Resonite

Resonite is a trademarked material developed by H. & A. Selmer, Inc. (USA) for use in the bodies of clarinets, oboes, and bassoons, replacing wood or metal. The trademark was registered on March 8, 1955, though the material had been in use since March 1948. It is a molded thermoplastic, described as an economical alternative to wood that is aesthetically and acoustically comparable, resistant to moisture, not prone to cracking like wood, and unaffected by atmospheric dimensional changes. The name Resonite is most commonly associated with the Bundy line of student instruments, particularly the Bundy Resonite clarinet. Resonite was used across the entire Selmer Bundy 1400 series of clarinets, from the small clarinet to contralto and contrabass models. The material was initially smooth and shiny. By 1978, one million instruments had been produced in Resonite. The material is not perfectly suited for higher-quality instruments due to limitations in machining, bore polishing, and key placement, but research shows no notable acoustic difference between wood and materials like Resonite, ebonite, or metal. Among experienced and professional musicians, plastic materials like Resonite often carry a negative psychoacoustic connotation. G. Leblanc Corporation, which held the trademark Resotone or Reso-Tone for a similar material used in Normandy student clarinets, filed legal challenges in 1962 against the use of the term, citing the priority of one of its patents. Today, Conn-Selmer indicates it uses an ABS Resonite material (lighter) for the bodies of its plastic student instruments, with a satin finish and a brushed wood-grain texture. The brand remains active within Conn Selmer's portfolio of student instrument materials.

Resonite was developed by H. & A. Selmer, Inc. (USA) as a molded thermoplastic material for woodwind instrument bodies. It was first used in March 1948 and registered as a trademark on March 8, 1955. The material was created as an economical alternative to wood, offering resistance to moisture, immunity to cracking, and stability against atmospheric changes. It was employed across the Selmer Bundy 1400 series of clarinets, from the small clarinet to contralto and contrabass models. Initially, the material had a smooth, shiny finish. By 1978, one million instruments had been produced in Resonite. In 1962, G. Leblanc Corporation, holder of the Resotone trademark for a similar material, filed legal challenges against Selmer's use of the term, citing patent priority. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court. Over time, Resonite was updated to an ABS formulation, lighter and with a satin, brushed wood-grain finish, and continues to be used by Conn-Selmer for student instruments.

• 1978

  One million instruments produced in Resonite.

• 1962

  G. Leblanc Corporation filed legal challenges against the use of the Resonite term.

• 1955

  Trademark registered by H. & A. Selmer, Inc. on March 8.

• 1948

  Resonite material first used in instrument production.

Economical, durable molded plastic material for student woodwind instruments, positioned as an alternative to wood.

• Bundy Resonite clarinet

  Student clarinet with body made of Resonite material.

• Selmer Bundy 1400 series clarinets

  Full range of clarinets from small to contralto and contrabass, using Resonite.

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