Klarinet Archive - Posting 000895.txt from 1998/05

From: "Don Yungkurth" <clarinet@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Re: Mouthpiece Distortion (was Cut on mouthpiece)
Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 16:41:19 -0400

Maestro645 (Chris Hoffman?) writes:

>Also, what do you mean when you say a mouthpiece is distorted? Dumb
question,
>I know, but I'm entitled to a few! ;o)

I assume this is questioning my comment on another matter:

"Another reason to avoid keeping the reed on the mouthpiece is to make
certain that the mouthpiece doesn't become distorted from continual
pressure by the ligature."

Distorted here refers to physical distortion of the mouthpiece, as opposed
to tonal distortion. It is important that the table (the flat part of the
mouthpiece) remains flat, or however it was intended to be by its maker.
Some are apparently slightly convex or concave, but essentially flat.
Since mouthpieces other than glass/crystal are made of plastics or rubber,
they can change shape slightly with continued pressure. Many of us (not
all, certainly) feel that a reed must be absolutely flat on the back side
to perform properly and predictably. If you have a non-flat mouthpiece
table, i. e., warped, *no* reed is likely to play well (according to us
flat-reeders!).

Don Yungkurth (clarinet@-----.net)

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