Klarinet Archive - Posting 000241.txt from 2006/08
From: "Michael Norsworthy" <m.norsworthy@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] $650 mouthpieces???
Date: Sat, 19 Aug 2006 18:51:05 -0400
Bryan,
I like the fact that you always ask questions but find the accusatory tone
to be completely un-necessary and your pre-formed opinions to be quite
ill-informed at this point. Regarding the questions you posed, I'll try to
answer a few of them.
Yes, Brad Behn did have a table at the Clarinet Convention in Atlanta AND he
sold a lot of these mouthpieces. (they're called the Vintage Collection for
future reference) People were pleasantly surprised at their reactions to
playing these mouthpiece for the first time and it was a joy to watch people
smile and say, WOW! I was privileged enough to be invited by Brad to assist
him at his table and watch him work in a completely unobtrusive and helpful
manner with each and every customer that walked up to the table.
Regarding the price... Brad gets this a lot from various people and the
explanation is always the same. Brad has endeavored to create something
special and UNIQUE by bringing back the old 1930's Henri Chedeville rubber.
He's spent an enormous amount of time, years in fact, as well as large sums
of his own money developing the rubber mix, dimensions, blanks, etc and has
built the mouthpiece quite literally from the ground up. Involved are
numerous fees from labs, chemists, rubber manufacturers and other incurred
expenses. This translates into a MUCH higher cost to manufacturer the
blanks that Brad works from and it's worth mentioning that he's the only
mouthpiece maker that I know of that's actually manufacturing his own
blanks. After he gets them, they require quite a bit of work on the facing,
chamber, baffle, etc. Put this all together and you have your $650 price
tag.
Next question: is it worth it? You'll have to make up your own mind about
that. However, in my opinion and many others, absolutely. I have a large
collection of vintage mouthpieces (Kaspars, Cheds, Bettoneys, etc) and can
tell you that, from my standpoint, the rubber sounds and vibrates in a way
that suits me better than any modern material I've played on. The advantage
to this, I get the sound and feel of the old rubber (which I prefer) and the
mouthpiece can be easily replaced by a living maker that I can talk to and
work with to create something special for me.
This is a high end piece of equipment made by one of the master craftsman of
our time. If one were to look at any other field or profession, $650 for a
piece of equipment is quite cheap, and our mouthpieces usually far outlive
expensive electronics and gadgets by years or even decades.
I'd like to issue you an invitation to try them for yourself and make an
informed opinion rather than an educated guess about Brad's products. Also,
for the record, Brad is one of the MOST honest people in the market today.
He, like everyone else, does need to make a living, but his policies and
ethics do not lend themselves to making a living at someone else's expense.
If you're not completely happy with anything you purchase, Brad will work
very hard to get you there.
AND, if you're interested in Brad's products and do not want to pay for one
of the Vintage Collection mpcs, try his other lines, you may find something
that you will like.
The complete story of his Vintage Collection is available at Brad Behn's
website: www.clarinetmouthpiece.com Please take a look and see or judge for
yourself, that's the way Brad would want it :)
All the best,
Michael Norsworthy
www.michaelnorsworthy.com
P.S. I am NOT paid by Brad to endorse his products nor was I paid to work
his table at ClarinetFest. I am simply a good friend and clarinetist who
highly respects his work and accomplishments.
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