Klarinet Archive - Posting 000094.txt from 1998/04

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Crystal mouthpieces
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 21:00:09 -0500

Kenneth,
I finally overcame my terror at dropping one and I now use a
crystal mouthpiece after almost 20 years of professional playing on a
rubber one. I have observed that crystal mouthpieces seem to have a
tendency towards very clear, clean sound. Many rubber mouthpieces seem to
have a 'gruffness', or maybe just a touch of harshness around the edges.
I have never noticed that with crystals - either the Vandoren line, the
O'briens, Pomarico, of the one I use, designed by Jerry Hall (but made by
Pomarico).
The reson I finally started using a crystal mouthpiece is that it
simply has the most sound characteristics I want of all the mouthpieces
I've tried. It is completely subjective. It doesn't help a mouthpiece to
have a beautifully clear sound if it has poor response or is not flexible
enough or if you want a more 'woody' sound.
Conclusion: YOU MUST EVALUATE EVERY MOUTHPIECE INDIVIDUALLY.
General tendencies are not a good indicator of the sum total of all the
traits of a mouthpiece.

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Thu, 2 Apr 1998, Kenneth Wolman wrote:

> 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
>