Klarinet Archive - Posting 000202.txt from 1999/08

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] Student mouthpieces
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 20:20:10 -0400

On Tue, 10 Aug 1999, Kevin Fay (LCA) wrote:
> I guess that I'm in the disagreer's camp, FWIW. I personally use a hard
> rubber clarinet mouthpiece--a Greg Smith 1*, uses a Zinner blank. I have
> also used crystal, however. On alto sax, I end up using 1 of 2 mouthpieces:
> either a Brilhart 5* (for "commercial" work) or a Sigurd Rascher. Both are
> plastic. That's not why I choose to use them--I have a drawer full of much
> more expensive rubber and metal mouthpieces--they just work better for me.

I like the crystal mouthpieces, but I feel they have limitations. I just
sold a 1965 Obrien that was the best crystal I've ever played on. I'm
beginning to wish I hadn't - but I haven't used it for years. Metal
mouthpieces for jazz are fine. If you use a plastic for saxophone -
especially the larger horns - great - I've done it too. I'm talking
strictly clarinet - and for legit playing - I was responding to the
question raised by Oliver.

Opined?

> My opinion (please note the use of the "o" word) is that material is
> immaterial. A tiny change in the facing or interior dimensions would be a
> much bigger factor than what it's made of.

As I said, many people will have many different opinions on this one.

> Hard rubber is easier to hand-craft, so that's why the esteemed mouthpiece
> gurus use it. Crystal is more stable, but hard to work with (and a disaster
> if dropped). Plastic is only a bit cheaper than rubber, and perhaps doesn't
> last as long with normal playing--but with a mouthpiece patch, it'll likely
> hold up just as much to the (ab)use that students subject them to.

Kevin - what is your opinion regarding markup on plastic mouthpieces vs.
hard rubber? Why do the hard rubber mouthpiece blanks which cost the
maker $17.95 sell for $150+ and the identical blank in plastic, which
costs $12 sells for $25? Just curious what your thoughts are on that.
Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director - Concert Band, Symphonic Winds & Titan Band
Advisor - Recording Studio
Illinois Wesleyan University

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