Klarinet Archive - Posting 000734.txt from 2001/01

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Mouthpieces
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2001 21:02:33 -0500

> -----Original Message-----
> From: rgarrett@-----.edu]
> Sent: Monday, January 22, 2001 4:59 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: RE: [kl] Mouthpieces
>
>
> At 09:49 PM 1/21/01 -0500, you wrote:
> >Having made the same suggestion, among others, in response to similar
> >questions in the past, I need to comment here. The point of picking a
> >"superstar" whose sound you admire isn't to say that his mouthpiece will
> >make anyone sound like him. It makes sense, though, that if you admire a
> >particular sound and would like to emulate it, you'd stand a
> better chance
> >if you use equipment that is capable of producing that sound. What better
> >proof that the equipment is _capable_ than to hear that someone else
> >actually produces the desired result with it?
>
> There are many problems with this argument - but the most compelling
> argument against this idea is that most of the commercially made
> mouthpieces are nothing like the prototype the mouthpiece was based
> on. The second compelling argument is that many players no
> longer play on
> the mouthpiece they designed.
>
> For example, it is my understanding that Larry Combs does not play on his
> own brand - although I could be incorrect.
>
> Sincerely,
> Roger Garrett
>

I've actually never assumed it to be true that many of the major players who
put their names on mouthpieces were actually their own signature lines. The
only one of these players I know personally, Anthony Gigliotti, does play on
his own mouthpieces, having abandoned his original Chedevilles decades ago,
and so far as I know still replaces his mouthpieces with new ones as he
makes improvements. It follows, by my logic, that if you want to try to
emulate Gigliotti's current sound, a good place to start would be with one
of his mouthpieces.

But in truth, I wasn't necessarily thinking of using the mouthpieces the
star player has designed or put his name to for the very reason you've
pointed out. I'd be more inclined to try to find out what he actually plays
on. If he isn't playing on his signature mouthpiece, then I still have no
evidence that the sound he actually produces can be gotten from the
mouthpiece with his name on it. If he really plays on a Pyne or a Hawkins,
then _that's_ my starting point.

But again, as a player gains maturity and experience, he develops his own
concept and should begin to explore for equipment that will let him most
easily achieve what he is looking for. Eventually, the search for equipment
needs to be based on a need to match one's own concept. All this talk about
duplicating someone else's equipment is only a starting point for a player
who still doesn't know on his own what he wants.

Karl Krelove

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