Klarinet Archive - Posting 000081.txt from 2001/09

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Mouthpieces and reed longevity
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 11:52:27 -0400

On Tue, 4 Sep 2001 08:22:45 -0700, reedman@-----.com said:

> I have not followed the entire thread, but I know from my experience
> as a player and mouthpiece maker that mouthpiece design can add to
> reed longevity.

[snip of interesting stuff]

If this was a response to my post about reeds lasting longer on some
mouthpieces, then although what you say is interesting, it puts forward
a viewpoint rather more arcane than the viewpoint I was trying for.

Just in order to survive, I subject the reeds I play on to a continual
process of movement on the mouthpiece, both laterally and, occasionally,
'pulling them away' from the mouthpiece using a phonecard (I find
Japanese phonecards are the best:-); not to mention flattening the back
of them, usually using the side of another reed, from time to time. I
also dip them in water on the mouthpiece, sometimes even during
concerts.

Also, I alter the ligature position and relative screw tightness from
time to time. (I know there is someone here who thinks that 'isn't
necessary', but what do I care what he thinks?-)

The point of what I wrote was to say that reeds are inevitably going
last longer on some mouthpieces than others, and that lasting longer
actually may not be a good thing, looked at from a suitably enlightened
viewpoint. I didn't mean to say -- how could I? -- that I don't try to
make every reed I have last as long as possible.

It seems to me that this is a sensible position to take.

On the other hand, if you weren't talking about my post, then I
apologise -- but at least I got to make my position clearer.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
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