Klarinet Archive - Posting 000886.txt from 2003/06

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Reeds
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 11:35:12 -0400

In a message dated 6/25/2003 7:32:37 AM Eastern Standard Time, george_s_lin@-----.com writes:

> Just a hunch, but it may be that your Pyne mouthpiece
> has an asymmetrical facing as part of its design. One
> not too uncommon trait of mouthpieces with this
> "crooked" facing is getting a good reed to match up
> with it. I recall reading that many of Pyne's
> mouthpieces have the asymmetrical facings.>>

I am not an authority on all the models from Pyne. However, most Pyne mouthpieces come with a very considerable skew to the left. What this means is that the left side of the mouthpiece - looking at the facing - is more "open" than the right side.

No reed manufacturer that I know of makes reeds that expect such a facing. They expect a symmetrical facing, in other words, the manufacturers try to make a reed that is the same strength on either side.

With an asymmetrical facing, you need to adjust your reeds to be "softer" or more "flexible" on the side where the facing is more open.

Usually this involves scraping the left side of the reeds with a reed knife, sandpaper, or rush.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
mouthpiece refacing

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