Klarinet Archive - Posting 001514.txt from 1999/03

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Crystal Mouthpiece
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 21:37:22 -0500

At 12:56 PM 4/1/99 +1200, Graeme Cox wrote:
>I'm not much of a clarinetist, but I acquired an ORSI VR (Italian) crystal
>mpc some years ago. It came with an A clarinet that I bought. It has a very
>open tip, medium to short facing and is very heavy. For years I largely
>ignored it in favour of my Vandoren B45 and 2RV mpcs, but recently started
>playing on it. It needs quite a soft reed - I use Grand Concert 2.5 with it.
>
>It turns out to be a remarkable mpc on ALL my clarinets. With a well-setup
>reed, it plays very warmly, smoothly, freely and LOUDLY if I need the
>volume. I use it in church, when playing with the choir. Sometime, it's the
>only way to be heard! I really don't know, but suspect that the extra volume
>it generates results from the weight. Are all "crystal" mps made from glass
>or are some now made from polycarbonate? If so, these will be much lighter
>than glass.
>
Just because a mouthpiece is clear does not make it crystal. Crystal is
GLASS. A clear polycarbonate mouthpiece is, in effect, a plastic
mouthpiece with the black removed.

>My recommendation would be to buy a crstal mpc because, like me, you might
>find that it gives you something very pleasantly different to compement your
>existing mpc and add another dimension to your playing.
>
Material is only a small part of what makes a mouthpiece. Crystal
mouthpieces, due to the method of manufacture, can be very inconsistent,
but a good one, like a good one of any other material, is worth the search.
My own crystal mouthpiece, an O'Brien OB*, plays well in the upper ranges
(very "clear" sound :-) ), but has a weak chalumeau, so it sits idle most
of the time.

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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