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 why use silver?
Author: Fan 
Date:   1999-05-11 22:05

Since Silver have so many problem, why the top
professional clarinets use silver-plated keys?
is there any other better material?

Fan

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 RE: why use silver?
Author: J.Butler 
Date:   1999-05-12 02:37

Nickel-silver plating is more durable but doesn't have the luster of silver plate. The older clarinet keys (pro horns) were made of nickel-silver or silver and were not plated at all. Most of the older Selmer clarinet keys were left unplated (balanced tone, hs, centered tone). Plating of any kind will eventually wear through to the base metal. Interestingly enough Yamaha silver plates their sterling silver pro flutes. I don't see the logic in that, but it is true. So what happens when the plating wears thin? If you don't mind the "cosmetic" looks of the instrument, just keep on playin' it. If it bothers you, send the keys and posts off to be replated and with careful maintenance your good for several more years and about $125 lighter in the pocket.

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 RE: why use silver?
Author: Brent 
Date:   1999-05-12 03:01

NIckel plating is slipperier than silver, especially if you sweat at all while performing. This is more of a problem for flutes, but can be an issue with clarinets as well.

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 RE: why use silver?
Author: Rick2 
Date:   1999-05-12 04:37

That's why I leave mine tarnished.

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 RE: why use silver?
Author: Stephanie aka Benny 
Date:   1999-05-12 18:28

I use sterling silver plated keys and i love it. you have to polish it but it does not tarnish like the nickle does...i personally have no complaints!!

--benny* :)

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 RE: why use silver?
Author: Stephanie aka Benny 
Date:   1999-05-12 18:30

because the nickle turns black with the acid in my hands....

--benny*

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 RE: why use silver?
Author: HIROSHI 
Date:   1999-05-16 16:43

Chales Bay started selling clarinets according to their recent brochure although in small numbers.They make siverplated key and gold plated key clarinets.Latter's elling price is only 195$ higher than the former.

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 RE: why use silver?
Author: paul 
Date:   1999-05-17 18:06

...because it was there....

That's how my clarinet came to me, so that's how I play it.

The unstained wood and the silver keys make for a beautiful work of art that just happens to be a premium pro grade clarinet. For me, it's the turbocharged Porsche 911 of clarinets. Since I'll never have the car, at least I can enjoy a clarinet of a similar caliber. In a similar way, all I'm doing with the horn is drill book work and simple songs as an adult novice, kind of like parallel parking a Porsche car and only driving it in stop and go rush hour traffic. True, it's a horrible waste of potential, but it sure is fun! It's even more fun when I occasionally (and probably more by accident than intention) put it through its paces.

So, if you have silver keys, learn how to take care of them. For the folks who want silver keys, learn how to take care of them. For those who feel they need silver keys (like me with acidic skin), well you know the answer.



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