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I recently sent this question to Joe Wolfe at the Physics Department at UNSW
Dear Dr. Wolfe,
"I have an couple of interesting saxophone related questions. Why does "rifling" or putting threads in the first 3 cm of a saxophone's neck improve the response of the lowest notes? There are some manufacturers who are currently doing this on all their professional line of saxophones. Also what causes the "burble" or "motor boating" of the low C or B on some saxes that is cured in some cases by dropping a cork or plastic end plug into the bell of the instrument? Thanks.
His response:
Gday John
Inharmonic relations among the first several resonances of the sax impedance curve can make the lowest resonance very hard to play. Small modifications of the bore can tune this, but in ways that are not easy to predict.
Best
Joe
My interpretation of his response is:
1. He did not have time to go into a lengthy detailed explanation and
2. Like all great teachers, rather than give a complete answer, he merely pointed the student (me) in the right direction.
Any information or ideas on "inharmonic relations" or "inharmonicity" anyone?
John
Dear Dr. Wolfe,
"I have an couple of interesting saxophone related questions. Why does "rifling" or putting threads in the first 3 cm of a saxophone's neck improve the response of the lowest notes? There are some manufacturers who are currently doing this on all their professional line of saxophones. Also what causes the "burble" or "motor boating" of the low C or B on some saxes that is cured in some cases by dropping a cork or plastic end plug into the bell of the instrument? Thanks.
His response:
Gday John
Inharmonic relations among the first several resonances of the sax impedance curve can make the lowest resonance very hard to play. Small modifications of the bore can tune this, but in ways that are not easy to predict.
Best
Joe
My interpretation of his response is:
1. He did not have time to go into a lengthy detailed explanation and
2. Like all great teachers, rather than give a complete answer, he merely pointed the student (me) in the right direction.
Any information or ideas on "inharmonic relations" or "inharmonicity" anyone?
John