Klarinet Archive - Posting 000150.txt from 2000/03

From: "Andrew J Middup" <Middup@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Clarinet Pitch/Vandoren 13 Series Mouthpieces
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2000 20:27:49 -0500

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When Buffet offer instruments for different pitches(e.g. A =3D 440, 442 =
or 444), is there any difference in the spacing/size of tone holes or is =
it purely a difference in barrel length?

I ask this because I am trying to understand the how the characteristics =
of the Vandoren "13" series mouthpieces differ from the standard range. =
The UK sales literature for these suggest that they are developed =
"specifically for American clarinettists using A440 pitch". If the upper =
and lower joints of clarinets for different pitches are different, then =
surely these would be designed for a 'standard ' mouthpiece and the =
barrel length would be selected to match. If the different clarinet =
pitch comes from barrel length alone, there must be a compromise in =
tuning the throat notes with those at the low end of the registers but =
again why should a further adjustment in the mouthpiece be necessary?

In my own case I have happily been using Vandoren B40 mouthpieces with =
my pair of Buffet RC (A440) clarinets for over ten years. I find that I =
need to replace a mouthpiece every 3/4 years because of subtle changes =
which take place and when I changed six weeks ago, I bought a B40 - 13 =
instead of the standard B40. Over most of the range I am playing 15-20 =
cents in pitch lower than I was with the last B40. From what I have read =
on this list, this difference might just be variation between two =
mouthpieces of the same type but by my crude calculations this is =
equivalent to the difference between an A444 and an A440 instrument and =
it set me thinking as to why it should be necessary to design a special =
mouthpiece with this effect given that the instrument was supplied to =
play at A440 in the first place.

If anyone could help to clarify my thinking on this I would be grateful.

Andrew

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