Klarinet Archive - Posting 000074.txt from 1999/06

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] mouthpieces & makers
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 10:43:28 -0400

At 09:25 AM 6/1/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Most makers DON'T play their own mouthpieces. Most that
>I've worked with are still playing the older mouthpieces, i.e. Kaspar,
>Chedeville, etc. WHY IS THIS?? If these guys make such great mouthpieces,
>why are they not playing their own?
>
>Just something I was curious about. Anyone got any ideas? TIA.
>
>Regards,
>J. Michael Norsworthy
>mnorswor@-----.edu

Many mouthpiece makers base their mouthpiece design, facing, etc. on the
mouthpiece they really like. For example, I don't know if Richard has
tweaked his Chediville, but he likes that mouthpiece. He freely states
that the mouthpieces he makes are based on his Chedeville. When I worked
with him, he told me that having a mouthpiece to go back to as a model is
very important in terms of keeping consistant in the making of the
mouthpieces. I have found this to be very true.

Frankly, I really like my Pyne M (medium open) mouthpiece. While I have
made several mouthpieces that I can switch to and get used to and put my
Pyne away, why should I? I don't want to go through the hassle of doing
that. I have a backup Pyne M that I keep in my case that, should I ever
break my first one I can go to. However, if that were to happen, I would
probably just play on my own. No sense going to the trouble of play
testing another 20 mouthpieces and shelling out the $ for one when adapting
to a different one that plays similarly (for me that is) is easier.

I can't speak for other mouthpiece makers.

BTW.....I play on my own bass clarinet mouthpiece.

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

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