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Re: Why do clarinet tone-holes necessarily have to be round?

Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2017-04-14 01:45

I am a long time owner of a Lopatin flute. Lenny is a very skilled flute maker. He worked for Brannen flutes before he struck out on his own. As much as the tone holes are rather unorthodox the pads are the opposite. While many makers have gone to Straubinger and similar styles he has kept with felt pads. The tolerances are wider than the newer flutes. The corners of the pads can pull as they age and shrink but there is no real problem with padding.
Lenny went with the square concept based on examining the lowest note on the flute. The lowest note vents differently than any other note on the traditional flute.
In any case he liked the sonic results of square holes. It also allowed him to make larger tone holes for the low notes which wouldn't be possible on the round holes. The footjoint toneholes are consequently larger than a traditional flute in area.
Whether the square tone holes sound any different is a difficult question but there is no question that Lopatin flutes are fine professional instruments.
Not that I'm trying to be different but I do use a Lefreque sound bridge on my Lopatin flute.

Freelance woodwind performer

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