Klarinet Archive - Posting 000454.txt from 2000/02

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Mouthpieces
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 08:42:13 -0500

on 2/10/00 3:34 AM, Noteguy7@-----.com wrote:

>Just a quick question for all of the mouthpiece people on the list.I
>recently had my repairman take a look at my mouthpiece and he said that the
>lay of my mouthpiece had some problems. For one thing two of the four
>measurements that he took showed that the rails were not consistent. He also
>pointed out a few other problems but my question is this. My mouthpiece,
>which is a hawkins by the way, has a very nice sound better than any other
>mouthpiece that I have tried. I would like to know how much of a difference
>should I expect to have in the general tone of the mouthpiece if I was to
>have it refaced?

I'm sure the mouthpiece gurus will weigh in on the technical side.
Refacing has the possibility (probability?) of changing various
measurements and their relationship to each other in a way that affects
the sound of the mouthpiece. Possible not for the better. I'd tread
*VERY* carefully!

>Although I believe it to have a great sound my mouthpiece
>has shortcomings in other areas mainly its staccato and altissimo range.

*Mouthpieces* do not have shortcomings with staccato and altissimo!! ;-)
(although they can make life in those areas more difficult)

>Should I reface and what should I expect. Thanks in advance!

*I* would never reface my primary mouthpiece. I'd hunt for one I liked
better, and if I found it, I'd let someone I trusted (Clark Fobes and
Walter Grabner of this list to name 2) try to "fix" the shortcomings of
my other mouthpiece. If it helped, great. If not, no great loss.

Just as a point of information, I like asymmetrical mouthpieces - it's
something about the shape/formation of my teeth and oral cavity. While
it's not ideal, unevenness is not by itself an indicator of a bad
mouthpiece - there are just too many variables.

My $0.02 - hope it helps.

David

David Niethamer
Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/

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