Klarinet Archive - Posting 000241.txt from 2001/07

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: RE: [kl] Speaking of mouthpieces...
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 02:53:29 -0400

At 02:38 PM 7/10/01 -0400, you wrote:

>Roger, this intrigues me a little. I haven't played on any but the
>close-tipped end of the Vandoren line, and I haven't done any more than
>slight facing adjustments. What variables differ among the Vandoren models
>that cause one to "face up very nicely" and another not to "reface well
>compared to other Vandoren models?" Or is it just that some of the facings
>make better (easier) starting points for the particular facings you
>generally put on them yourself?

Your last sentence says most of it.........

By way of an explanation:

The sabbatical project I undertook in 1998 was originally going to
encompass a project that focused on improvisation - and incorporating that
into the lesson scheme. That was a failure in terms of setting up a
project with a reasonable budget, so I went with #2 - "Properties of
Clarinet Mouthpiece Design". My idea was to learn general information
about each mouthpiece available (at least the most popular) and, as a
secondary area, reface new examples of those mouthpieces.

The Vandoren line was a hoot. I found that most mouthpieces in the same
model did not measure the same. Some of this was due to slight variances,
but most of it was so far off that I wondered if perhaps some of them had
been stamped incorrectly. The B45 measured anywere from 1.13 to 1.18 tip
opening - often leaning towards the latter. Pretty interesting considering
the 1.15 measurement it was supposed to be.

At any rate - the two mouthpieces that were the most difficult of the line
to reface were the B46 and the B45, with the latter being truly
stubborn. Because I don't know which blanks are used - or if they all
begin the same (not likely given interior measurements - including bore,
taper, and chamber size) - so I don't know all of the reasons for why they
were difficult to change. My best guess is that so much material was
removed to produce the B45 that, once refaced, there just wasn't enough
left to mess with. I always agreed with Richard Hawkins, who told me that
the less material removed from a blank - the better (keep in mind, I'm
talking about the facing here - not the bore or interior).

On the other hand, the 5RV Lyre seemed to face to the medium facing I
wanted (approimately 1.12 tip with a medium curve) and play very
responsively. If it weren't for the prohibitive cost of the mouthpiece
(and other issues), I would purchase that mouthpiece and reface them as a
separate line!

Hope this helps?

Best wishes,
Roger Garrett

Roger Garrett
Clarinet Professor
Director, Symphonic Winds
Advisor, Recording Services
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
(309) 556-3268

"A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes
another's."
Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825)

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org