Klarinet Archive - Posting 000218.txt from 1999/08

From: reedman@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Student Mouthpieces: Plastic vs Hard Rubber
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 01:25:16 -0400

I can well imagine that when "India Rubber" mouthpieces were first offered
as an alternative to wooden mouthpieces that they were dismissed by many
players as lacking in sound quality. What may have at first been an
"alternative" material is now the most widely used material by single reed
mouthpiece makers.

I will agree that a carefully made hard rubber mouthpiece can have a richer
sound than an acrylic mouthpiece. However, my experience in making over SIX
THOUSAND "Debut" mouthpieces indicates that a correctly designed
and hand faced acrylic mouthpiece can play much better than many of the
hard rubber counterparts being offered today and at a much more affordable
price.

Acrylic mouthpieces are made by use of an injection mold process. Because
there is no moisture present (as in rubber) each mouthpiece is an accurate
representation of the mold. Molded hard rubber mouthpieces can vary
enormously depending on the ambient humidity, the ratio of plastic to
rubber in the mix and operator error. Also, acrylic resists the cutting
wheel when being faced much better than rubber. This results in a very
consistent facing. I designed a facing cam for my mouthpieces that is
solely for my use. It is so close to my ideal curve that I make only minor
adjustments to the "Debut " facings.

A band director or teacher of young students wants a product that is above
all consistent. Some of the concerns that have been articulated to me by
teachers of beginning clarinetists are:

1. Can the student make an immediate sound without undue effort?
2. Does the mouthpiece have a good basic sound once the student
begins to develop embouchre and breath control?
3. Does the mouthpiece play in tune?
4. Does the mouthpiece maker demonstrate a concern for a consistently
well made product over several years ?
5. PRICE

In my relatively short experience of making mouthpieces (14 years) I have
tried almost every clarinet mouthpiece available and unavailable. It has
been my conclusion that ACOUSTICAL DESIGN and EXPERT HAND FINISHING has
much more to do with the quality of mouthpiece sound than material. All
things being equal, I prefer my professional rubber mouthpieces to my
"Debut" mouthpieces. But at $29 for a quality hand finished mouthpiece I
have made a lot of parents and teachers very happy. ;-)

Clark W Fobes

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