Klarinet Archive - Posting 000083.txt from 1998/04

From: "Stephen C. Moore" <stevemoore@-----.com>
Subj: RE: Crystal mouthpieces
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 19:29:08 -0500

For me at least, there seems to be a lack of the "ease of production", I
play on a Vandoren crystal with an A1 (close) facing and I have sampled
Selmer and Mitchell Lurie crystals of roughly the same facing; my conclusion
is that at least these models have 2x to 3x the resistance of hard rubber
mouthpieces (I base that on my collection which includes a Combs LC1,
Vandoren B45, Woodwind KM1, Bay mo-m, and a Hite Premier) I also can't use
over a strength 3 reed and get a good tone out of these. When I'm using a
good 3 though (the planets align etc) I prefer its non-edgy sound to all my
others. I also find projection to be a minor problem, sometimes I want the
sound to penetrate more, I'm about to try a baffle on it to see if that
doesn't help. For me though the advantages outweigh everything else -- it
has done wonders for my breath support and embouchure control. I have heard
that the Pomarico and Jerry Hall crystals are supposed to have less
resistance but haven't tried them yet. Good luck!

--Stephen C. Moore / stevemoore@-----.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-klarinet@-----.us
> [mailto:owner-klarinet@-----.us]On Behalf Of Kenneth Wolman
> Sent: Thursday, April 02, 1998 9:52 AM
> To: klarinet@-----.us
> Subject: Crystal mouthpieces
>
>
> Has anyone out there had any experience with the playing
> characteristics of
> crystal mouthpieces, e.g. Pomarico, as opposed to general playing
> characteristics of hard rubber? I know: mileage may vary, but I was
> wondering if there is anything particularly interesting about the sound or
> ease of production in a crystal mouthpiece.
>
> Ken
>
> Kenneth Wolman Information Technology Morgan Stanley Inc.
> 750 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 212-762-1685
> My unpaid life: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/1649
> "I only wish I could write with both hands, so as not to forget
> one thing while I am saying another." -- St. Teresa of Avila
>