Klarinet Archive - Posting 000005.txt from 1993/12

From: Tom Ascher <U15310@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Mouthpiece names
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 11:23:23 -0500

Well, I had thought the question was specifically what do the Letters
mean. But, if you really just want to know the dimensions of the various
brands and models, you might wish to take a look at the Brasswind & Woodwind
catalog which always prints a chart of clarinet and saxophone mouthpieces
showing how they vary by length of facing (but not by width of aperture.)
Also, most Vandoren reed boxes include a little brochure that lists both
the length of the facing and the width of the aperture of the various
mouthpieces. But, I know of nothing that explains the differences among
the SHAPES of the mouthpieces. If anyone has this information, it would
be especially interesting and possibly useful! Also, when I have called
the Brasswind & Woodwind, or Selmer and specifically asked them about
the dimensions, facing length and aperture length, they've been very helpful.
For instance, if my memory serves my right, the Selmer HS* has a facing of
18mm and an aperture of 1.0 mm. The C* has a facing of 19mm and an aperture
of 1.10. I believe the Vandoren B45 has a facing of about 21.5 and an aperture
of about 1.20. But, I may be off by a millimeter here or there, as I don't
have the product sheets in front of me. But, in general, as the numbers,
or * increase, the facing lengths and apertures increase. Also, the longer
the facing, the softer of the reed that can be used, etc. This is a very
rough explanation and I'm sure (and hope) that there are others much more
knowledgeable about this subject than I!