All About Woodwinds
Flute (Piccolo)
MATERIAL
  • Nickel Silver - Copper Alloy (60% Copper, 20% Nickel, 20% Zinc) Lively sound and solid tone
  • Silver Plated - Produces a warmer, darker sound than nickel (bright sound)
  • Sterling Silver - Produces a darker, purer sound than Silver-Plated
  • Gold - Warmer, richer and more resonant sound than Sterling
KEYS
  • Forged/Stamped - Pressed or punched from sheets of metal into key shapes.  
  • Cast - Formed by pouring molten metal into casts to create smoother keys.  Able to form pieces with less soldering required.
  • Machined - CNC Machined to produce a flat pad seating surface.  Eliminates shifting and need for shims.
BODY
  • Ribbed - Posts are soldered onto a plate which is soldered onto body
          *Spreads force of impact to prevent denting - Added mass dampens (darkens) the sound
  • Non-Ribbed - Posts soldered directly onto body
          *Reduced mass brightens sound, improves response, more prone to damage
SPRINGS
  • Stainless Steel:  Corrosion resistant and extremely durable.  
  • Blued Steel:  Similar to Stainless Steel but heat treated to make them harder.  More “spring” at smaller diameters than Stainless Steel.
  • White Gold:  Lighter feel than steel options but higher cost.  Found on more expensive flutes.
TONE HOLES
  • Drawn:  Pulled from the body material outward.
  • Soldered:  Holes cut in the body with the tone hole soldered onto the body.
PADS
  • Bladder:  Fish skin over a felt and cardboard plate to allow for easy sealing and increased durability.  Most common option on flutes and clarinets.
  • Synthetic:  Resistant to moisture with long life span.  It will not change form or give so it will hold seal longer than other pad options
KEY DESIGN
  • Plateau Keys - Closed hole
  • Open Hole Keys - (French style) vents better, improves tuning & insures better finger position
LIP PLATES  (produces 80% of sound – different shapes create different sounds)
  • Sterling Silver - warmer, richer sound – better tone production.  (Also easier to carve)
  • Gold Plated - counters allergic reaction to the skin from other metals, interior of the headjoint is usually gold plated as well which eases in cleaning - “cosmetic” attraction.  
HEAD JOINTS  (produces 80% of sound – different shapes create different sounds)
  • Armstrong - Rich sound, even throughout all registers.
  • Galway Spirit - More over & under cutting for quick response and increased projection.
  • ​​Avanti -  Sweeter tone, wide tone color range, flexible.
Oboe (English Horn)
MATERIAL
​
  • Resonite - Thicker, denser material that combines plastic and hard rubber resulting in a darker, richer tone closer resembling wood.
  • ABS - Resin plastic and hard rubber composite
  • Lustran - Resin used in situations requiring strength, heat resistance, stability and finish options.  
  • Grenadilla - A dense, dark wood that produces a rich, warm tone quality. Aged for three years and treated with a special mixture of linseed oil and other organic materials to repel moisture and reduce cracks.

KEYS
  • Forged:  Pressed or punched from sheets of metal into key shapes.
  • Cast:  Formed by pouring molten metal into casts to create smoother keys.  Able to form pieces with less soldering required.

KEY PLATING
  • Nickel:  Improves the corrosion resistance of the metal being used in key manufacturing.  Most common plating material in student instruments.
  • Silver:  A brighter finish than Nickel plating but will typically show tarnish or discoloration faster.
  • PVD:  Thin coating that provides a high resistance to pitting, corrosion and abrasive wear.  Has a very smooth feel.

BODY (Bore Size / Shape / Taper)
  • Molded Bore: Uses an injection mold process to create the body / bore of the instrument. Can (rarely) cause some inconsistency in the bore due to shrinking of the plastic as it cools.
  • Reamed Bore: Bore of the instrument is reamed from a piece of plastic or wood. Process removes the inconsistencies of a molded instrument.
  • Smaller, Highly Tapered: Produces a rich, dark sound.
  • Larger, Straighter Taper: Produces a brighter, vibrant sound with minimal resistance.

SPRINGS
  • Stainless Steel:  Corrosion resistant and extremely durable.  
  • Blued Steel:  Similar to Stainless Steel but heat treated to make them harder.  More “spring” at smaller diameters than Stainless Steel.
  • White Gold:  Lighter feel than steel options but higher cost.  Found on more expensive flutes.

TONE HOLES
  • Straight: Tone holes drilled into the body from above.  Leaves a sharp angle inside the bore.
  • Undercut: Tone holes drilled from inside body creates a full, even sound and improves tuning and intonation.  Eliminates the turbulence caused by the sharp angle. Improves response and intonation.

PADS
  • Bladder:  Fish skin over a felt and cardboard plate  to allow sealing over uneven tone holes. Most common option on flutes and clarinets.
  • Leather:  Leather over felt and cardboard plate.  Adapt to slight imperfections in the key or tone hole.  Will return to shape after becoming wet easier than bladder pads.  Most widely seen on Saxophones but occasionally used on the register key on the Clarinet.
  • Cork:  Resistant to moisture but very little give.  Will eventually compress and need to be replaced.  Needs a flatter surface than a skin or synthetic pad to seat.  Mainly used on Oboes but occasionally used on the register key on the Clarinet.
  • Synthetic:  Resistant to moisture with long life span.  It will not change form or give so it will hold seal longer than other pad options.
Clarinet (Bass Clarinet)
MATERIAL
​
  • Resonite - Thicker, denser material that combines plastic and hard rubber resulting in a darker, richer tone closer resembling wood.
  • ABS - Resin plastic and hard rubber composite
  • Lustran - Resin used in situations requiring strength, heat resistance, stability and finish options.  
  • Grenadilla - A dense, dark wood that produces a rich, warm tone quality. Aged for three years and treated with a special mixture of linseed oil and other organic materials to repel moisture and reduce cracks.

KEYS
  • Forged:  Pressed or punched from sheets of metal into key shapes.
  • Cast:  Formed by pouring molten metal into casts to create smoother keys.  Able to form pieces with less soldering required.

KEY PLATING
  • Nickel:  Improves the corrosion resistance of the metal being used in key manufacturing.  Most common plating material in student instruments.
  • Silver:  A brighter finish than Nickel plating but will typically show tarnish or discoloration faster.
  • PVD:  Thin coating that provides a high resistance to pitting, corrosion and abrasive wear.  Has a very smooth feel.

BODY (Bore Size / Shape / Taper)
  • Molded Bore: Uses an injection mold process to create the body / bore of the instrument. Can (rarely) cause some inconsistency in the bore due to shrinking of the plastic as it cools.
  • Reamed Bore: Bore of the instrument is reamed from a piece of plastic or wood. Process removes the inconsistencies of a molded instrument.
  • Smaller, Highly Tapered: Produces a rich, dark sound.
  • Larger, Straighter Taper: Produces a brighter, vibrant sound with minimal resistance.

SPRINGS
  • Stainless Steel:  Corrosion resistant and extremely durable.  
  • Blued Steel:  Similar to Stainless Steel but heat treated to make them harder.  More “spring” at smaller diameters than Stainless Steel.
  • White Gold:  Lighter feel than steel options but higher cost.  Found on more expensive flutes.

TONE HOLES
  • Straight: Tone holes drilled into the body from above.  Leaves a sharp angle inside the bore.
  • Undercut: Tone holes drilled from inside body creates a full, even sound and improves tuning and intonation.  Eliminates the turbulence caused by the sharp angle. Improves response and intonation.

PADS
  • Bladder:  Fish skin over a felt and cardboard plate  to allow sealing over uneven tone holes. Most common option on flutes and clarinets.
  • Leather:  Leather over felt and cardboard plate.  Adapt to slight imperfections in the key or tone hole.  Will return to shape after becoming wet easier than bladder pads.  Most widely seen on Saxophones but occasionally used on the register key on the Clarinet.
  • Cork:  Resistant to moisture but very little give.  Will eventually compress and need to be replaced.  Needs a flatter surface than a skin or synthetic pad to seat.  Mainly used on Oboes but occasionally used on the register key on the Clarinet.
  • Synthetic:  Resistant to moisture with long life span.  It will not change form or give so it will hold seal longer than other pad options.
Bassoon
MATERIAL
​
  • Resonite - Thicker, denser material that combines plastic and hard rubber resulting in a darker, richer tone closer resembling wood.
  • ABS - Resin plastic and hard rubber composite
  • Lustran - Resin used in situations requiring strength, heat resistance, stability and finish options.  
  • Grenadilla - A dense, dark wood that produces a rich, warm tone quality. Aged for three years and treated with a special mixture of linseed oil and other organic materials to repel moisture and reduce cracks.

KEYS
  • Forged:  Pressed or punched from sheets of metal into key shapes.
  • Cast:  Formed by pouring molten metal into casts to create smoother keys.  Able to form pieces with less soldering required.

KEY PLATING
  • Nickel:  Improves the corrosion resistance of the metal being used in key manufacturing.  Most common plating material in student instruments.
  • Silver:  A brighter finish than Nickel plating but will typically show tarnish or discoloration faster.
  • PVD:  Thin coating that provides a high resistance to pitting, corrosion and abrasive wear.  Has a very smooth feel.

BODY (Bore Size / Shape / Taper)
  • Molded Bore: Uses an injection mold process to create the body / bore of the instrument. Can (rarely) cause some inconsistency in the bore due to shrinking of the plastic as it cools.
  • Reamed Bore: Bore of the instrument is reamed from a piece of plastic or wood. Process removes the inconsistencies of a molded instrument.
  • Smaller, Highly Tapered: Produces a rich, dark sound.
  • Larger, Straighter Taper: Produces a brighter, vibrant sound with minimal resistance.

SPRINGS
  • Stainless Steel:  Corrosion resistant and extremely durable.  
  • Blued Steel:  Similar to Stainless Steel but heat treated to make them harder.  More “spring” at smaller diameters than Stainless Steel.
  • White Gold:  Lighter feel than steel options but higher cost.  Found on more expensive flutes.

TONE HOLES
  • Straight: Tone holes drilled into the body from above.  Leaves a sharp angle inside the bore.
  • Undercut: Tone holes drilled from inside body creates a full, even sound and improves tuning and intonation.  Eliminates the turbulence caused by the sharp angle. Improves response and intonation.

PADS
  • Bladder:  Fish skin over a felt and cardboard plate  to allow sealing over uneven tone holes. Most common option on flutes and clarinets.
  • Leather:  Leather over felt and cardboard plate.  Adapt to slight imperfections in the key or tone hole.  Will return to shape after becoming wet easier than bladder pads.  Most widely seen on Saxophones but occasionally used on the register key on the Clarinet.
  • Cork:  Resistant to moisture but very little give.  Will eventually compress and need to be replaced.  Needs a flatter surface than a skin or synthetic pad to seat.  Mainly used on Oboes but occasionally used on the register key on the Clarinet.
  • Synthetic:  Resistant to moisture with long life span.  It will not change form or give so it will hold seal longer than other pad options.
Saxophone
MATERIAL

  • Yellow Brass: Standard material. Lively sound and solid tone. 70% copper, 30% zinc. 
  • Red Brass: Standard material. Darker, richer tone. 85% copper, 15% zinc.
  • Brass Alloy: Warmer, darker sound, and increased projection. Increased copper content. 
  • Sterling Silver: 92.5% pure sterling silver.  Unique rich sound, full overtones.

KEYS
  • Forged:  Pressed or punched from sheets of metal into key shapes.
  • Cast:  Formed by pouring molten metal into casts to create smoother keys.  Able to form pieces with less soldering required.

KEY PLATING
  • Nickel:  Improves the corrosion resistance of the metal being used in key manufacturing.  Most common plating material in student instruments.
  • Silver:  A brighter finish than Nickel plating but will typically show tarnish or discoloration faster.
  • PVD:  Thin coating that provides a high resistance to pitting, corrosion and abrasive wear.  Has a very smooth feel.

BODY
  • Ribbed: Posts are soldered onto a plate which is soldered onto body. Spreads force of impact to prevent denting. Added mass dampens (darkens) sound the sound.
  • Non-Ribbed: Posts soldered directly on body. Reduced mass brightens sound, improves response, more prone to damage.
  • Mini-Rib: Posts are soldered onto small plates which are soldered onto the body. Improves response with increased degree of durability.

SPRINGS
  • Stainless Steel:  Corrosion resistant and extremely durable.  
  • Blued Steel:  Similar to Stainless Steel but heat treated to make them harder.  More “spring” at smaller diameters than Stainless Steel.
  • White Gold:  Lighter feel than steel options but higher cost.  Found on more expensive flutes.​
TONE HOLES
  • Straight: Tone holes drilled into the body from above.  Leaves a sharp angle inside the bore.
  • Undercut: Tone holes drilled from inside body creates a full, even sound and improves tuning and intonation.  Eliminates the turbulence caused by the sharp angle. Improves response and intonation.
PADS
  • Leather:  Leather over felt and cardboard plate.  Adapt to slight imperfections in the key or tone hole.  Will return to shape after becoming wet easier than bladder pads.  Most widely seen on Saxophones but occasionally used on the register key on the Clarinet.
  • Synthetic:  Resistant to moisture with long life span.  It will not change form or give so it will hold seal longer than other pad options.
FINISHES
  • Lacquer: Slightly darkens the sound
  • Silver-Plated: Slightly brightens the sound
  • Black Lacquer: Darkens sound more than lacquer