Klarinet Archive - Posting 000454.txt from 1999/12

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Mouthpiece for 1897 eefer?
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 09:25:30 -0500

I asked,
<< Can anyone recommend an affordable, stock modern mouthpiece likely to play
in tune on an Albert system eefer this old [1897], or do I have to abuse the
piggybank? >>

Walter Grabner wrote,
>OK. After all my ranting about Vandoren mouthpieces, I should state that my
back-up mouthpiece for my eefer is a re-faced B44. It plays well and in tune.
Lelia, maybe you can pick up one somewhere. I can't help you re the fit with
a century old bore size. Do you just happen to have a Vernier caliper around?
That should give you some hint.>

Thanks for the advice. I should have thought of sending that information
about size. The mouthpiece tenon has to fit into a barrel socket that's
0.786 inches in diameter. The old mouthpiece is 2.972 inches long overall,
although the tip has been sanded some. How do these measurements compare
with modern mouthpieces?

A Vandoren reed fits almost exactly, except for the fact that the amateur
repair left the mpc tip slightly lopsided. The width of the Vandoren reed is
perfect. There's a very slight overhang in the length at the bottom.

One other thing -- the length of the clarinet (barrel to bell, *without* the
mouthpiece) is 17-1/16 inches. I'm assuming this Eb is higher pitched than a
modern one. What's the length of eefers pitched at concert a=440?

Don Longacre wrote,
>>>Ever see the ads that advertise an instrument,"comes with case"? Usually
a disgruntled parent trying to unload a low end dog of an instrument that
Junior can't and won't play.>>>

Yup. One of the weirdest sales pitches I ever got was, "Normally I ask $50
for a clarinet, but I'm only asking $40 for this one, because it's missing
some kind of a little wooden part that's supposed to go right there...." --
pointing at the mouthpiece! The clarinet was a plastic Artley with a kid's
name, in large block letters, scratched deeply into the bell. Amazingly, I
passed up this great bargain.... ;-)

Thanks again--
Lelia

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