Klarinet Archive - Posting 000265.txt from 2002/11

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] The dynamics of mouthpieces (and on fixing reeds)
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 16:55:38 -0500

At 08:17 AM 11/5/2002 -0700, William Semple wrote:
>No! I ran across a crystal mouthpiece called the "Pete Fountain," I believe
>manufactured by Selmer, that is of the facing I describe (I think), and is
>the only facing offered. I did not buy it. But if you know differently, I
>would love to have the facts.

A Pete Fountain mouthpiece would be made by Leblanc (Woodwind), not
Selmer. It is roughly as open as a Vandoren B45, which puts it at around
1.20 mm. I do not know the length of the lay.

>Van Doren offers a "jazz" set-up (the 5JB) that has a facing of 22.5 mm and
>a tip opening of 1.47mm with a reed strength recommendations of 1 to 2, as
>opposed to my 5RVLyre, which has an opening of 1.09mm, a facing of 20.5mm,
>and reed strength recommendations of 3 to 5.

Jazz mouthpieces tend to have large openings to provide greater projection
and to allow easier note-bending. The softer reed comes with the
territory, or you won't get ANYTHING out of it! I can't use the monster
openings like the 5JB or some of the common facings on sax mouthpieces (#7
and above) but I do tend to use slightly larger openings and softer reeds
for all jazz work. If you match them up right, the feel is not that much
different, and ability to hit high notes does not suffer.

Bill Hausmann

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

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