Klarinet Archive - Posting 000502.txt from 1999/11

From: PyneClarion@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Crappy mouthpieces
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 11:12:50 -0500

>>There is really no excuse for the wildness in dimensions Walter G. has
>>found, though.
>>Roger S.
>
>Saliva is not problem. We have Sterisol and Sanimist and things to clean
>that up. But once you have teethmarks on a mouthpiece, it becomes "used"
>and nobody wants it. That is why stores are reluctant to let people try
>mouthpieces.

>By the way, does anyone know if there is anywhere near this much variation
>in brass mouthpieces?
> Bill Hausmann
.
Brass mouthpieces are essentially symmetrical and can be produced on a lathe=
.=20
This means that they can be held in a very accurate locked position (while=20
they are spinning) with regard to the cutting tools that remove the desired=20
amount of material. Machining operations of that sort can be very accurate.=20

On the other hand, clarinet and saxophone mouthpieces are irregular in shape=
,=20
both inside and out, yet must be held in a position in which some sort of=20
machining tool (and this varies between manufacturers) can cut the facing. A=
=20
very high degree of accuracy is necessary in the facing curve, not=20
necessarily in terms of exact numeric duplication yielded by measurement=20
tools with limited resolution, but in terms of the actual curve (a very=20
difficult component to measure with high precision) with which the reed=20
interacts. These problems have not been completely solved by manufacturers.

The approach that is still the most reliable in terms of mouthpiece=20
performance is to hand-lap, measure and play test each mouthpiece. This is=20
true for both symmetric and asymmetric facing curves. This may seem=20
@-----. Highly accurate but unusual finishing=
=20
processes, such as the surfacing of a giant telescope lens, have been=20
accomplished by hand-lapping. The process is time consuming, requires=20
special skill and is, therefore, difficult to carry out in terms of large=20
volume, cost-effective manufacturing.

There is no way that I know of to predict the performance of a mouthpiece by=
=20
physical measurement alone. Though, clearly, the exact shape, composition=20
etc. of the mouthpiece dictate the resultant performance.=20

As to the availability of an economical mouthpieces that are reliably good,=20
please see our website: http://www.pyne-clarion.com and look for the=20
PolyCrystal, a unique clear polymer ($29.99) and Sinfonia, hard-rubber=20
($99.00) models. Both have hand-lapped facings and are play-tested.=20

>Arnold Brilhart who played with the original Paul Whiteman band of the 20s=20
and a studio musician, once said he was going to >produce a good, inexpensiv=
e=20
mouthpiece so beginners could get a decent start, and he did.
>Donald Longacre

True....the PolyCrystal mentioned above shares many design similarities with=
=20
the Brilhart.
Sincerely,

----James Pyne

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