Klarinet Archive - Posting 000181.txt from 2004/08

From: CBA <clarinet10001@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Material influence on sound...one more time
Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2004 06:09:07 -0400

Hey Nancy! How are the crabs? <evilgrin>

I know $1100 isn't a small amount...was just referencing that
people are going to pay at least $1000 for a new C, so $1100 for
one without horrible pitch problems was a steal!

The pitch problems I experienced were related to the long notes
and throat tones (the ends of the scales.) If I had a mouthpiece
to fit all three clarinets, the notes with all the fingers down,
or the throat tones with most of the fingers up were subject to
being really sharp on A and/or really flat on C. I was playing a
Greg Smith mouthpiece at the time I got my C clarinet and found
that the throat tones would only grunt on the C. Since I was at
ClarinetFest in New Orleans, I took the wealth of manufacturers
present to try out different mouthpieces on the C. I found a few
Vandoren mouthpieces and the Fobes that played on the C,
although I didn't like those particular Vandorens on my Bb/A
setup. I had also heard about how the C clarinet mouthpieces
that Ralph Morgan made were shorter but with much of the same
facing/lay of the Bb/A mouthpieces, so I asked Guy Chadash about
it. He was telling me that many people get the tenon length
reduced (by a professional with a router) so the end piece
before the cork is *almost* gone, but there is enough of the
mouthpiece left on the end to support the cork staying on. He
did this for me, and it worked like a dream. I now have the
usual small pitch changes needed (throat tones a a *little*
sharp, and long pinky finger notes like B,C,C# were slightly
sharp and E, F, F# were slightly flat) on all three instruments,
using different mouthpieces. I have much less changes in my
playing from clarinet to clarinet by using one mouthpiece on
Bb/A and one shorter mouhtpiece on C than when I tried using one
mouthpiece with all three clarinets. YMMV

I am looking forward to seeing you in Atlanta, and maybe I can
get up to DC every once in a while to visit during breaks from
school. It was great to meet you!

Kelly Abraham
Woodwinds - Computer Geek
Hattiesburg, MS

P.S. I already have my first playing gig here subbing for a
professor next weekend in A Chorus Line at a local theater.
There are 2 players compining 4 woodwind books (yikes) but
luckily, it only requires tenor sax, Bb clarinet, and flute for
this gig in the way they have arranged it. Wish me luck!

--- Nancy Buckman <eefer@-----.net> wrote:

> At 10:35 PM 8/6/2004, you wrote:
> >Also, at $1100, you can replace it once it goes
> >green <GRIN>.
>
> At $1100, I would seriously consider just playing it green OR
> buffing off
> the green and then brushing the surface somehow!
>
>
> >My assertion previously about Bb mouthpieces on C clarinets
> is
> >less relative to this instrument than most I have played. I
> am
> >playing on a Clark Fobes San Francisco mouthpiece on my C and
> >love it, although I did have the end tenon on the mouthpiece
> cut
> >down (professionally) by 1/16 inch to even up all the
> oddities
> >about the long notes (low E, F, and F# and long B, C, and C#)
> >and the throat tones. Previous discussions about using the
> same
> >mouthpiece with your A, Bb, and C instruments I still think
> are
> >irrelevant, since the difference between Bb and C or Bb and A
> >are small, but the difference between C and A clarinets is
> more
> >pronounced. I think leaving a Bb/A mouthpiece and then having
> a
> >separate C mouthpiece is a good idea, as you can be more
> >tailored to the idiosyncrasies of the individual instruments.
>
>
> What difficulties did you experience? I used a Greg Smith
> mouthpiece that
> I played on my C without any pitch problems. I have switched
> to a Lomax
> and it works fine too. I use this mouthpiece in my A, Bb and
> C clarinets.
>
> I hope you plan on coming to Fest in Atlanta (Japan is too far
> to fly for
> double digit hours). I'd like to be able to spend a little
> more time with
> you (and everyone else too). We had a great time.
>
> Nancy
>
> Nancy Buckman
> Principal Clarinet / Orchestra AACC
> eefer@-----.net
>
>
>
>
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