Klarinet Archive - Posting 000613.txt from 2002/05

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Cleaning Mouthpieces.
Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 19:06:29 -0400

At 06:20 PM 5/22/2002 -0400, Sheri Baldwin wrote:
I've been wondering this for a while. What do you guys find is the best way
>to clean and/or disinfect your mouthpieces? I have three different
>mouthpieces that I'll be cleaning/disinfecting in the near future and I want
>to make sure that I don't waste time doing something that won't work or
>injure the mouthpieces. I'll be cleaning clarinet, alto clarinet and bass
>clarinet mouthpieces. The clarinet mouthpiece is plastic with a pad of
>plastic for the teeth that's glued on; the alto clarinet mouthpiece is just
>plain plastic; the bass clarinet mouthpiece is hard rubber.

Vinegar is pretty good for dissolving the crud. If you swab regularly, you
shouldn't need that to badly. Just dish soap will do. To disinfect, I use
rubbing alcohol. Some use Listerine, and there are also products on the
market for the purpose. But if you are only cleaning them occasionally I
probably would not bother with them. School band directors go through a
lot of that stuff, though. Whatever you do, DO NOT use HOT water on a hard
rubber mouthpiece (unless you really WANT it to be GREEN!).

>Also, I've seen clear clarient mouthpieces before and, while they look cool,
>I'm unsure of how they sound. Are they any good?

Actual crystal (glass) mouthpieces can be very fine if properly made. As
long as you don't drop them, their facings last indefinitely. They tend to
promote regular cleaning, since the lack of proper hygiene is so readily
apparent. There are also clear acrylic mouthpieces on the market. They
may be good or bad, but the material contributes little if anything to the
sound. Welcome to the list!

Bill Hausmann bhausmann1@-----.net
451 Old Orchard Drive
Essexville, MI 48732 ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org