Klarinet Archive - Posting 000102.txt from 1999/12

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] mouthpiece measurements
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 23:53:34 -0500

In a message dated 12/3/99 3:37:04 PM Central Standard Time,
Androyd973@-----.com writes:

<< can someone tell me what the measurements are on a facing that would
be considered open, and what they would be if a mouthpiece is considered
closed. >>

Tom Rideneour has a page on his web site that explains mouthpiece facings
very well. You could probably learn a lot from checking that out.

The tip opening of a clarinet mouthpiece is measured in millimeters. A very
close tip would be say, .97. (not quite a millimeter). For serious legit
playing the maximum tip opening is reached at about 1.20 millimeters.

This is measured with a tip guage, which comes in two types. A spring loaded
dial gizmo (I have one that I hate) or a curved metal guage carefully that
inserts between the mouthpiece and a flat glass.

Both take practise to read well.

The tip opening is only one of several measurements that are important. The
others are where various thickness guages measure the amount of curve in the
facing. Just to be confusing, these are measured in HALF millimeters.

The length of the curve is just as important in determining the response
character of the mpth.

The tools necessary to measure facings are sold in kits and are listed in
several catalogs, such as WW&BW.

I'd say about a year of practise, and you'll start taking accurate
measurements.

The bore size question is unclear. The clarinet bore is supposedly
cylindrical, but in practise, it varies in size several places. The answer
here is WAY to complicated to answer in an e-mail.

<< Also i am wondering the same thing with bore sizes. what numbers
constitute a pretty large bore and what numbers constitute a small bore.>>

The ending bore size (nearest to the barrel) on a mouthpiece for an R-13
should be 14.76 mm, with the depth of the bore being about 53 mm. The longer
the bore, the narrower it must be to accomodate, else, the mouthpiece will
tund VERY badly.

in the market for a new mouthpiece, the dan johnston that i have has some
pretty uncontrollable pitch flexibility and i also get an overly bright
sound
on it. I am interested find out what these basic measurements are so that i
can compare what i have now to them. Also can someone recomend a good way to
measure these particular measurements?
thanks
andy brown >>

Walter Grabner
who is...........
ClarinetXpress
Mouthpieces & More!!!!
http://www.clarinetxpress.com

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