Klarinet Archive - Posting 000135.txt from 1997/06

From: "Todd and Lynnette Staley" <nette@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Mouthpiece facings
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 1997 22:48:22 -0400

Thanks for all the great info. I think it will help a great deal. I have
only been playing again for about a year after a five year "sabbatical" or
baby break. When I went back to school this past fall to finish my degree
in music ed, I changed my entire setup on my Bflat. I was on a Blayman
mouthpiece with a Harrison ligature and strength 5 reeds when I quit. Now
I am with a refaced Vandoren 5RV, same ligature and a 3 1/2 reed. My Eflat
has been out of commission for some time now (approx. 10 yrs) I am in the
process of overhauling it to play in some ensembles at school in August
and am assuming that my chops have changed and will require a change in
the setup on my Eflat. Also, the horn has the original mouthpiece,
ligature on it so I would like to get a higher quality setup.
I am from a small town in S. Illinois not too far from St Louis. Our
groups often trek that way to see the SSO at Powell. You wouldn't happen
to play in that fine group, would you? Just curiosity getting the better
of me. Once again thanks for the references. I hope to encourage my
instructor to further explain this to all of our clarinetists in the
fall.
Lynnette
SIUC
--
Todd & Lynnette Staley
email: nette@-----.net

----------
> From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.edu>
> To: klarinet@-----.us
> Subject: Re: Mouthpiece facings
> Date: Thursday, June 12, 1997 12:39 PM
>
> Lynnette,
>
> As a starting point, Clark Fobes has contributed an extremely useful
> article on mouthpiece nomenclature to Sneezy. To access it go to:
>
> http://sneezy.mika.com/clarinet/Equipment/MBL/Mouthpiece.html
>
> In general, the greater the tip opening and the shorter the "curve" (or
> facing, as described in the article) the greater the mouthpiece's
> "resistance" and the "softer" the reed that will play comfortably -- but
> the shape and size of the chamber and bore are also factors.
>
> If you have a catalog from International or a recent box of Vandoren
> reeds, there should be a diagram that gives both facing and tip opening
> measurements for Vandoren mouthpieces. For the most part, however, the
> only measurement commonly given in catalogs is the tip opening.
>
> What will be comfortable for you? Only you can tell. Because the Eb
> mouthpiece is so much smaller overall than the Bb, however, your Bb
> preferences will probably not be much help except that your general
> preference (open, medium, or close) on the Bb will probably be an
> indicator of your preference on the Eb -- but no guarantee because most
> Eb's tend to be harder blowing than Bb's.
>
> If you can find the measurements for your current Eb mouthpiece, e.g.,
> in one of the mail order catalogs, you may be able to use that as a
> starting point. What is it that you don't like about your current
> mouthpiece -- too much resistance, not enough resistance, difficulty
> playing in tune (may not be the mouthpiece, however), difficulty playing
> altissimo (might be not enough resistance or might not be the
> mouthpiece)? If you want greater resistance, you might start by trying
> mouthpieces with larger tip openings and/or shorter facings than the one
> you have. If you want less resistance, start with closer openings
> and/or shorter facings. Or select a manufacturer and try a variety of
> different opening/facing combinations. As has been documented often on
> this list, ultimately the only way to select a
> mouthpiece/barrell/ligature/reed/clarinet is trial and error.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Jack Kissinger
> St. Louis