Klarinet Archive - Posting 000262.txt from 1998/08

From: Mitch Bassman <mbassman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Mouthpieces that lower the pitch
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 1998 11:42:28 -0400

Interesting thread. First, Jami Green mentioned her experience playing flat
on a Gennusa mouthpiece, but she didn't specify a model.

Then Chris Hoffman pointed out that he tried a GE* model that played sharp.

Next Shouryu Nohe mentioned that "My GE lowers the pitch for me - the GE*
is definitely sharper. ... Of course, he doesn't make GE's anymore."

My turn. I bought a Gennusa mouthpiece at ClarinetFest last month. I tried
all of his models intentionally without looking at the designations -- just
listening and feeling. I confess that I also tried them without checking
pitch with a tuner; but I wasn't planning to buy a new Bb mouthpiece; I was
just trying them for comparison with my primary mouthpiece. Well, I found
one that significantly improved my focus over the 31-year-old Cicero Kaspar
that I've been using. Significantly! Major improvement in sound! (Aside to
Jim Fay: you'd be amazed.)

Anyway, I bought it. More on the model later.

When I tested it later with a tuner, I found that I now play in tune with
the mouthpiece completely pushed in. I used to have to pull out about 1+
mm. (The choice of barrel and reed is irrelevant to this comparison if I
switch only the mouthpiece.) The point is that I agree that I play flatter
with the Gennusa mouthpiece.

Now back to the model. The letters "GE" are engraved on the mouthpiece;
there is no star. Mr. Gennusa wrote "GE*" on my receipt. I didn't notice
that until later. Shouryu claims that the GE's are no longer made. But, on
the ohter hand, mine lowers the pitch. My question is: which model did I
purchase?

Mitch Bassman
Burke, Virginia, USA

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