jbtsax, I think you know this already, but just for the record of this thread: I thoroughly respect your experience, knowledge, and opinion... Even though you mention that this is not based on your opinion.
I don't know. I'm not a physicist, nor do I play one on TV. I do however know what I hear, and so do others. Other non-wind player in rock and blues bands I worked in for years have commented on my Zeph's sound compared to that of my other tenors. It's not like they're swayed by its looks.
I can see that if you already owned a horn and had it changed--eg: the lacquer stripped off a horn. However, if you play-test a bunch of horns that are all the same make & model, and you detect a difference, that's when the differences cannot be written of as easily.
I think conducting such a study would be extremely interesting. Mmmm.... It might be worth trying to set one up and recording the entire thing using a high-quality mic. Designing one wouldn't be all that difficult....
Nothing wrong with your soapbox jbt. You haven't pushed me off mine. I like civilized debates...
If, in fact, neckstraps, weighted neck screws, lafreques, oversize right hand thumb rests, etc. have an effect upon the soundwave and the sound emitted from the instrument into the room---then by what mechanism does that effect take place? It cannot be by wall vibrations having an effect upon the soundwaves inside the instrument. Science has looked for that effect and has found that only to occur when the walls of the tube are .2mm thick and the tube is slightly oval.
I don't know. I'm not a physicist, nor do I play one on TV. I do however know what I hear, and so do others. Other non-wind player in rock and blues bands I worked in for years have commented on my Zeph's sound compared to that of my other tenors. It's not like they're swayed by its looks.
OK, that would make sense, since we're dealing with the inside of the "tube".Minute differences in the interior geometry of woodwinds can have a great effect upon the soundwaves emitted into the room. I have polished the insides of clarinet body tubes with Carnauba wax to have the sound come alive. I have chemically cleaned the inside of saxophone necks and experienced the same effect.
When something is added to or taken away from the outside of the body of a saxophone and it feels different to the player it is a normal reaction. Especially good players are very sensitive to even the smallest differences.
I can see that if you already owned a horn and had it changed--eg: the lacquer stripped off a horn. However, if you play-test a bunch of horns that are all the same make & model, and you detect a difference, that's when the differences cannot be written of as easily.
What I tend to disagree with is that a difference in how the instrument feels equates to a difference in the soundwaves emitted into the room. I have not once heard or read about any of the instances of "anecdotal evidence" being validated by a well controlled "double blind" study in which neither the player nor listeners know which trials are played with or without the outside apparatus or whatever.
I think conducting such a study would be extremely interesting. Mmmm.... It might be worth trying to set one up and recording the entire thing using a high-quality mic. Designing one wouldn't be all that difficult....
Leaving soapbox now that I have said my piece. Peace.
Nothing wrong with your soapbox jbt. You haven't pushed me off mine. I like civilized debates...