Klarinet Archive - Posting 001005.txt from 2000/01

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Mouthpiece FAQ was... Re: [kl] Greg Smith mouthpieces
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 07:53:46 -0500

In a message dated 1/29/00 8:21:53 AM Central Standard Time,
alevin@-----.net writes:

<< I once had what I thought was a perfect mouthpiece (an HS*) on a near
perfect horn (a Selmer Centered Tone*). I had serious variations in timbre
and response until a teacher lent me a custom barrel. Everything cleared
up. I took the measurements of the barrel; but could not find a duplicate.
I finally gave up and found a wonderful Buffet R13 (which I still have)
and a new round of mouthpieces. I sold the Selmer to another member of my
group. She had it reconditioned, but - out of ignorance - kept her old
mouthpiece - and the problems cleared up again!

There simply has to be a universal way to quantify the parameters. >>

I have two things to say on this and then I am going to remain silent.

The first is to restate Clark Fobes' comment that the mouthpiece and barrel
must be thought of as a unit. I belive that few of us were taught this way,
but based on my experimentation, I believe it to be true

I believe there are (in theory anyway) simple parameters, based on the
science of acoustics) but I do not yet have enough knowledge or experience to
state them conclusively. Maybe Clark can help us out here.

Secondly, it seems that many players, probably the vast majority, do not want
to understand why "what works with what" and instead long for the simplistic
answer. I confess to this exhibiting this behavior for a large part of my
life, e.g. " If only I could get as good a (substitute a piece of equipment)
as (substitute a famous clarinetist), everything will be great."

It seems to me that we all long for easy answers, in music and in fact in
many areas of life. I am afraid that in this one area, a simple answer is not
going suffice.

Walter Grabner

http://www.clarinetxpress.com
Hand Crafted Clarinet Mouthpieces:
Bb/A, Eb, Bass
Clarinet Reed Making Kit
"Making Clarinet Reeds By Hand"

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