Klarinet Archive - Posting 000051.txt from 1994/02

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Scott McChesney's mouthpiece question
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 1994 21:24:56 -0500

Scott, concerning your request for mouthpiece information, I can't be
of much specific help. In fact, I doubt if anyone can make valid
recommendations with respect to mouthpieces simply by specifying a brand
name.

There is an enormous amount of variation in mouthpiece manufacture even
with an earnest effort to keep the parameters constant. Thus, if as you
say you enjoyed (or did not enjoy) your Combs mouthpiece, this means
nothing general with respect to the next Combs mouthpiece you might try.
One can be great. The next an absolute turkey.

Eventually, looking for a mouthpiece is like looking for the holy
grail. One of the best mouthpieces I ever had came as a freebee in a
case with a Bundy resonite clarinet. I used it for years until I dropped
and chipped it. I went into mourning for a week.

One of the worst mouthpieces I ever had was a Kaspar copy.

Herb Blayman, now retired and living in Belen, NM, made several for me
but I was there at the time and we worked on them for hours until they
were just right. But I also have a Kanter B-flat and E-flat, several
fine Bay mouthpieces, and many, many others.

There is no amount of money that I will not spend to get a great
mouthpiece but the variables involved may not be duplicatable within
our technology.

I recognize that you may be at a disadvantage when your teacher swears
by a certain mouthpiece and you find it unsuitable, but it is a problem
that you must accomodate. Some people have very firm and rigid rules
and you have learn how to deal in that environment.

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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