Klarinet Archive - Posting 000015.txt from 1993/12

From: Cary Karp <nrm-karp@-----.SE>
Subj: Re: Mouthpiece names
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 18:18:25 -0500

Mouthpiece naming schemes are almost invariably unique to each individual
maker. There is also a good deal of difference between nominally
identical mouthpieces from the same maker. Published descriptions of
proprietary designations usually include only the tip opening and length
of the lay. These two numbers do NOT describe a mouthpiece in other than
very general terms. There is a well defined methodology for more detailed
lay measurement which is in pretty common use by mouthpiece makers. I'd be
happy to describe this at length if there is enough interest in my doing so.

Other important mouthpiece dimensions are set according to gauges rather than
by absolute measurement and there is no generally accepted way of
describing these aspects of mouthpiece design. Usually terms such as
"large chamber" or "high baffle" are used, and indeed say quite a bit.
Anyone interested in single reed mouthpiece design should probably take a
look at saxophone mouthpieces. The variation among these is
very very substantially larger than among clarinet mouthpieces.
Significantly, the choice of mouthpiece for a saxophone is regarded by
many players as the single most important aspect in determining ones
sound. The horn itself is supposed to be mechanically reliable, play
evenly and in tune, and maybe be roughly categorizable as "light" or "dark".
(Head for the shelters :-).

But the mouthpiece . . .

   
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