Klarinet Archive - Posting 000015.txt from 2005/10
From: "kevin fay" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Mouthpiece search
Date: Sun, 02 Oct 2005 18:54:25 -0400
Penny Ward Marcus asked:
<<<I am planning to try the Pyne Signature, Fobes Cicero, Lomax Chicago,
Grabner Kaspar, and Fobes San Francisco Kaspar. (Easy to tell I miss my old
mouthpiece, after all these years!) My Kaspar was an 11, I believe, but I no
longer have the specs as taken by another mouthpiece maker when I was in
high school, and I don't recall it having any facing marking. I know it was
a very closed style, which I have been more comfortable with on other
mouthpieces.
I am interested in seeing a lively discussion about the merits of the
various high-end mouthpieces.>>>
Three suggestions:
(1) The makers you've listed all have adherents; many folks swear by each.
It would be foolish to say that any are "bad" given the platoons of
clarinetists who sound great on all of them.
I'll note, though, that Jim Pyne's mouthpieces are most definitely *not*
made in the style of Kaspar's mouthpieces. See suggestion #3 below.
(2) Greg Smith makes fine mouthpieces in both the Kaspar and Chedeville
styles, using Zinner blanks. (Indeed, if you go to
www.gregory-smith.com, you'll see he makes in both the "Chicago" and
"Cicero" style.) I have a Cicero, it's very, very good indeed.
Roger Garrett also makes good mouthpieces - and they're relatively
inexpensive as well.
(3) If you're willing to branch out and try mouthpieces that aren't in the
Kaspar style - and heck, why not - the Pyne is a good choice. His facings
tend to have thicker tip rails and (usually) asymmetrical facings, which
means that one side has a longer curve than the other on purpose. Some
folks like that.
If you find yourself liking that style, they I'd enthusiastically suggest
that you also try Dan Johnston's mouthpieces. His are pretty much unlike
anything else out there - fat tip and side rails, flat tables, and basically
an entirely different approach. I find them a bit harder to articulate, but
I find that the beauty of tone (esp in the chalumeau) is worth it. Dan uses
Zinner blanks too, but they're not the same Zinners that other folks use;
the interior is of a much different design made especially for him.
I have both a Dan Johnston Elsa Verdehr model and Greg Smith 1+ Chedeville
in my case. I regularly perform on both depending on the style of sound I
want to create. The Greg Smith Kaspar that sits at home seems to split the
difference between them; I've performed on it quite a bit as well (and
heartily recommend trying one).
Since I've never heard you play and don't have your teeth/oral cavity,
there's no way I could tell you which mouthpiece you "should" play. If you
try out all of the fine makers on this laundry list, though, I'd be
astonished if you didn't find one that you can play *better* than the old
Kaspar. While old Mr. K was a fine mouthpiece maker in his day, all of the
folks listed above know what they're doing, too - and unlike Mr. K (who is
unfortunately quite dead) many will personally work with you to get exactly
the sound you want.
Finally, there's an insane Canadian up in Vancouver who, rumor has it, is
about to enter the mouthpiece biz. Some describe Morrie Backun as an
"artist" (see www.backunmusical.com)- but IMHO nothing could be further from
the truth. He's a mad scientist. Whatever he's cooking up is sure to be
interesting.
Best of luck on your search,
kjf
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