Klarinet Archive - Posting 000357.txt from 2003/01

From: "James Fay" <n3hpz@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] mouthpiece lays
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 10:54:34 -0500

I recall that there are 2 schools of thought on French Curves:

Everett Matson (refacer) avoided them, saying the reed would play lively at
first, and then as the reed adapted to the dip, would start to seem to lose
its vibrancy.

Others l(like George Jenney, Bob Scott and the late Frank Kaspar) like it,
but I'd suggest avoiding excessive curves.

To me, its most important that the overall mouthpiece table be mostly
flat -- with or without a dip in it.

Quick and dirty test is to wet the mouthpiece lay and place it on a flat
piece of glass. Look on the other side and one should see that the table
mostly makes contact with the glass. If the lack of contact is excessive (I
mean REALLY excessive) then consider a different mouthpiece or a refacing
job.

Might also want to notice if the rails make contact evenly. Some people like
a crooked lay. An old theory was that we tend to bite the reed more on the
left side, so the facing should be lower there. I think most manufacturers
don't use that nowadays.

--Jim Fay

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rebecca Brennan" <rjbrennan1221@-----.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] mouthpiece lays

>
>
>
> How does french curve compare to other mouthpiece lay types? Is this
> recommended for a high school student? Every mouthpiece I own for clarinet
> or saxophone is a Vandoren.
>
> What other mouthpieces should I try?
>
> -Rebecca
>
>
>
>
> STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*
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