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 Determining between wood and plastic
Author: alanporter 
Date:   2022-05-31 21:16

Can anyone describe how to tell whether a clarinet is made of wood or plastic with a surface made to look like wood.

I have an old Malerne horn whose surface looks like wood grain, but I think it feels a little heavier than wood.

Thank you for your help.

Alan

tiaroa@shaw.ca

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 Re: Determining between wood and plastic
Author: SunnyDaze 
Date:   2022-05-31 21:33

Hi Alan,

Does it have a grain on the inside in the bore? That might provide a clue.
My plastic clarinet has wood grain pattern on the outside of the bell but not the inside.

I tried googling and all the suggestions involved burning it, which doesn't seem like a good idea at all.

Jen

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 Re: Determining between wood and plastic
Author: Ursa 
Date:   2022-05-31 22:53

Malerne did make some hard rubber instruments and they do tend to be heavy. To determine if you've one of those, vigourously rub the centre tenon on the palm of your hand--if it emits an odour akin to a bicycle tyre, then it's hard rubber.



Post Edited (2022-05-31 23:55)

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 Re: Determining between wood and plastic
Author: jdbassplayer 
Date:   2022-05-31 23:50

If you can post a picture I or someone else here can tell. If you take it out in the sunlight it can be somewhat easier to tell. The easiest way is to look at the inside of the sockets, these will be smooth if it is hard rubber.

-Jdbassplayer

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 Re: Determining between wood and plastic
Author: alanporter 
Date:   2022-06-01 02:41

Thank you Jen, Ursa and Jdbasslayer.

I'm afraid that I don't have photographic facility at present.

Following your suggestions, the bore looks smooth, some hard rubbing produced a rubbery odor,(I think), and the insides of the tenons looks smooth.

I have a wooden bell from another clarinet with exactly the same dimensions. The wooden one weighed exactly 3.8 ounces, and the other 4.3 ounces. Does this help ?

Alan

tiaroa@shaw.ca

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 Re: Determining between wood and plastic
Author: jdbassplayer 
Date:   2022-06-01 02:58

Sounds like hard rubber in that case.

-Jdbassplayer

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 Re: Determining between wood and plastic
Author: Ursa 
Date:   2022-06-01 11:01

The lone Malerne in my studio is also hard rubber. They can be particularly unresponsive when the pad heights/venting are out of regulation. Installing cork pads in the upper joint can really wake them up.

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