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Author: salzo
Date: 2012-05-02 16:03
I have a drop in type gauge that I use for measuring inner diameter of a mouthpiece. The mmouthpieces I use generally fall between .588 and .592 inches. I imagine these would qualify as "large bore" mouthpieces. I use moennig barrels with these mouthpieces.
I just aquired an old Penzel India Hard rubber mouthpiece, and my gauge "wobbles" in there- it seems like it starts wide, and narrows as it goes to the top-but I cant be certain with my tools.
Anyway, I am wondering internal diameter wise, when is a mouthpiece considered "small bore" and when is it "large bore"-
It is kind of hard to get a good reading with my caliper, but the opening is somewhere between .585 and .592- but it seems to narrow quite a bit as you go towards the tip.
I am wondering about this because of barrel relationship. I know many say that Moennig barrels are better suited for large bore mouthpieces. This mouthpiece blows a little sharp, but the facing is quite nice. I am wondering if this mouthpiece would be better suited with a stock barrel- unfortunately I do not have any stock buffet barrels with me at the moment, so I cant try it.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-05-05 17:25
I'm not sure there is such a thing as a "large bore" mouthpiece excepting that mouthpieces for say the large bore B&H 1010 clarinet have (and need) a different profile to their bore (parallel) but actually are often narrower at the outermost point than many French style mouthpieces.
A few Vandorens I quickly checked came in at 0.588 - 0.590 and I don't think these would be classified as large bore.
Over the years I have come across many variations in actual largest bore diameter and rates of taper inside the bore so there is no real standardisation in this area.
I think the only test is "does it work" on your equipment.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-05-05 23:32
I do a ton of mouthpiece work, including making them. I'm not that concerned about the .588" to .592", although I'd open both of them up a bit. I can't and won't give you the perfect exact number, because I'm not sure how you are measuring them and with what. However I am much more concerned about the taper, therefore I use reamers if the taper is wrong. Sadly some mouthpiece tapers can vary as much as a 32th of an inch and the MP in question may never play in tune unless the taper is corrected. Also some mouthpieces are longer then others so you have to make adjustments to whatever reamer is needed. Just about every mouthpiece from the late 70's on need a bit of reaming to play in tune, such as the throat, the bridge, and the high registers. Reamers are a wonderful tool, but you have to be careful here. The reamers can totally destroy the intonation, thus the need to buy barrels to correct some of the problems, including the sound.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2012-05-05 23:45)
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