Klarinet Archive - Posting 001037.txt from 1999/05

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Materials
Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 17:06:06 -0400

At 09:29 AM 5/21/99 -0700, you wrote:
>With one caveat, I don't share Roger's disdain for plastic. It's cheap, and
>acoustically OK. In fact, my preferred alto mouthpiece for "commercial"
>work is a Brilhart 5*, which cost me a total of about 30 bucks--too bad I
>didn't try it prior to buying all the other ones in the drawer! ;-(

>There have been lots of posts and cheerful argument over the benefits of
>wood clarinets--it's one of our favorite things to bicker about. If you buy
>a plastic mouthpiece and a brass barrel, though, the first 1/3 of your
>instrument won't be wood--what effect "wood" this have?

Kevin's posts are always very interesting and I enjoy reading them. Don't
worry Kevin, it's ok with me if we disagree!

While the plastic mouthpiece may play well, it will not play like a hard
rubber mouthpiece. There have been many discussions regarding the
instrument itself - perhaps even the barrel, but there are few people on
the list who would say that the material in the mouthpiece does not make a
difference in both sound and the way it blow (feels to the player).

That you may prefer a plastic is ok - no problem. As I mentioned, Clark
Fobes' plays great! I just prefer the sound, feel, and response of a
rubber mouthpiece.

That's all.

Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director, Concert Band/Symphonic Winds/Titan Band
Advisor, Recording Studio
Illinois Wesleyan University
Office: (309) 556-3268
Fax: (309) 556-3411

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org