Klarinet Archive - Posting 000274.txt from 1998/11

From: "Michael Whight" <mwhight@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] Greg Smith Mouthpieces--Beware!
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 05:03:46 -0500

I met Greg this Summer in London and I agree that the mouthpieces are
fantastic.
Greg faces them to be used with a Vandoren V12 reed. Mine takes a 31/2 or4.

I have been using both the ebonite and wood ones and I am very happy with
them. Greg is genuinely interested in helping people get the results they
want. His mouthpieces work very well with Chadash barrels although I have
been playing on a Leblanc Symphony VII made of rosewood recently.

It's Christmas soon so why not treat yourself!!

Michael Whight
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Fay <kevinfay@-----.com>
Date: Monday, November 09, 1998 6:11 AM
Subject: [kl] Greg Smith Mouthpieces--Beware!

>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
>
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