Klarinet Archive - Posting 000381.txt from 2001/10

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Eb Reeds for Eb mouthpieces
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 10:59:44 -0400

Robert says:

<<But the point of telling a person, who is asking what strength reed to use because their V 3.5 seems too hard, to give their facing information is really and truly moot. This person needs to come to understand some "other" things first before worrying about "matching" a specific strength with a
facing. Their issues need to be addressed with a private instructor who can sit and analyze what is going on.>>

Robert, we are truly talking past each other.

It is NOT moot to discuss the facing of the mouthpiece. However there are other several other factors in play here. All "the facing" measures in a curve and a opening amount.

Factors like lengths of window, width of wondow at various points, curve of the upper baffle, depth of the baffle where it meets the chamber, and width of the tip rail are just as crucial as as "the facing" for tone production and quality.

Also, as you say, we're all different physically, and that's why there are multiple "facings" available.

I am stubbornly going back to my point that a specific resistance of reed will match a specific facing.

If one has an uncomfortable situation, maybe one needs to review the mouthpiece choice, to find a facing that matches one's physical requirements.

Facings are designed for a limited range of reed strength. You can't play a Rico 2 on a Gigliotti P mouthpiece and get good results, just like you can't put a Vandoren 5 on a B45. It just won't work, and trying to make it work is an exercise in futility.

Walter
www.clarinetxpress.com

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