Klarinet Archive - Posting 000865.txt from 1995/05

From: "Lorne G. Buick" <lgbuick@-----.CA>
Subj: Re: Mouthpiece - urgent
Date: Wed, 31 May 1995 10:39:22 -0400

Esther,

I think you are right - they are available only with extreme difficulties.
The best way to get one is to find an old clarinetist who has one, make him
fall in love with you, marry him, then wait for him to die so that you
inherit the mouthpiece.

There are three clarinetists in Vancouver (Canada) who among them are
reputed to own over 100 Kaspar mouthpieces, why, I don't know. Probably for
the investment value because they know clarinetists will pay outrageous
prices for them. So to answer the second part of your question, there is no
fair price for a Kaspar, because they are so famous and sought-after that
no-one will sell one for a "fair" price. They will offer it to you for
$400, then at the last moment change their mind and refuse to sell it.

Another thing to consider is that most Kaspar mouthpieces are now quite old
and have been re-faced. That is to say, the only thing that is still
"Kaspar" about them is the chamber- the facing has been redone, maybe by
someone well-known and very competent (Matson, Fobes, Johnston, etc.),
maybe not.

My advice is, while you're looking for the right clarinetist and waiting
for him to keel over, why not find a good mouthpiece maker, spend some time
with him/her and get a mouthpiece made for you? That way a)you'll learn a
lot more about mouthpieces and your own playing and b) if you ever damage
or wear out the mouthpiece you'll have a much better chance of getting a
replacement that you like. It'll probably cost less than a Kaspar, too.

BTW there are/were two Frank Kaspars- the original worked in Ann Arbor
(somebody correct me if I've got this backwards) and died years ago, the
other (his nephew) worked in Cicero and retired years ago. The mouthpieces
are usually referred to by city to distinguish the two (Ann Arbor Kaspar,
Cicero Kaspar). There is now a guy named Rick Sayre who claims to be
carrying on the Kaspar tradition- I have no idea whether his mouthpieces
are any good, or whether they're anything like Kaspars. His mailing address
is PO Box 164, Clarendon Hills, IL 60514, phone (708) 916-1525.

good luck...

> HELP!!!
>Does anyone know where to get a "Frank Kaspar model Chicago tip 103"
>clarinet mouthpiece and what would be a fair price for it?
>
>If ever,it is available with extreme difficulties, I guess.
>
>Thanks,
> Esther

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LGB Lorne G Buick Draft III Music
lgbuick@-----.ca Wind Music
Arranging, Copying, Publishing
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