Klarinet Archive - Posting 000311.txt from 2001/11

From: "Gregory Smith" <Gregory@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Mouthpiece life span
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 22:42:04 -0500

Yes I have measured and played my own hardwood mouthpieces for a few =
years now and find that there has been no change in the measurements or =
playing characteristics. I suppose that as I mentioned it all depends on =
the quality, aging, and type of the hardwood used in the first place.=20

I'm sorry that I cannot address changes on the clarinet vs. possible =
changes of mouthpiece measurements except to say that with the =
traditional measuring tools that I have used to measure and through =
experience playing these mouthpieces, it seems not to be an issue for me =
or for my clients.

No sudden or drastic changes in humidity and temperature, swabbing of =
the moisture inside the mouthpiece, and not leaving the reed on the =
mouthpiece during storage are the three things that one can do to help =
keep the mouthpiece stable.

Best,

Gregory Smith

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Gregory Smith =20
Clarinetist
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Mouthpiece Handcraftsman
=
2737 Hurd Avenue
Evanston, Illinois. 60201-1209 USA
1.847.866.8331
1.847.866.9551 (fax)
Email: Gregory@-----.com (NEW)
Website: www.gregory-smith.com
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=

=20

----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Ed Wojtowicz" <ewoj@-----.net>
Subject: Re: [kl] Re: Mouthpiece life span

> 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?
>=20
>=20
> Ed
>=20
> > 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
> >=20
> > 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.
> >=20
> > 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.
>=20
>=20
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>=20
>=20

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