 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LeOpus1190s
Date: 2004-08-17 00:28
I have always used those thick BG cushions for when I play. My friend told me to try a thin patch so I did. It's not entirely worse than playing with the thick cushion.
Anyone expermented with this, what do you think?
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2004-08-17 02:01
I like thick cushions. I use the thick black Runyons- and I feel too much vibration in my teeth when I try thinner patches.Since we tend to hear through our teeth, I think using mouthpiece cushion as thick as I do I can get a better perspective of how I sound- since most of the buzzing and vibrating and generally [bad] bright qualities then only the musician tends to hear in their tone never reach my hearing.
I could be wrong.
Bradley
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Author: Camanda
Date: 2004-08-17 02:05
I don't use mouthpiece cushions, really, I never saw a personal need other than keeping my mouthpiece free of scratches. I use a piece of tape (some cheap Scotch knock-off -- it doesn't stick to my wall and thus does not mark up my mouthpiece) for that. I used to use electrical tape, but it slid around on my mouthpiece and cut my lip.
My stand partner uses thin cushions. I've never asked her why -- I see her tomorrow, I'll ask her then.
Amanda Cournoyer
URI Clarinet Ensemble, Bass Clarinet
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-08-18 11:16
I love thick ones - once you take a little chunk out of it, you can move it to the right stop and then always have a guide for where your teeth should be.
Otherwise, I'm all over the place.
__________________
Don't hate me because I play Leblanc! ![[down]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley23.gif) Buffet
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2004-08-18 12:00
I used a thick Runyon tooth cushion for several months after I got back into playing a number of years ago. But, when I sent one of my mouthpieces back to Ralph Morgan for an adjustment he got all over my case for using a cushion. He described how -- at least with his clarinet mouthpieces -- the beak of the mouthpiece is designed so that it contributes to the tonal qualities produced by the mouthpiece. According to Ralph, using a tooth cushion dampens the vibrations of the beak and this can have an effect on one's sound.
After hearing this from Ralph I experimented with using and not using a tooth cushion. I had some friends listen to my sound and tell me what they thought. There was a general sense that my sound was duller with the thick tooth cushion and more vibrant without it. Interestingly, there didn't seem to be a noticable difference between using a thin clear patch and not using one. So, I got rid of the thick cushions and switched to the thin clear Runyon patch. I also tried using black electrical tape -- which Ralph suggested. But, for whatever reason I felt more comfortable with the clear patch.
Another thing I did was to have my dentist smooth the bottom edge of my front teeth. It was a simple thing to do. He did it when I went in for a cleaning. One tooth, in particular, had a sharper edge and would dig into my mouthpieces. This helped to eliminate the need for a thick tooth cushion.
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Author: Markus Wenninger
Date: 2004-08-18 13:42
I´m using thick cushions - by now, for I didn´t like the "feeling of being in a more indirect contact" with my producing the sound...not a very rational/plausible reason, but none of us woodwinders really is at all. ..I just got to try such a cushion incidentially, wich my wife uses from the very beginning, and since then I stick to them, both on clarinet and saxophone, my teeth don´t hurt my lower lip any more , especially up in the altissimo register, and multiphonics also work much smoother, owing to the fact that I don´t have to use an over-tight embrochure any more. It simply is more comfortable (though I love time´s traces on my instruments).
Markus
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-08-18 13:47
Mouthpiece cushions are a must
to keep tooth-marks off beak;
to thin, clear cushions I entrust
my playing at its peak.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-08-18 15:16
Markus leads a noble life
Shares the cushion with his wife
Good it helps with 'stick and sax
If only 'twould likewise his syntax
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2004-08-18 19:29
LeOpus1190s said: "I have always used those thick BG cushions for when I play."
Aha! So that's why you can't find a good-sounding R13A! ![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
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Author: LeOpus1190s
Date: 2004-08-18 21:29
actually... weiner sent me some of the A clarinets from the convention and there is one i kinda like.
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Author: Drenkier_1
Date: 2004-08-23 00:31
a thick or thin cushion? ive played on both, it doesnt affect tone quality at all, it really doesnt matter as far as playing goes. if you dont believe me, try for yourself
Kevin Collins
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Author: Burt
Date: 2004-08-23 01:03
I find that using the thick pads muffles (cuts off the high frequencies of) the sound I hear when I play. So I use thin pads, except for bari sax.
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Author: Joel Clifton
Date: 2004-08-23 01:29
I never have used a thick cushion on a soprano clarinet, but I did on a contrabass, and I really didn't like it. I use the thin transparent Bay cushions on my clarinet, and I love them. I barely notice they're there, but they have a lot of friction and my teeth don't slide around, they protect the mouthpiece great, and they last forever.
-------------
"You have to play just right to make dissonant music sound wrong in the right way"
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Author: cheezylu
Date: 2004-08-25 00:10
I used to use a thick one, but at my teacher's request I tried out the thin ones. She said the thick one was opening my mouth up to much. It took a while to get used to the thin ones but I finally did and I think it helped. Granted, there is a very small difference, but when it comes to clarinet those small amounts really make a difference.
This is at least what worked for me.
-- Stephanie --
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-08-25 06:22
for about 11 years of playing I didn't use any cushion (or anything else as a substitute) on my mouthpiece. I never had a problem until I started playing a wooden mouthpiece. After a few months of playing it I noticed the wood is a little ruined where my teeth are. I started using the clear, thin ones and now I use them on all my mouthpiece. There is no difference in my sound at all.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-08-25 13:35
Your own personal tooth marks in your mouthpiece help to identify it when you loan it out. Nothing worse than getting your trusty old B45 back from a friend and discovering it's not really yours. I also remove my dentures at night because the noise was keeping me awake.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2004-08-25 14:04
I use a double lip embrochure so my cushion is automatic. But if you can, find Ebonettes(R) brand rubber gloves with the pink inside (black outside),
just cut a piece and stick it on with spit...Anthony Gigliotti taught me that trick...cheap, and they last forever. Otherwise, the electrical tape works just as well.
The perceived sound change with cushions might have more to do with dampening the transmission of waves throught the maxilla to the middle ear ossicles rather than a change in baffle vibration (JMHO)
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-08-25 14:57
I use the Bay thin patches. They work great and last forever.
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