Klarinet Archive - Posting 001404.txt from 1998/05

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Plastic Mouthpieces
Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 22:40:40 -0400

At 07:32 PM 5/28/98 +0200, Christian Budde wrote:
>> Plastic mouthpieces can be good, esp. for students. The Fobes and the Hite
>> Premier are 2 good examples. They have a problem, though--the teeth marks
>> rapidly turn into teeth trenches. After a while, an enthusiastic student
>> can bite through the thing!
>
>I had to experience this myself, the mouthpiece I play on is now over
>25 years old and was played by me for about 15 years. I never had
>problems with teeth marks. But a new mouthpiece from Yamaha, shipped
>with their clarinets, showed them after about three months of playing.
>It made my teeth jump into a fixed position. I tried a rubber patch
>and bit through it after 2 weeks. Additionally, the patch 'felt' not
>good. I prefer a hard surface for my teeth.
>
>Are these Yamaha-mouthpieces made of plastic or is it a softer sort of
>rubber?
>
The stock Yamaha mouthpieces, usually marked 4C or 5C, are plastic, and
therefore susceptible to teeth grooves. I like the clear (vinyl?) patches
more that the rubber, and find they last a very long time. They are not
quite as cushiony, but give a good grip.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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