Klarinet Archive - Posting 000063.txt from 2002/09

From: "David McClune" <dmcclune@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] reed strength for darker tone
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 01:18:47 -0400

We talk of facings with certainity, but...the curved wand we all use to
measure the tip opening has two problems.

1. No two wands are alike, which means my 1.02 maybe a 1.08 or a .98 on
another wand. Which is right? Well I know my wand is about .06mm low
because I measured it with a caliper. But about yours?

2. These wands measure the lower edge of the tip rail, closest to the
baffle and not the actual top of the tip rail which is the real tip
opening.

So when you get a tip measurement...what device measured where on a
mouthpiece tip rail? A friend of mine made a tip measuring device using
a dial indicator which he can position on the top of the tip rail and
get an exact tip opening.

But a .98 and a 1.02 and a 1.06 can all play pretty much the same
depending on lots of other dimensions. A slightly different reed can
make two different mouthpieces play virtually the same. Besides the tip
opening has little to do with darkness!

Crazy...right?

Dr. David McClune
Professor of Woodwinds
Director of Bands
Union University-1862
1050 Union University Drive
Jackson, TN 38305

Office-731-661-5294

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