Klarinet Archive - Posting 000619.txt from 1995/05

From: CLARK FOBES <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Mouthpieces--really
Date: Sun, 21 May 1995 21:44:07 -0400

This is a response to Chris Zello's inquiry abour whether or nor
mouthpiece makers play their mouthpieces or not. The text of his
statement follows this post.

Mr. Zello brings up a very interesting point regarding an area of
marketing that has some gray areas: Endorsement of products and
endorsees.

I would like to first state that in my case I DO PLAY A FOBES
MOUTHPIECE. I have found that in order to evaluate the qualities of my
mouthpiece it was essential to switch to my blank.I began refacing
mouthpieces about 10 years ago and at some point decided to try making
mouthpieces from blanks. (Approximately 6 years ago) My research for a
good blank took me all over the map. After using Riffault blanks for
about 6 months I switched to a "public domain" blank available from
J.J. Babbitt. (The old "Opera" and "Symphony" mouthpieces that I
offered for about 1 year) At that time I was still using my Chicago
Kaspar that played relatively well, but was not the "end all, be all"
mouthpiece.

At the 1991 clarinet conference in Flagstaff, Iggy Gennusa
convinced me that I would never achieve satisfactory results until I
had my own core mold. He was right. As soon as the conference was over
I called Babbitt and began what ended up to be a year long odyssey to
produce my current mouthpiece. As soon as I had the first samples of my
new mouthpiece I began playing it. My mouthpiece has gone through many
configurations as I experimented with various bores and chamber
specifications. Consequently, I have arrived at a design that suits my
needs exceedingly well and that I know has acceptable parameters of
sound, response and intonation. I have been playing the same mouthpiece
(#A417-0m) for about 1.5 years. I am always trying to make something
better, but this has been an excellent model to test all my mouthpieces
against.

So, the short answer is that in my case it is absolutely essential
that I play my own mouthpiece. I know that Jim Kanter uses his own
mouthpiece as does Charlie Bay. I am fairly certain that Jim Pyne also
plays on a Pyne mouthpiece. Iggy Gennusa plays an old Chedeville and he
has never made any claims to the contrary. I know that all of his
attempts have been toward reproducing that old mouthpiece. I believe
Eddie Daniels plays on an old Lelandais or Chedeville which is refaced
by Richard Hawkins. I believe that the Marcellus mouthpieces were
attempts to reproduce the work of Frank Kaspar who was a close friend
and associate of Marcellus.

Ultimately though, does it matter to you, the consumer , whether or
not an endorsee plays the mouthpiece that he/she endorses? If a Gennusa
works for you - go for it! The ethical question of endorsing a product
that a performer/maker does not actually use is ultimately a matter of
conscience. But I find it much easier to be 100% behind my product,
because I am in fact behind it!

Clark W Fobes

ou wrote:
>
>I have a question regarding the maker's use of their own mouthpiece.
>
>Let's just suppose that John Doe plays the clarinet and makes a
>mouthpiece, and stamps his name on it. Mr. Doe becomes popular for
his
>great sound, and becomes known internationally as a great clarinetist.
>
>Other clarinet players decide they want to sound like him, and want to
>buy his mouthpieces, figuring that is one element of many in his
>success.
>
>My question is. . .does Mr. Doe really play on the same mouthpiece
which
>comes out of the factory which is commercially available to everyone
else
>in the world?
>
>To be more specific. . .if I were to buy a Gigliotti mouthpiece, am I
>really playing on a mouthpiece which Gigliotti himself would toot on
and
>say "yes, I would play on this mouthpiece; it is comparable to the one
I
>play in the Philadelphia Orchestra?" I do not intend to single out
>Gigliotti, I could have used any clarinet player in an orchestra spot
or
>with a career who sells a mouthpiece with their name stamped on it.
>
>After seeing numerous messages on the list for mouthpiece suggestions,
I
>cannot wonder if these players _really_ play on the same commercial
>mouthpieces which the public has at their disposal? Comments. . .
>
>I just know how easy it is to mail off a mouthpiece to Everett
Mateson,
>Tom Ridenour, Clark Fobes, etc. for a refacing or "touch up." And
>basically a mouthpiece blank stamped with some name could be just
about
>anything, or am I mistaken?
>
>It will take me about a week before I can read any responses on this.
. .
>
>Christopher Zello
>czello@-----.edu
>

   
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