Klarinet Archive - Posting 000338.txt from 2002/10

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] bass clarinet mouthpiece
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2002 11:45:11 -0400

In a message dated 10/10/2002 7:06:27 PM Eastern Standard Time, klargrrl@-----.ca writes:

>
> I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good bass clarinet mouthpiece for me to try. I'm currently playing on a selmer C* and have a Buffet low c bass. I don't feel that the mouthpiece I'm using is all that great.>>>>>

Janis, I have the opportunity to examine many Selmer C * bass mouthpieces. In fact I worked on four of them just yesterday.

I use the C * as a mouthpiece "blank", applying my own custom facing and making some alterations to the lower baffle for depth of tone. As a "stock" mouthpieces for bass clarinets, many highly qualified people think that it is as good as you can currently get.

Unfortunately, and this has been mentioned before, not all mouthpieces are the same, and some can arrive with defects. I examined one new C * yesterday and it had a table with low spots and one corner that was "sloped away" from the flat plane of the rest of the table.

This defect in the table means that the reed will never have a stable platform on which to vibrate. I have found this causes instability in the long tube notes, mostly B,C,C# which leads to faulty attacks and even squeaks. The table must be flattened, and the facing reapplyed before this mouthpiece can reach its full potential.

You also do not mention how old the mouthpiece is. Some mouthpieces can be 40 or 50 years olds and keep ticking. Others seem to warp in a way that makes them difficult or impossible to adjust/re-face.

There are many options for a good mouthpiece for bass right now, including Fobes, Garrett, Bay, Morgan, and myself. But first, you should have a mouthpiece technician look at your C *, there might be a great mouthpiece in there waiting to get out!

Regards
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetXpress.com
mouthpieces, repairs, and other interesting stuff

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