Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2019-04-12 01:42
Polymer instruments mainly seem inferior because noone ever bothered to make real high end clarinets out of ebonite or other materials. Also, the type of wood surely has an impact, but most clarinetists refuse to change to any other non-black(ish) looking instrument, so we're stuck with grenadilla. I'd just like to point out the following observations:
I almost bought a Uebel Superior (at this point, it couldn't be older than 4-5 years max!!), but it had such a weird erosion at the top joint, just behind the register vent + this typical whitening of "dehydrated" wood that I was sure the bore has already warped somehow. Even if it wasn't, the wood clearly suffered. This did NOT make the clarinet feel "blown out" or more resistant than a new one, actually, but it had slight intonation issues. Also, the posts were loose, another sign for some hefty changes in such a short time. Granted, the instrument was (ab)used by a pro, taken to China and whatnot. Funny, this guy told me that he needed a new R13 every 4-5 years or so, as they were always quickly "blown out". To this day I wonder what caused this Uebel to "erode" like this - but we'll never know
With the duet+ technology, Yamaha makes some ebonite/abs lined instruments in a larger scale - even professional oboes! It's only logical that a smooth bore has a positive impact, but debris and resins may adhere to the edges of the toneholes and chimneys and cause all sorts of issues, too. To be honest, my teachers have never exactly articulated these thoughts and rather talk about wear and this "blown out" phenomenon, so I don't know. All I can say is that a more hydrophobic clarinet bore would be desirable and that there needs to be a more precise term to describe a clarinet's wear/degradation.
Maybe the evidence (such as Morrie's video) is still too weak and maybe bore lining has some sort of disadvantage that I'm unable too see right now.
BTW, the new CG carbon clarinet inverses this idea and as a "wooden core". Backun probably has their reasons... But why does every manufacturer have to make a seemingly innovative new clarinet without any improvements in terms of durability? I'll never fully understand the clarinet science.... Many play on plastic reeds now, but there's NO WAY to make a clarinet's bore last longer??
CL.
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
