Klarinet Archive - Posting 000814.txt from 2004/01

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Mouthpiece blanks
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 13:39:45 -0500

Think of a "blank" as a mouthpiece that isn't "ready for prime time." Depending on the manufacturer, you may even be able to play on a blank. Others are so rough that considerable work is necessary before you can honk out a few notes.

Some things a craftsman may do to a blank:

Apply his/her target facing.
Narrow (or widen) the tip rail
Narrow (or widen) the side rails
Adjust the dimensions of the window
Alter the baffle in any number of various ways (the variations can run to the infinite)
Finish and polish the interior
Re-bore the chamber (the bore part)
Widen the side walls
Cork or re cork the tenon
Shorten the mouthpiece for pitch reasons
etc, etc. etc.

The work is done with a wide variety of tools and techniques. No two mouthpiece craftsmen use the same methods and tools. Many of the tools you have to make yourself, or have made at a machine shop.

Over the years, a craftsman with adopt methods, change them, reject them for new methods, use different tools, loose or alter them, make new tools, etc....

Another big problem is that the quality of the blanks you work with can vary from batch to batch. I had one batch of 24 blanks (a considerable investment) that I inspected and returned to the manufacturer as un-usable. Another batch came later and had consistently excellent blanks, most of which turned into dynamite mouthpieces.

It's a nutty business, but the goal is to consistently come up with above average (not hard) to superb (very hard) mouthpieces for your customer.

Walter
www.clarinetxpress.com
World Class Clarinet Mouthpieces

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