Klarinet Archive - Posting 000212.txt from 1995/08

From: "Barry B. Bean" <bbbean@-----.COM>
Subj: Mouthpiece designations
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 16:00:15 -0400

I wonder if someone would take a minute to explain some of the
differences between the assorted clarinet mouthpiece designations. I
am very familiar with sax mouthpieces, and their designations, but a
briefe perusal of the Woodwind catalog leaves me with a bewildered
look on my face.

In particular, I am at a loss to find any system used in the numbering
of Vandoren mpcs. A B45 with a tip opening of .045 makes perfect
sense, but according to the woodwind chart, the B46 apparently also
has a tip opening of .045, and the B44 with a tip opening of .043.

Add to this confusion the 11.1 and 11.6 (with tip openings of .043 and
.045), the 5RV and 5RVL, and the 5JB (with widely differing openings),
and the "lyre" models.

Now I'm fairly well versed on mouthpiece dynamics and the respective
roles of tip opening, facing curve, chamber shape and size, etc. If I
could make heads or tails out of the various mouthpiece designations,
I could begin to make an intelligent decision about what mouthpieces I
might want to try. However, I'm afraid that with the exception of
looking up tip openings on a catalog chart, I'm completely at the whim
of mail order clerks at International Music and the Woodwind. While
I'm sure the advice is good (especially from Lisa at IMS), I'd still
rather be able to look at the designations and order free-blowing,
large chambered mpcs with a round chambers myself.

At any rate, if someone could help me make sense of the assorted
deignations, I'd be grateful.

BBB

B.B. Bean bbbean@-----.com
Team OS/2 strictlow@-----.com
Bean & Bean Cotton Co/Bean Farms 75474.2654@-----.com