Klarinet Archive - Posting 000450.txt from 2000/10

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Mouthpieces
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2000 17:33:02 -0400

Bilwright asked:

<<<I looked at all my mouthpieces and also paged through Gibson, but to my
naked eye, there's no evidence (or mention) of unsymmetrical rails. Is an
unsymmetrical mouthpiece a rare and specialized item, or a common
item that I've never noticed?>>>

Depends on your definition of "common." Most store-bought mouthpieces
probably don't have asymmetrical facings. Many of the custom handmade ones
do. You won't be able to tell with the naked eye (I least I can't), but a
glass and set of feeler gauges will show that many custom mouthpieces have
asymmetrical facings. Most of Jim Pyne's that I have seen/owned are
"crooked." Dan Johnston makes them both ways, as does Richard Hawkins.
Greg Smith just posted that his are symmetrical. I don't know about
Roger's.

Greg Smith mentioned that the asymmetry will do a number of things. He'd
know better than me, but in general an asymmetrical facing will be more
resistant for the same tip opening. I find that my articulation is cleaner
on a symmetrical facing -- but won't state that to be a generality. There
are strong feelings on both sides of the issue. I used a "crooked" facing
Dan Johnston for years, but later switched to a "straight" facing model
(which happened to be Dan's personal facing). Today my personal preference
is a Greg Smith 1*.

All of these gentlemen -- plus others on the list whose pieces I haven't
tried (yet), like Walt Grabner and Clark Fobes -- make dang fine
mouthpieces. Each of them can list a posse of devotees who will swear by
them and sound great.

The solution? Try a bunch and find the one you like. (Or if you want to do
as I do and not as I say, buy one of each and drive yourself crazy.)

kjf

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