Klarinet Archive - Posting 000078.txt from 1999/06

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Kaspar Mouthpieces
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 11:31:54 -0400

At 11:05 AM 6/1/99 EDT, you wrote:
>Please explain what is meant by "refacing" a mouthpiece. Roger, Walter,
>Clark, whoever else is out there...???
>How often can a mouthpiece BE refaced?
>TYVM
>Paulette

Paulette,

The "face" of the mouthpiece is the flat table that the reed sits on and
extends all the way to the tip. All of the flat portion of the table to
the tip including the side rails and tip rails are the "face."

Refacing - sometimes called resurfacing - is simply changing the table in
one or more of the following ways:

1. Changing the table from a concave, dipped (hollow table) table to flat
table
2. Changing the curve from the point at which the table goes from flat to
bending away from the reed.
3. Changing tip opening (distance between the tip of the reed and the tip).

Further work might include changing the window size and adjusting the
baffle for the material taken out of the face. A common problem in
refacing is that, once material is removed from the face, the chamber depth
is made more shallow and can make a mouthpiece play "brighter" or edgier.
Of course, these are very basic generalizations - I'm just trying to
present information that will help you understand what refacing is.

If you have any other questions, please ask away!

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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