Klarinet Archive - Posting 000181.txt from 2008/10

From: Tom Puwalski <tski1128@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Mouthpiece blog
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:23:32 -0400

So I've been reading some of the things people have been writing about
mouthpiece materials and decided that there is sort of a scientific
test. So I went up to my local music and arts center and they had 2
fobes novas in stock that they were clearancing for $30 each. I
bought them and brought them home and tested them, they could be the
best "non-zinner" mouthpieces I've ever played. AND I'VE PLAYED
IGGIE'S CHED! ( Trust me his "sound" wasn't because of that
mouthpiece) So I noticed that the facing on the NOVAs are the same
that's on the Debut and on his high end San Francisco. So I ordered
a San Francisco and a Debut and will play them and maybe do a few You
tubes on them and see if there is any big difference between the
different types of mouthpiece Materials and moulding processes.
Clarks work has been incredibly consistent over the years so this
could be a really good test. I have to admit these Novas are really
nice.

Tom Puwalski Author of the Clarinetists Guide to Klezmer, and You
Tuber Look up Klezmertom

On Oct 31, 2008, at 10:04 PM, doctorsprod@-----.com wrote:

>
>
>
> I do feel that the architecture of the mouthpiece is the most
> important
> factor in the playing characteristics of a mouthpiece but I think
> that the
> many anecdotes about the special tonal characteristics ascribed to the
> Chedeville rubber from many sources can not be ignored.
>
> As a disclaimer I am currently working on my own recreation of
> Chedeville
> rubber and reproducing mouthpieces by CNC machining that I feel
> bring out
> the special tonal qualities of this vintage rubber.
>
> Possibly some of these tonal attributes have been short changed in
> previous
> incarnations of Chedeville rubber because of the lack of scientific
> exploration and specialized techniques necessary to duplicate the
> original
> formulation. The latex rubber starting material of the 1930's
> contained
> many impurities which alter the crosslinking patterns achieved in the
> vulcanization process and the starting material was obtained from
> native
> sources and not hybridized plantation trees and harvested latex
> which is
> further purified for current rubber product use. Only an exhaustive
> scientific analysis of the crosslinking "fingerprint" of the original
> Chedeville rubber can hint at what factors modified the crosslinking
> patterns found in some of the original Chedeville mouthpieces.
>
> The various molding processes used today to produce hard rubber
> mouthpieces
> all suffer from the fact that no matter how precise the molding
> process is
> to produce a mouthpiece that extensive heat an pressure must be used
> to
> perform the vulcanization process and there is always differential
> cooling
> afterward because of differences in thickness of the various areas
> of the
> mouthpiece that cause deformation. The rubber formulation too must be
> different because of the requirements of the molding process than
> formulations used to make rod rubber stock rods. The two rubbers
> therefore
> has different resonant qualities.
>
> No doubt the art of making a mouthpiece can alter many of the
> variables
> which affect the way a mouthpiece performs but all of these efforts
> cannot
> change the basic resonant qualities of the material which, in my view,
> plays a smaller but significant part in the final tonal
> characteristics of
> a mouthpiece. These differences may only be apparent to a descending
> group
> of players but for many years the old Chedeville mouthpieces have been
> coveted by a select group of players and the architecture copied by
> most of
> the highly respected custom mouthpiece makers, but using molded
> blanks of a
> different character than rod rubber stock.
>
>
> L. Omar Henderson, Ph.D CEO
> LBD Corporation - Doctor's Products - www.doctorsprod.com
> G-H Corporation - Forte' Instrument Group - www.forteclarinet.com
> 24 Suffolk Pl. SW
> Lilburn, Georgia 30047-5147 U.S.A.
> Tel. 1-800-381-0092
> FAX 1-770-488-425
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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