Klarinet Archive - Posting 000377.txt from 1995/02

From: Luuk van Buul <vanbuul@-----.NL>
Subj: Re: mouthpiece problem
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 1995 12:24:32 -0500

First a short introduction of myself: I am an amateur clarinettist (only Bb) in
the Philips' Symphonic Band orchestra. This orchestra consists of about 70 wind
players (of which 25 play the clarinet) and we play everything from
arrangements of classical pieces to big band, film music etc. We have
rehearsals twice a week and about 20-30 concerts per year. So, for an amateur
band we play quite a lot.

I play a Leblanc LX clarinet with a Selmer C85-120 mouthpiece and had
recently an experience similar to that of mr. Leeson.

I couldn't find any good reeds in a box, they all seemed too light. I play
the same reeds for several years now (Vandoren V12 nr.3) so I didn't understand
this at first. After some weeks, searching for good reeds, I noticed that my
tone degraded as well. I went to a local woodwind shop and tried several new
mouthpieces, amongst which a new Selmer C85-120, the same type I was using.
The difference between my old and the new one was striking. They seemed totally
different mouthpieces. I tried three new ones (of this same type) and they all
were alike apart from minor differences. Only my old m.p. fell out of range. I
bought a new Selmer and went home.

My friend plays clarinet also, with the same type of clarinet and mouthpiece.
Her m.p. is about two years younger than mine (which is about five years old
now). I tried her m.p. on my clarinet. It plays and sounds just in between my
old and the new one. Reeds too light for my old m.p. are ok with hers and too
heavy with the new m.p. This indicates something has happened with the
curvature of the older mouthpieces.

I asked the repair man of the woodwind shop but he assured me he never heard
about ageing mouthpieces. Nevertheless, when I discussed this with some fellow
clarinettists of the Philips' Symphonic Band, they confirmed my experience with
their own stories, which are essentially the same (some with Selmer m.p. which
are made of some plastic material, but also with Leblanc ebonite mouthpieces).

There is also a passage in mr Brymer's book The Clarinet saying something about
ageing m.p. I don't have my copy here, but I believe he states mouthpieces wear
off by the beating of the reed against the rather soft material of the mp.

I'd like to hear more about this!

Luuk van Buul
vanbuul@-----.nl