Klarinet Archive - Posting 000271.txt from 1998/11

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Greg Smith Mouthpieces--Beware!
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 01:07:57 -0500

This is a message for all of you at-risk Klarinetters out there--

Beware of a man in Chicago by the name of Greg Smith. He's known for
noodling clarinet with one of the better-known orchestras in the area,
but his real claim to fame is undoubtedly the grief he inflicts on poor
unsuspecting clarinet players throughout the land.

He does this through a variation of Chinese water torture. In his spare
time (if the CSO lets him have any), he makes mouthpieces. But he won't
send you one to try--no, that'd be harmless. Instead, he insists on
sending you THREE, one in each of the three facings he makes (1, 1* and
1+).

This is the torture part--while different, each of them individually
qualified as the best mouthpiece I have ever played (including bunches
of Johnstons, Pynes, Bays, Portnoys, Borbecks and assorted others). All
3 of them were simply superb. The tone is terrific, but the projection
about 50% better. The real boost is in articulation, though--my tongue
is now working much less to play much faster, and you get a nice "ping,"
too.

At $150 a throw, however, I had to choose--so you know the rest. I
hauled out the excerpt books and tried to figure out which one was
"better." My wife (an oboe player for Chrissake, and I put up with her
reedmaking) has threatened to leave me if she hears the Mendelssohn
Scherzo from Midsummer Night's Dream one more time.

That's not even the worst part. After you choose a facing (and send 2
back), he sends you ANOTHER 2 in the same facing just to make sure you
get a mouthpiece you really like. Picking 1 from 3 facings has almost
made me an alcoholic--I can't wait to get the other 2 1*s!

So, fellow Klarinetters, beware! Save your relationships, and neglect
to try these wonderful mouthpieces. Especially if you live in Seattle
(you'll get my gigs).

Seriously, folks--Mr. Smith makes 'em for you just like the ones he uses
in the Chicago Symphony. Apparently, he's really fussy about
mouthpieces, and for $150 (a fair price, I think, given his expertise)
he'll share this fussiness with you. These were fantastic--I highly
recommend you try one if you get the chance. They're made on Zinner
blanks, so should hold up quite well. I found them to work better with
Zondas than the V-12s Mr. Smith recommends.

Next month, if my wife will let me, I may get one for Eb . . .
Heck, if I play Till enough, maybe it will drive the cats away!

kjf

Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------