For this project, wood is the variable between the modern instruments influencing phrasing. Another influential variable is keywork plating. Because of the limitations in this specific research project, plating was not a factor that could be included. However, it warrants a reflection after my comparison experience in March 2025.
Grenadilla is the dominant wood in professional clarinets today, and silver plating is the standard across most professional instruments. Prominent manufacturers like Buffet Crampon offer nickel-plating specifically to their U.S.-marked instruments within their R13 model, along with the tradition models and gold plating as a special order. They have also experimented with unplanted posts in their original Tradition model from 2017 and rose gold posts and rings on some of their tier instruments. Other larger manufacturers like Selmer have also offered matt black chrome plating, and Yamaha offers Hamilton plating in addition to their standard silver plating. Smaller makers provide these and other plating on request.
Having experience with the Tradition model, which has been offered in both silver and nickel plating since 2018, I have first-hand experience with how plating affects the instruments. Since there are inevitable variations between different wooden instruments of the same model, reaching a consensus on the effect of plating and what the variations are between different instruments of the same plating is only possible when you have a series of instruments to choose from. This was possible at the Buffet factory, where I have been twice (or more) times a year, and since 2018, I have confirmed my findings during each visit. With several silver and nickel instruments, I could find the best in each plating and compare them repeatedly. It was clear to me that nickel-plating gives a darker timber, but also with more flexibility. These are both attributes I appreciate and am looking for in a new instrument. So, after 2018, I have been playing on nickel-plated Tradition models.
When I started planning the design of this research project, it was necessary to eliminate any other variables when changing wood; otherwise, it would not be possible to attribute any differences. I had to make a special order of Tradition nickel-plated boxwood and mopane clarinets. Buffet Crampon does not make these models in boxwood and mopane; it only makes their higher-tier model, the Légende. However, this is the same bore but with greenline tonehole inserts, rose gold posts, and rings. When I asked Buffet to make my two sets, it was not such a complicated measure for them, although they did have to go out of their way, which I appreciated.
In March 2025, I visited the Norwegian Academy of Music and my colleague Björn Nyman, clarinet professor there. He is part of the reference group connected with this project, where peers can contribute input regarding materials, methods, and artistic results. Having had the mopane instruments for almost a year, I was interested in trying his mopane instruments, which are from a different maker, Uebel. He has had these instruments for around three yearsand has had experience playing them in orchestras on several occasions over this period. There were many variables in our session, besides the main difference of makes. Plating was the interesting factor as his instruments were gold-plated.
I experienced that mopane didn’t have the dynamic impact of grenadilla in an orchestra setting and attributed this to the wood. His experiences with mopanes in the orchestra were more favorable than mine, and we had an interesting discussion about how gold plating might complement mopane more than the nickel-plating on my instruments. This is plausible as I chose nickel-plated keywork on my main grenadilla instruments because it complemented that material. Nickel plating might not necessarily complement the qualities of other woods.
As this research project is limited to one material affordance variable of wood, determining how plating has an effect and could complement or suppress a specific wood could be valuable knowledge to contribute to our field.
