Does plating affect the sound; no longer an issue...

[saxsaxsax69]

LOL yeah they do look pretty too, but many would argue that having a gold plate alto with solid silver crook would look wrong! I don't care, it sounds the best!

[Pete Thomas]

When you play a saxophone the material of the body doesn't move, only the reed. Your logic is flawed.

These arguments do usually end up with somebody giving examples of a different instrument to illustrate what happens with a saxophone. We all know the skin of a drum resonates, we all know the body of a violin or guitar resonates. You can affect the sound of such instruments by using your hands to dampen the vibrations which are going through them. However you hold a saxophone, the sound is not damped because the sound is created by the vibrations in the air column inside saxophone, which is purely a container for the shape and dimensions of that air column, so the material or finish of the container is not significantly affecting the sound.

Switching between different instruments with different finishes is never going to be a convincing scientific demonstration. I think it would make more sense to drastically exaggerate a finish, e.g cover a saxophone with a couple of inches of blue tack or lead. Then see if any differences could be heard. I think you would if it was a violin or a drum, but my money would be on on there still being no discernible difference in the sound of a saxophone treated in that way.

[alljoe]

dont forget we do want our horns pretty too and a durable finish that lasts a long time - so we dont some of these nasty looking mk vi's we have now.

edit: the manufacturers really do have a lot to consider.

[milandro]

how about reading in the many past threads the answers to the points (made many times before) 1, 2 , 3 and 4?

[smonkman]

LOL.... Umm... basic principle of physics, energy is never lost or created, merely transformed.

If the material is getting warm (which saxes do), it must be getting the energy from somewhere, therefore this energy can be changed and it must therefore have an affect on sound.

Its like the air moves when we speak etc etc, you try playing in different air types, that effects the sound. Take some helium and then play the sax, this will effect the sound (and more noticeably) and pitch as the air (or mixture of it) travels faster.

Its all complicated process, but materials WILL effect the sound.

Spend some time with Benade's "Fundamentals of musical acoustics", once you understand it you will know the materials used to finish a saxophone have zero effect on sound.

[Freehugs]

how about reading in the many past threads the answers to the points (made many times before) 1, 2 , 3 and 4?

None of the past threads answer anything. There are two sides, and neither side will give until indisputable evidence is put forth. We can all agree that it really doesn't matter that much, but it's SOTW, people love to argue. Reading threads like this help pass time at work

[alljoe]

i have. and went through the calculations on one of them.

Having worked as an engineer for many years. and seen calculations typically only yield results within 25%, or be so far off as to be rediculous. or things overlooked in calculations, or unintended effects of "minor" changes, I cant put full stock in the theory aspects

[alljoe]

who thinks they will ever get a manufacturer , that paid a lot of money for their proprietary research, to make the results public.

[milandro]

All of the past threads have, at some stage, answered those questions. Don't flatter yourself, none of what you are writing brings anything new to this old and trite argument

[Dr G]

LOL.... Umm... basic principle of physics, energy is never lost or created, merely transformed.

If the material is getting warm (which saxes do), it must be getting the energy from somewhere, therefore this energy can be changed and it must therefore have an affect on sound.

The instrument gets warm from the hot air passing through it - something in apparently great supply.

[jordanreed]

All of the past threads have, at some stage, answered those questions. Don't flatter yourself, none of what you are writing brings anything new to this old and trite argument

you got that right!!

[Flâneur]

We human's revel in the beauty that our eyes see and ears hear. We have a hard time separating the two. Especially when we want a beautiful brass finish (whether one thinks a high-luster shiny brass finish or dull, greenish tarnished brass finish is more beautiful doesn't matter) and beautiful tone to correlate somehow.

[alljoe]

All of the past threads have, at some stage, answered those questions. Don't flatter yourself, none of what you are writing brings anything new to this old and trite argument

yes they have, but not to my satisfaction. if you are buying the story, thats fine with me.

[Dr G]

We human's revel in the beauty that our eyes see and ears hear.

Hey! Who are you calling "human"?!

[Bebopalot]

I find it entertaining that anyone would say that since different material affects sound on a drum, plating would make a difference on a sax or even funnier...... on the keys of a clarinet. Apples and oranges.

[Flâneur]

Chill dude, aren't you a cyborg?

Hey! Who are you calling "human"?!

[milandro]

The instrument gets warm from the hot air passing through it - something in apparently great supply.

this thread is a great witness that there the inexhaustible source of hot air about this!

[bandmommy]

If you guys want I can call around to the music shops in Grand Rapids and Lansing to see if they have one of these Hamilton plated clarinets.
I will compare it to the same clarinet with silver and nickle plated keys and let you know my findings.
I will also use the same mouthpiece/ligature/reed on all of them so there will be one constant element to the 'experiment'.

I could also ask a buddy to join me and record all 3 for review after the fact. I'll bet that they sound the same....

[Dr G]

Could you please ask them to put the various keys on the same clarinet body so we can get a more scientific comparo?

And PLEASE don't let your reed change while you're waiting.

[Flâneur]

Your schadenfreude is showing.

this thread is a great witness that there the inexhaustible source of hot air about this!