Klarinet Archive - Posting 000062.txt from 2002/09

From: w8wright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: RE: [kl] reed strength for darker tone
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 00:45:25 -0400

<><> Karl Krelove wrote:
the numbers indicating length are not mm, but numbers on a scale
produced by Eric Brand which has over the years become a standard - 2
units of length equal 1 mm, so a 36-38 length is actually an 18 - 19 mm
curve.

Since I live in a non-metric country, the meaning of "38 mm" didn't jump
out at me. But when I attempt to measure the facing on my mouthpiece,
the "2 units @-----.

I looked again at the Int'l Music catalog, It very clearly says that
both numbers (opening and length) are "in mm" ---- which shows once
again that you can't believe everything that appears in print. <grin>

I don't have measuring tools, but just for the fun of it, I put a reed
on my mouthpiece and looked edgewise to see where the light shines
through. It appears that my facing is a full 20 mm = 40 units, which
is definitely longer than most of the numbers in the catalog. But
since I have no practical way to measure the opening, I can't compare
length to opening.

Not that it would make any difference anyway. I like the sound and
feel of my mouthpiece, and that's good enough for me.

Cheers,
Bill

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