 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: klarisa
Date: 2005-10-16 09:08
There are a loth of discussions on this board handling, directly or indirectly, about mouthpieces. The opinion of most players is that a proffesional mouthpiece should at least be hand finisched. As far as i understand that mostly means a last handling of the chamber and/or facing.
Question: Is a machine not better in producing a perfect cut in materials, and wouldn't the quality of the products be better and at least more consistent in that case.
There are so mouch good moutpieces on the market in all sort of shapes and materials that we would maybe be better of testing all these possibilitys for something that we like,....and then at least be sure we can get the same product if it gets damaged ore wears of.
As far as adapting a mouthpiece to a specific player, even if this is possible the player would have to be there to play/test the piece during modifications. And even then i think there is a great risc of damaging an otherwise good mouthpiece.
" imho my playing/study is more in need of hand finishing then my mouthpiece"
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2005-10-16 14:02
One frequently sees chefs who taste their food which they are preparing to see if it needs something else( like some seasoning. ) When people hand finish mouthpieces they also test play the mouthpiece and then make adjustments. No machine tests how a mouthpiece sounds and then makes adjustments.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: William
Date: 2005-10-16 15:39
"they also test play the mouthpiece and then make adjustments"
However, one craftsmans "lay" does not equal anothers "play". In other words, kiddies, factory or hand finished, you still have to play it yourself to see if it works for you. If it is possible, always try before you buy.
BTW, DB, right on!!!
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-16 21:56
Having a relationship with a mouthpiece guy is invaluable. You can tell them what you look for, like, prefer and don't like at all, and even give a sample of what works for you to use a a basic guideline.
Every player is different, and a mp craftsman can help you achieve what you are looking for to suit your own playing.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-10-16 22:48
This is what you get [or at least should get] from a good mp RE-facer, who should make measurements of lay and tip for guidance of hand finishing. I've been well pleased by the work done by several friends on Bb, alto and bass cl [good quality] mps. Having observed some working methods, I will try some table flattening and slight lay-opening, but only on student-type, damaged, mps. The Yahoogroup, MouthpieceWork, is informative. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-10-16 23:30
I've been wrestling with mouthpieces (well, not WRESTLING, but trying all sorts) for a while. I'm pretty much at a point where I'm probably going to go to whatever nearby mouthpiece distributor/facer I can find, and simply stay there until they come up with one that fits me well.
I've determined that no matter WHAT the mouthpiece, I sound the same, so I'm thinking about saving up some money, and instead of trying 3, or 4, or 5 at a time and trying to compare them at home in different areas of the house, simply going to a nearby studio that has resident mouthpiece maker (I have a few picks in mind already) and buying myself a pair (backup as well). This way if something's a little quirky about the mpc, I can look the person in the eye (after they hear me play) and describe what I'm uncomfortable about, rather than try to communicate it VIA email and trying to exchange for others HOPING it'll go away and no other problems will arise.
Then I'll just have to sit back, look at myself in the mirror, and practice a little self-hypnosis convincing me to STOP this infernal search.
Maybe I'll go all out and hand over all my old mouthpieces to the maker so I won't even have any to go back to. I shouldn't need one to go back to if I've chosen correctly (and hopefully the maker will help me do just that)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2005-10-16 23:32)
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2005-10-17 04:17
Well put William except for the "kiddies". I will refrain from any more mouthpiece maker/chef analogies. .....but....if I had to look for a great meal I might hang out around a great chef. Perhaps the chef might even have a Kaspar in is his oven. Bon appetit
Freelance woodwind performer
Post Edited (2005-10-17 05:12)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-10-17 17:33
No two mouthpieces are the same, even when they're made on the same high-precision machine. Even if a machine could produce identical mouthpieces, the compressability and flexibility of the material, and variations in the formulation, means plenty of difference.
Also, the finishing process involves narrowing certain areas (e.g., the corners of the lay, where the side rails meet the tip rail) so much that there would be too much breakage with machine finishing.
Finally, mouthpiece finishing is a delicate balance of many factors: flatness or slight dip in the table, facing (including asymmetricality), length of lay, side rail width and taper, tip rail width, the intersection between the throat and the bore, the shape of the bore, and, especially, the shape of the baffle.
The difference between mearely good and superb is like balancing on the point of a needle. At least for now, it's as much an art as a science.
Add to this that no two people are the same.
Great mouthpiece makers are still necessary.
Ken Shaw
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