 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JonTheReeds
Date: 2015-03-06 13:29
Is there a list that gives tip openings and curve lengths for different mouthpieces?
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The older I get, the better I was
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-03-06 14:56
One of the best places to start this road is the Vandoren mouthpiece chart. Since Vandoren mouthpieces are omnipresent (and you've probably owned or at least played on a few) you can get a pretty good idea what is going on.
NOW, there are a few things to keep in mind that I have found helpful.
o The shorter the lay (all other things equal) the more resistant the set-up
If you take a standard student ruler and hold it against a table so that about half of it is off the edge; then strum it, you will get a tone (or certain number of vibrations). Now move the ruler back so that less is hanging off the edge of the table and do that again. It will strum HIGHER (or faster). This is what happens with the length of the lay with respect to how the reed will respond.
Many thanks to Mike Lomax for that analogy
o Thicker rails (not on ANY chart) will make things more resistant (ie Vandoren M30). And thinner rails respond quicker.
o If the baffle is deeper (more concave; curved inward either lengthwise or side to side) the mouthpiece will be more resistant - also not on charts. The flatter baffles will respond quicker.
Concave baffling is usually done to make the mouthpiece play "darker" or with slightly fewer overtones
o The larger the total volume of the tone chamber, the lower the mouthpiece will play in pitch. This characteristic is almost never covered in the description of any mouthpiece.
All these items (as well as the obvious affects of tip opening) work separately and in concert to determine the response of the mouthpiece. And I say this not to confuse but to serve only for you to understand that there are many factors that make a mouthpiece play the way it does. When then comparing one brand to another brand there is no sure way to compare how it will play for you just based on two dimensions.
................Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2015-03-06 21:04)
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Author: TomS
Date: 2015-03-06 21:44
And, to add more confusion, the SHAPE of the curve connecting the tip opening and where the reed just starts to depart from the rails, determines important characteristics, especially the "hold" or resistance. A straighter curve (longer radius) will play freer and with less resistance. A more curved curve (shorter radius) will have more hold ... even if the tip opening and length are the same for each.
Typical facing length (French MP) is between 17 and 19 mm and tip opening between 0.98 mm and 1.2 mm ... The Vandoren M30 has an extra long facing of about 20 mm and a somewhat flat facing curve ... so despite having a pretty open tip, plays with less resistance than you might expect.
MP facings can have a zillion variations ... and the internal acoustics of the MP can have two zillion variations.
That's why there are a googolplex of MPs available!
I think I'm telling the truth, about this ...! Corrections from others may follow my comments ...
Just get a Vandoren 5RV-lyre and enjoy life!
Tom
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-03-06 22:40
I know TomS is being a bit tongue and cheek but there is merit to picking a good standard mouthpiece and sticking with it.
I agree with the 5RV Lyre as a standard along with others in the same vein: M13 (non-lyre), Masters CL4, ESM (Ernst Schreiber Michelstadt) MCK-1.
.............Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2015-03-07 00:56)
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Author: Exiawolf
Date: 2015-03-07 01:37
Paul, do you consider the M13 to have that much more of a standard series of dimensions than the M13 Lyre? It seems like the Lyre is used much more standardly by the general population of clarinet players (Not saying its better or worse, just used more)
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Author: JonTheReeds
Date: 2015-03-07 18:57
I have a Boosey & Hawkes 926 mouthpiece that came with my Imperial A clarinet. I don't use it much as I prefer the one that came with my Bb clarinet (Yamaha 4C) and it seems to work well. I've looked online but can't find measurements for the 926. Does the 926 have standard measurements? If so, is an open/closed long/short mouthpiece?
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The older I get, the better I was
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2015-03-08 00:39
The B&H 926 mouthpiece came in 3 lays 1, 2, 3 with 1 being the closest.
The number 2 was by far the most common model and I rarely come across a 1 or 3.
A very old chart I have (not sure of source) lists the lays as
1 - .043 / .630 (16mm)
2 - .046 / .650 (16.5mm)
3 - .049 / .669 (17mm)
Unfortunately for many years of production the B&H mouthpieces were extremely inconsistent but many fine players who did find a good one swore by them.
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Author: JonTheReeds
Date: 2015-03-08 15:37
Thank you Norman, that's perfect
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The older I get, the better I was
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-03-08 16:35
As far as the M13 goes, I find it falling in line with the others better than the Lyre version.
.............Paul Aviles
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