Klarinet Archive - Posting 000366.txt from 2003/01

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Mouthpiece tables
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 10:54:43 -0500

Words of Wisdom:

In a message dated 1/18/2003 5:00:29 PM Eastern Standard Time, reedman@-----.com writes:

> Most makers that purport to make "flat" tables in actuality produce
> mouthpieces that have a rather pronounced "hump" or convex shape. This
> spells disaster as far as I am concerned. When players come to me
> complaining that they cannot find "ANY" reeds that work or that all of
> their reeds play too soft after a few days I check the table of their
> mouthpiece. Invariably, the table is humped.>>

I find this "hump" problem one of the most frequent and vexing problems in mouthpiece work. I have been sent many mouthpieces which turn out to have this problem. Sometimes it is difficult or next to impossible to remove the hump and regain a fully functional mouthpiece, expecially with a bass clarinet mouthpiece where there is so much material!
>
> I have always preferred a slight concave table and even my "Debut"
> mouthpieces are made this way. The convex shape does several things.
>
> 1. It allows the reed to sit square on the table .
> 2. It provides a defined "fulcrum point" for the vibrating reed
> 3. It allows the reed to swell without "lifting" away from the fulcrum
> point

Amen! I don't ALWAYS agree with Clark - only 99.999% of the time. On this topic he is So right on!

Glad to see you posting again, Clark!

Walter

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