Klarinet Archive - Posting 000308.txt from 2001/11

From: Ed Wojtowicz <ewoj@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Mouthpiece life span
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 21:29:45 -0500

I often wonder about these issues with wooden mouthpieces. From season to
season, with changes in humidity and temperature, I have often found slight
but nonetheless, existing differences in how my barrel fits, or slightly
loose rings or differences in how the keywork feels due to swelling or
shrinking of the wood. In a mouthpiece, where tolerances are in thousandths
of an inch I would think this would cause changes in the facing or baffle.
Have you measured any mouthpieces and found this to be the case? What
precautions are taken to minimize this? Are there any maintenance issues
that the player need be concerned with?

Ed

> From: "Gregory Smith" <Gregory@-----.com>
> Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
> Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2001 11:29:34 -0600
> To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> Subject: [kl] Re: Mouthpiece life span
>
> The suspicion about a stated "relative state of flux" is on a practical level,
> inconsequential. With mine and my clients extensive experience playing
> hardwood mouthpieces I can assure you that by using the highest playing
> standards relating to the stability of both feel and intonation, sound
> quality, or any other measure - again, practically speaking - hardwood
> mouthpieces are suitable and quite stable for the purposes of professional
> performance.
>
> All of this is of course predicated on the quality of the hardwood being used
> to make the mouthpiece. Control and treatment of the material regarding the
> aging and drying process, the age and quality of the material, etc, all play
> into the success or failure of not only the playing characteristics of the
> mouthpiece but also its "relative" stability.

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