Klarinet Archive - Posting 000110.txt from 2005/04

From: "Clark W Fobes" <claroneman@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Mouthpiece wear
Date: Thu, 07 Apr 2005 17:07:45 -0400

Mouthpieces do wear out. Depending on the quality of the original rubber
some may wear out sooner than others. Also, the amount of playing the
mouthpiece receives over time and the care will both contribute to the
longevity. AND, the style of table (concave, flat or convex) can influence
the point when one begins to feel that a mouthpiece as changed.

I am convinced that rubber mouthpieces generally don't "warp". What happens
over time is that the facing lengthens with the constant wear of the beating
reed, This usually takes many years unless the rubber is very soft. This is
a case for NOT using mouthpieces that have been refaced from extremely old
blanks. As the rubber ages it breaks down and may lose its ability to hold a
facing.

The point where the facing breaks away from flat is extremely important in
the overall sound and response of a mouthpiece. As this "fulcrum point"
moves away from the tip of the mouthpiece the mouthpiece can become less
responsive. If the initial facing was made with a concave table the loss of
response is less dramatic.But if the mouthpiece was initially designed with
a flat or even a "humped" table (poor craftsmanship in my opinion) the
fulcrum point becomes ill defined and creates a feeling of instability.

Problems that one can expect from a worn (lengthened) facing are
moisture on the table, inability to find responsive reeds, reeds do not last
and tend to feel very soft after a few uses, loss of good legato, squeaking
and unstable pitch.

Another portion of the mouthpiece that can change is the side rails. On
very old mouthpieces they tend do collapse in toward the window. This can
certainly cause resistance, squeaking and instability.

Of course, any kind of random damage can happen to a mouthpiece that is
not related to wear. Because of these factors it is always a good idea to
have a back up. In fact, if you find a particular mouthpiece that you like
from an independent craftsman OR (shudder) a mass produced product, I
strongly urge you to buy a 2nd that plays very similarly to your favorite.

Clark W Fobes

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