Klarinet Archive - Posting 000713.txt from 1996/02

From: CLARK FOBES <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: polished mouthpiece chambers
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 01:58:00 -0500

You wrote:
>
> Lee Gibson wrote that polished mouthpiece chambers are indicative of
> high-quality workmanship (his declarative--not mine!) Does anyone
have
> observations about this? I have one mouthpiece that's shiney inside.
> The"highest quality" mouthpiece I own is quite rough and
"unfinished"
> inside.
>
> Sorry to yank at an old thread. I tried to make the subject header
as
> specific as possible! I'm very much into mouthpieces just now (in
> preparation, I think, for someday refacing them myself) I'm quite
> curious about this question. Thanks.
>
> ********************
> Bill Fogle
> Washington, DC
> bfogle@-----.edu
> ********************
>Bill,

I, for one, don't care for the sound of a highly polished surface.
I have tried polishing the bore as well as the chamber. I think thia
practice amplifies some of the undesireable "highs" in the reed
vibration. We all have own preferances of course. Try it on a
mouthpiece that you don't care about. Then go over the surface with
#000 steel wool. You WILL hear a difference.

If you are really interested in refacing mouthpieces try to find
some old Sumners. They are not highly sought after and can prove to be
excellent when finished. Save those old Cheds for later when you have
practiced a little more.

Clark W Fobes