Klarinet Archive - Posting 000278.txt from 1996/07

From: "Gregory T. Wright" <103147.1471@-----.COM>
Subj: single-lip vs tooth vibration, tuners
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 1996 15:23:51 -0400

Roger and Klarinet,,
I understand your point about double-lip on bass clarinet -- I used to
play double-lip on bari sax for the same reason.
My solution? Add a thin rubber patch to the top of my mouthpiece. The
patch is available from any store that sells bicycles; it is the same patch used
to repair bike inner tubes. I have used two different glues to add the patch:

1) Use rubber cement (which usually comes with the patch) -- In order to
do this reliably, you have a distasteful job ahead of you. In order to get the
rubber cement to adhere to the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece has to be roughened
where the patch will sit. This can be done with (shudder) coarse sandpaper, a
knife... I suppose a chain saw could *DO* it, but that would *probably* be a
bit much ;-)... Then, apply the rubber cement & lay the patch on top. Use some
weight to act as a "clamp" as the the cement dries.

2) Use contact cement-- I've not done this recently, because I've had
rubber cement on hand. As I recall, the mouthpiece doesn't need to be (as)
roughened, but application of the patch is critical. To use contact cement,
both surfaces are coated and allowed to dry. When drying is complete, the patch
is placed in it's __**EXACT**__ position on the mouthpiece. No second tries
here... if the patch isn't quite straight, you may be able to carefully trim it
as it lays..
_________

OR, you can grin and bear it! I currently use a patch on alto sax, but
not on either soprano or bari, and I use single-lip embouchure on all of them.
Perhaps your single-lip discomfort could be reduced by putting more of the
weight of your head on the mouthpiece. (This is easy to do on sax, because of
the neckstrap. It should work with bass clarinet, with strap or "peg" support).
The vibration is reduced, simply because it is harder to move your head when it
seems "heavier" to the mouthpiece. I do NOT mean "bite"!!

Good luck! If the patch solution seems too "hands-on", I'm sure
a repairman could & would do it for you.

Gregory T. Wright
103147.1471@-----.com
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/GTWright/

PS- Tuner stuff...

>The owner of the said bass also has a spiffing tuner. You can play at
>it and it lights up a light to say which note of the scale it thinks
>you're playing, and there's a meter and a `balancing pair' of lights
>that show you how near (or far) you are from the proper pitch.

... I have one of these, and it truly IS "dead useful",
especially for a guitar player (I don't consider myself enough of a guitar
player to use "guitarist" in reference to myself). The tuner comes with a "Y"
sort of adapter, so that the tuner can stay patched in between the guitar and
amplifier, and it comes with Velcro (R) tabs so it can be semi-permanently
attached to an amp. I use an acoustic-electric guitar with my school choirs
occasionally, and it is truly HANDY to be able to play an open string quietly
(no amp) & see the pitch. It is also HANDY to be able to change to a
"dropped-D" tuning (lowest E string flattened a whole step to D) quickly &
quietly, and without the audience hearing the "Is that it?... No, not quite far
enough... Ooops too far, I'm playing C#..." stage..
This tuner, rather than having a meter showing exact pitch, has a "flat"
LED and a"sharp" LED. The faster one of them flashes, the farther out of tune
you are, in that direction. It also can become confused & pick up a harmonic
in the tone you're playing. I played an "F" concert on alto sax, and it told me
that it was a "C" - at least it was an IN-TUNE "C." More volume fixed the
tuner's mistake.

   
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