario that need I needed to have replated after only one year. Of course the cure for nickel and silver oxidation if you prefer not to buy a Yamaha CSG-H is to wipe off your keys with a soft 100% cotton cloth after each use.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: William
Date: 2007-03-05 14:39
I second the durable qualities of gold plating. I've had my gold plated R13 for about 20 yrs and it looks abolutely brand new, compared to my silver plated LeBlanc Concerto which is going on only 16 yrs. And it looks great. Last Thursday evening I attended a concert by our local Wingra Woodwind Quintet (UW-Madison faculty ensemble) and the oboist was playing a gold plated oboe. In comparison to the silver plated clarinet and flute, it glowed as warmly as it sounded. And to the touch, gold actually feels softer to my hands, at least in my mind. Gold plating has no effect on a clarinets sound, but, often--and unfortunately--from the audiences perspective, it it (the instrument) looks good, it sounds good.
BTW, I'm thinking about having my Buffet Prestiege low C bass replated in gold. Expensive, I know--but just imagine looking at it...........What A Sound!!!!
When (IF...according to my wife) I do, I'll post a pic.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2007-03-06 01:00
I like the nickel plating on my R13. My hands do not sweat, and the finger oils seem to keep the nickel from tarnishing at all. I think I have really strange body chemistry which makes this possible.
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2007-03-06 03:10
As with so many other situations, it depends upon the player (and has very little to do with skill). My skin chemistry eats through the nickel plated keys (and is positively corrosive to straight German silver. With silver plate, no problems at all.
Gold (and his sister platinum) are even less reactive. However, the difference between no plating and sliver plating compared to the difference between silver plating and gold plating is pretty substantial.
Of course, you could always get one of them Chinese clarinets, plated in gold (with a "fantastic tone")...
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: jane84
Date: 2007-03-06 10:24
Mmmm...lime-green and gold - nice ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
Or maybe orange..
-jane
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Author: CJB
Date: 2007-03-06 11:07
I prefer silver to nickel again due to skin chemistry. The 3 nickel plated instruments I've owned have shown obvious loss of plating after about 3 years. My silver Bb is just starting to loose plating on the register key and G# key after 10 years.
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