Klarinet Archive - Posting 000312.txt from 2001/11

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Wooden mouthpieces...was Mouthpiece life span
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 23:24:56 -0500

Ed says:

<<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.>>

Ed, what about this situation? Because of changes in humidity and temperature, the clarinet changes but the mouthpiece does NOT?

Wouldn't logic then say you are headed for trouble?

Many serious clarinetists take care to humidify their instruments (and reeds) during the super dry heating season, using a variety of accessories or orange peels. If you humidify the mouthpiece as well, wouldn't this take care of the problem?

I am currently playing on a Cocus Wood mouthpiece made from a Zinner blank. It is one of the finest mouthpieces I have EVER played on. Everyone who has tried it says WOW, including a couple of "big names". I performed on it a week ago in a concert consisting of "Forza del Destino Overature", Selections from "Facade Suites I and II, by Walton, and Mendelssohn's Symphony number 3. The conductor awarded me a solo bow after each piece (no, no money changed hands) and I got many comments of the warm full tone of this mouthpiece.

I will report in from time to time on how this mouthpiece is weathering the Chiago winter.

With this particular mouthpiece, the wood is so hard, and the facing so sharp and well tooled I expect little trouble, but I will continue to carry my "regular" as insurance.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
Cocus and Cocobolo mouthpieces

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