 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clarineteer
Date: 2017-03-01 21:37
Does anyone know the advantage of a double walled professional metal clarinet over a non double walled professional metal clarinet.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2017-03-01 22:54
The air space in between the walls of the double-wall instrument acts as a "heat capacitor" (reservoir) to moderate temperature effects on the expansion/contraction of the metal and the air column inside the bore.
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-03-01 23:06
Hi Joseph,
I've played a double-walled "professional" metal clarinet as my primary instrument for about ten years. The theory with the double-walled design is that the chamber between the two walls would act as a "thermos." The cold air of the room would be insulated from the comparatively warmer air being blown through the instrument...with the chamber between acting as sort of a heat exchanger so to speak which would hopefully stabilize the inner metal tube by keeping its temperature more or less constant.
The theory vs single-walled metal clarinets was:
Single-walled clarinets rapidly change pitch due to fluctuations in temperature while playing, as the metal expands/contracts due to the ambient air temperature and air being blown through them. As an answer to this problem, a second wall could be added with space in between which would help reduce this fluctuation.
Of course, as with any instrument, there will be an initial "warm-up" and a post play "cool-down" of the instrument - but the double-walled design was tried as an attempt to stabilize the pitch in between warm-up and cool-down.
I believe it is the Haynes model (of flute-making fame) clarinet which even provided a trap door which the musician could blow warm air directly into the betwixt-wall chamber.
Does it work?
Yes and no. It depends on the environment you're playing in. If it is very cold, or very hot - I've noticed a stability over my single-walled metal clarinets. If I'm playing in conditions suited for a wooden clarinet (moderate temperatures) - I haven't really noticed a benefit of the double-walled design. I've never seen any studies on the topic though.
Fuzzy
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Author: Clarineteer
Date: 2017-03-02 04:13
Thanks. I am considering purchasing a Charles Triebert double walled Bb Master model metal clarinet.
Post Edited (2017-03-02 11:12)
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-03-02 05:00
I've never had the occasion to play a Triebert...they were made around 1900, right? If you end up purchasing it - please post and let us know how it turns out!!
Fuzzy
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-03-02 11:10
Attachment: couesnon.jpg (69k)
Double walled metal clarinets have vents to equalise the air pressure within the walls so they'll neither collapse nor balloon with temperature changes.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-03-02 11:27
Sorry - wrong photo. I had some photos of the ends of the tenons and sockets which were all vented.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-03-02 20:52
Chris,
Interesting observation. I haven't been able to find such vents on the two double-walled clarinets I own. There's nothing specifically at the tenons (except for screws for disassembly.) I'm wondering if they somehow worked such vents into the design elsewhere...or if the simple fact that disassembly is possible at all leaves enough "leakage" to equalize the pressure?
Don't know why I had never pondered this before.
I wonder if the same is true of the "armored" clarinets. I know the air pressure wouldn't really be a factor, but heating/cooling expansion/contraction might still play a roll in the dissimilar material (metal/hard rubber/ebonite)? Hmmm. Thanks for bringing up the topic - it has me thinking.
Fuzzy
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