Klarinet Archive - Posting 000331.txt from 1996/02

From: Bill Fogle <bfogle@-----.EDU>
Subj: Reed slope/mouthpieces
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 16:41:30 -0500

Chuck---

I sure would like to hear more about fitting reeds of "different slopes"
to mouthpieces (I don't make my reeds). I use V-12's but am slowly having
to confront my own feeling that I prefer a flatter, thinner reed (what
I'm saying, of course, is that my mouthpiece seems to be playing more to
my liking with that type of reed). And the "flatter, thinner" reed is
none other than those Mitcheell Luries. I suppose it's quite basic but,
what do find are the differences (1. between reeds of differing slopes,
and 2. how these reeds of different slopes fit a mouthpiece of
large/small bore). I thought your posting was really interesting.
**************************************
Bill Fogle
Washington, DC
bfogle@-----.edu
**************************************
Chuck wrote, in part-------

Certainly we all have our own goals for our mouthpieces--Chedeville enthusiasts
will
gravitate toward the small bore, old French style of mouthpiece,
Kaspar enthusiasts toward the somewhat larger.
I do make a little different reed for my Jx than for my M's--and also
I vary reed style with the time of the year and altitude. For
example, I use a steeper slope (more like the old Morre) in the
summer here in Virginia, and a shallower one once I get to my summer
job at 7000 feet in Arizona or someplace like Denver or Mexico City.
BIG difference. The Jx mouthpiece takes less slope than the M--but
this is all very controllable in the reedmaking process and in fact,
I'm only aware of fitting a reed to whatever mouthpiece is in my hand
at the time and the slope just comes out that way. It would be a
difference like using regular Vandorens on one and V-12's on another--
a very tiny difference, but I'm into tiny differences. Whether you
handmake or use commercial reeds, you might end up adjusting or
picking different reeds for different bore style-facing combinations.

Good luck and happy mouthpiece hunting to all!

Chuck West