 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2009-10-04 15:45
From following the posts on this forum during the past two or three years, I have gained the impression that most members consider clarinets made from grenadilla wood sound the best. Others have mentioned "greenline" which I understand to be a mixture of grenadilla dust and some type of resin. Do these clarinets sound as good as the wood ones ? If you left out the dust and just used the resin you would be left with a Vito, I suppose, so the dust must add something to the sound. I can't think why.
tiaroa@shaw.ca
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2009-10-04 16:15
The body material probably doesn't matter much to the tone quality of the instrument. The primary source of sound is the vibrating air column. The air pressure is so low relative to the stiffness of the body material that the body moves very little.
The material does have everything to do with the stability of the clarinet --its moving with changes in moisture and temperature. Wood moves.
I've always envisioned the manufacture of greenline material as starting with sweeping the wood dust off of the floor in Buffet's machine shop. It seems that mixing the resin and dust should be very thorough so as not to end up with a ball of sawdust in a critical place --like at the base of a tenon-- that would make the finished instrument fragile.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-10-04 16:44
For what it's worth, shortly before the lamented Woodwind & Brasswind store closed in NYC, François Kloc brought a bunch of new Buffets he had tweaked.
Jon Manasse was there, picking out instruments for his students. He ended up getting all Greenlines.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-10-04 22:07
Wood moves - as Bob Phillips said.
This means it changes (settles) between the time it is tweaked for pitch at the factory and time you get a chance to play it.
I have found the Greenline clarinets to be much more consistant in pitch (such as Buffet is) from one to another than their "all wooden" brothers.
There is (despite everyone's scientific protestations) a tendency for the sound of the Greenlines to be just a little less lively (less ring - fewer overtones...?). But this is only really apparent side by side. I don't think anyone would really catch a Greenline in concert as lacking.
There maybe something to the idea that all resin is possible. But the fact that the Greenline works so well and sounds so close makes me believe we have a winner as a substitute once the Mpingo goes the way of the Dodo.
...........Paul Aviles
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-10-05 00:49
The Greenline is mostly wood, just not made from a solid piece. Like all clarinets, they all sound and respond slightly differently. If you like the feel and tone of the Greenline, assuming it plays well in tune, than that's the best clarinet for you. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2009-10-05 01:31
Ed Palanker wrote:
> The Greenline is mostly wood, just not made from a solid piece.
You're technically correct; however, I think I'd put it as the Greenline is mostly wood dust. Not that it makes any difference in the (musical) end, but people mentally associate the word "wood" as something more substantial than sawdust.
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Author: markrismik
Date: 2009-10-05 01:35
I play a Greenline and the sound is comparable to an all-wood Buffet but the itonation is much better.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2009-10-05 01:38
As previously discussed, and despite advertising hype - there is mostly resin and very little wood in the Greenline material. In order to make a stronger final material you need more resin and little filler which actually detracts from strength. The Greenline matterial is reinforced by carbon fibers but is 80-90% resin. It is impossible to put more than 10-20% filler (wood) into a material usable to make a clarinet body.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-10-05 16:12
Actually, 90% of everything is actually crud. It's what we do with the other 10% that matters. 
Jeff
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