 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Burt
Date: 2005-08-05 02:14
I received an e-mail ad for Claripatch, a thin piece of material which goes between the reed and mouthpiece, and is advertised to increase reed life significantly. Their website is www.claripatch.com.
Does anybody have experience in using this?
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Author: diz
Date: 2005-08-05 02:21
No ... but you're not the only one who got this spam email.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: Merlin
Date: 2005-08-05 03:07
I've gotten this at the store, and didn't mind, since as a dealer I need to know about things like this.
What I DIDN'T like was the fact that I also got this at my personal e-mail addy. I'm very curious as to how they got that.
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Author: Cindy
Date: 2005-08-05 04:33
As did I *jumps onto the band wagon*
I haven't had experience with the claripatch. However, I talked to my teacher about it. Basically, she said that it's fine to use on occasion, especially in emergencies (reeds die at a significant point, "inbetween" times with reeds, etc.) but that you will sound better with a good reed on its own. I'm curious to try it, just to form my own opinion. You will also notice there are already threads started about this topic. That e-mail was weird though....dunno how they got my e-mail
So many instruments to play........so little time to play them!
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Author: pzaur
Date: 2005-08-05 05:47
Got one too....then deleted it after reading the first line.
-pat
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Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2005-08-05 09:13
Me too!
The email quoted use by clarinet players in many orchestras including the Berlin Phiharmonic - another current topic ("What professionals use") about German (Oehler) clarinets quoted that they need different mouthieces and reeds - some players even making their own. So this gadget fits them all??
Post Edited (2005-08-05 09:16)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-05 10:05
I got one too. What bugs me (not only the spam) is that their "avid users" aren't named at all.
If a product is so great, name the users!
Update to posting:
They now (didn't a few months ago last I looked) now have a feedback section with names.
interesting....
Post Edited (2005-08-05 10:37)
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2005-08-05 10:22
Malcolm - they make a version for German mouthpieces - see the German part of their website.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: Ben Redwine
Date: 2005-08-05 10:40
Hello,
Their idea is valid, although the same result can be obtained by a very simple modification to the mouthpiece. Also, they charge something like $175 (I may be way off here, but that is the number that sticks in my head) for this product which would take me about 10 minutes to make similar alteration to a mouthpiece.
I don't know how they got my e-mail address either, but I did receive the same advertisement. I'm fairly familiar with the delete feature in my e-mail, so these don't really bother me.
As for not naming their players, either they don't have any and they are making a false claim, or they do have players who don't want their names used or are demanding compensation, which they cannot afford. I would completely understand the latter, as I've dealt with that myself.
Ben Redwine
RedwineJazz, LLC
410 798-8251
clarinet@redwinejazz.com
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Author: hrvanbeek
Date: 2005-08-05 12:04
...got that email too. That particular day I wasn't in a 'new gadget-y' mood so it got deleted rather quickly. I am wondering, though, where/how they got all of our email addresses.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2005-08-05 12:52
I'm getting them too, and getting annoyed with them. Please stop -- I'm less interested in your product now than ever!
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-08-05 12:55
Ralph G wrote:
> I'm getting them too, and getting annoyed with them. Please
> stop -- I'm less interested in your product now than ever!
Please send them email directly.
I believe they screen-scraped the BBoard to get targeted info; rude at best.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2005-08-05 13:10
Am always reluctant to send replies to spammers, but will do so in this case. And to clarify, I know the messages aren't coming directly from this board, so the "please stop" wasn't directed at Mark.
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-08-05 13:16
Has anyone here tried these?
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-05 14:27
Yup, I got it too but accepted the challenge and have exchanged some opinions with "them". At least one can thrust back at them....unlike some that say "do not respond to this email......". Hope they don't cancel my Swiss bank account.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-08-05 15:03
Yes, I got one also, BUT, as Archimedes said, "EUREKA", [I have found it !!] . Look up the recent [7-26-05 !] patent, US 6,921,853 to Taillard, CH [Switz, BobD], which looks like what their web-site shows. With a brief review it is quite impressive, well written and searched by both pat atty and examiner. Its priority [first filing] is an E P of 2001 [shown]. When I have some time, I'll look up the references and other citations of prior art and perhaps derive an opinion as to comprehensivity and validity of claims, no charge for services !! Read and learn, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-05 15:22
Thanks Don, but I'm not really into patents as such but respect your interest. Although the marketing hype is more sophisticated than some...i.e. Swiss inventor, microns etc.....my gut instinct is that it won't fly. But then, that's what they said about the bumblebee too. Further....it's a stupid product name that takes me back to old auto innertube days.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Markael
Date: 2005-08-05 15:35
I got the e-mail, and received it with mixed feelings.
At least it is not a Viagra ad, or a hit from some faceless company out there in cyberspace. It came from a legitimate sponsor of Woodwind.org, known to the "clarinet community."
But, at best, it sets a dangerous precedent and blurs some lines.
I have found that the whole internet/e-mail thing has opened up new areas of ethics and etiquette, and this big gray area of boundary between the two.
For instance, the "reply all" button should be marked in bright red or orange.
Etc. No need to elaborate or belabor the point with this group.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-05 16:23
Personally I don't think that Patent info should be made public as a product's design secrets should be just that.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-08-05 16:42
DavidBlumberg wrote:
> Personally I don't think that Patent info should be made public
> as a product's design secrets should be just that.
Thewre's a different protection scheme (Trade Secrets) for those things you want to keep secret, but you misunderstand the whole idea of a patent.
A patent cannot contain a trade secret.
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Author: archer1960
Date: 2005-08-05 16:50
"Personally I don't think that Patent info should be made public as a product's design secrets should be just that."
David (great name, BTW!), the whole purpose of a patent is disclosure of new technologies! To get the new information out there to help drive the advance of technological society. In return, the patent holder gets exclusive rights to the invention for a period of time. That protection extends even to people who might develop the same idea independently at a later time; they can't use it even if they had no idea of your invention.
That is the major difference between patents and trade secrets: trade secrets are typically things which you develop, which might or might not be patentable, but for which you hope to gain an exclusive advantage, such as the recipe for Coca-cola. However, if somebody independently develops the same technology, they can use it without restriction, and you have no recourse to stop them.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-08-05 17:02
David B - You might want to read what our US Constitution, Article !,Section 8, the 8th "To" under it, says. I believe it derives from British law, also read some learned discussions concerning patenting, copyrighting and trademarking. To me, its an exchange of legal protection for a period of time, for early publication, for the purpose "To promote the Progress of Science and Useful Arts". Many "inventions" are never patented, but attempts are made to keep them as "trade secrets". Its an owner's decision. There are many books available on these subjects. Regards, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2005-08-05 17:17
I'd like to add that, for an invention that is publically sold and easily measured, reverse engineered, etc. such as something you attach to a clarinet, there is no point in holding it as a trade secret because there is virtually nothing you can keep secret, so the only available protection is a patent. On the other hand, if you have a special drink formula, an algorithm in a piece of software, a process for making a better steel, etc., you might choose to keep it as a trade secret rather than patenting it, as you will have exclusive use of it as long as you can keep it a secret and no one else discovers it independently.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-05 19:47
------------------
A patent cannot contain a trade secret.
------------------
Thanks Mark - I didn't know that. I thought it was somewhat of a full disclosure which when come to think of it wouldn't make any sense. (KFC's recipe etc.)
Good to know
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Author: missclarinetist
Date: 2005-08-06 08:33
I got that same spam email y'all are talking about. I'm quite curious myself how they got my email address, but after reading the advertisement I didn't bother much about the product and convienantly move my cursor over to the *delete function of the email.
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Author: William
Date: 2005-08-08 14:39
But..........has anyone on this BB actually tried one--or personally knows anyone who has?? If so, squeek up!!
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2005-08-08 23:30
I just got another round of spam from Claripatch - Mark -- is there some way to lodge a complaint about rousting your BB members for email addresses to spam?
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: CPW
Date: 2005-08-08 23:47
Well, we could all mail them a ton of email (I will not use the b___b word so as not to initiate a search by hommie security).
In this case, reeds be damned
Even for our beloved arundo,
We will not tolerate their spam
It raises my ire ![[hot]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/hot.gif)
and makes me refrain.....
"to hell with them all
I will adjust my own cane"
Spam by any other name
................belongs in a can
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-08 23:57
My e-mail address is not shown on this site.
So they probably got it from being members of the Klarinet list??????
Is everyone who got spammed a Klarinet member? (the e-mails send do have our e-mail addresses so could be culled very easily.
Is that possible or what?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-08-09 00:13
DavidBlumberg wrote:
> Is everyone who got spammed a Klarinet member? (the e-mails
> send do have our e-mail addresses so could be culled very
> easily.
Only when you send; they're not stored anywhere accessible. Some people got spammed who have never posted.
Screen scraping is hideously easy.
I think it would be best for people to individually send a message to Claripatch and let them know that sending unsolicited email is not an especially good way tp build a steady clientele. I did, though I didn't get the courtesy of a reply.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2005-08-09 00:45
Mark - perhaps another approach (you are moderator and can do as you wish of course) - to have a representative give their description of what the claripatch is, how it works, and what the potential benefits are - couched as descriptive rather than sales pitch jargon - and a list of players who use it as references. This would answer the questions raised by BB members and then they could solicit opinions from the references, and then we can slam them if they ever spam us again.
I "almost" always will only post positive results and rarely trash other small business people - large business can adequately defend themselves. I tried and evaluated the claripatch at Clarinetfest 2004 - found it to give the properties of a more open mouthpiece which at first blush seems for most to play easier. The quality and clarity of the tone was different with the mouthpiece without the claripatch and at least with my set up the tone was less centered and reminiscent of playing a more open jazz mouthpiece. There are several flavors of the claripatch and I only tried two so there may be a magic one still waiting in the box! The other claims about making a reed last longer or reviving a worn reed I cannot comment on but remain supremely skeptical.
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: ginny
Date: 2005-08-09 02:50
I got one, I didn't even download it off my mail server.
I am not on the Klarinet list. This is one of the few bits of spam I've ever gotten actually. I hope I've edited my profile to not show my email.
Thanks,
Post Edited (2005-08-09 02:55)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-09 11:58
Keeping your email address out of your profile is an excellent way of preventing BB members from offering you their comments that might be helpful but which would clutter up the BB. Don't blame the BB for getting spammed by an inconsiderate marketer. Do send Claripatch your objection....as I have done.
Bob Draznik
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2005-08-09 12:09
For what it's worth, I received this email despite not being a member of Klarinet, and not showing my email address on this board. However, I do show a link to my webpage, which contains a picture of my email address scrawled by hand. I doubt this was screen-scraped by any automated process, but of course it could have been harvested by hand.
I don't mind, actually. I have received one email from them. I think that is legitimate marketing. It is targeted. It is not intrusive.
---
I don't know whether our esteemed colleague "Liquorice" is still visiting this board, but he spoke up in favour of this product quite recently.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: Merlin
Date: 2005-08-09 20:56
I've ordered a Claripatch for evaluation ( I work for Gary Armstrong Woodwinds.)
I'll be testing it thoroughly, and I'll report on my findings here when I'm done. If I like it, we'll be stocking it.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-08-09 21:49
Good for you Merlin, we ALL will appreciate what you find out. It is one of only a few new inventions for clarinets, their patent # is [I believe] in post #20 above, if you wish to look it up, I'll be glad to help if you ask. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: CPW
Date: 2005-08-09 23:19
Aha.......at last an objective report will be fothcoming.
Perhaps an online retailer sold the email addresses...or your credit card co. noted sales to you from woodwind dealers.
OR......shudder......your ISP sold ya out!
I got spammed with their email .....and I don't even exist!
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Author: Merlin
Date: 2005-08-26 21:23
I received my Claripatch kit last week, and I've been exploring some of the possibilities. It's going to take some time to give it a thorough workout.
First impressions: The different patches I've tried so far do alter the reed response as claimed. The patches seem a bit wide, but I haven't noticed any comfort problems.
There is a disclaimer in the instructions that basically says that Kaspar pieces are too short to position the clamp properly. Haven't got one handy right now to find out. They seem to imply that so many people in Europe use Vandoren that it shouldn't matter.
More to follow...
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Author: gmofclarinet
Date: 2006-03-28 20:49
I have a strange setup and I was wondering if anyone knows if it will be an ok setup for the ClariPatch..?
I have a Woodwind Company K10M mouthpiece... and I use Vandoren Black Master reeds...
I'm very interested in this product, but I just want to make sure I will be able to use it...
any help will be helpful! thank you very much!
--Mindy
www.lochwoodacademy.com
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2006-03-29 02:02
There's an article in the new issue of The Clarinet (March 2006) about the Claripatch. It seems neat, and you might want to get your hands on this issue if you're interested in the patches.
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Author: lepetitsuisse
Date: 2006-03-29 07:08
[Disclaimer: I do not have any connection to the manufacturer of the Claripatch]
I am using Claripatch now for more than six month and I would not give it away anymore. This is probably one of the best things I've ever gotten for my clarinet.
If Ben Redwine says that the same result can be obtained by a slight modification of the mouthpiece, I fully agree. BUT: You won't modify your mouthpiece every time you have a reed that is not 100% what it should be...
The system is fairly easy: Claripatch is nothing more than 8 different metal patches looking like a somewhat larger reed that are placed in-between the mouthpiece and the reed. They all modify the curvature of the mouthpiece and therefore rather modify the mouthpiece than the reed. Together with your skills of modifying reeds this gives you tremendous opportunities.
Example: You want to break in your reeds. One of the main problems is that the pressure of the embouchure should not be to important at the beginning: There is a patch that reduces the curvature of the mouthpiece and therefore reduce the pressure needed to play the reed. Your reed gets broken in gently and will be usable for a much longer time!
Other example: Your reed is weakening after extensive usage: there's another patch that will increase curvature and therefore raise the apparent reed strength.
Indeed the patches do exactly what they are meant to do!
However there are some minor negative points:
The pro-package comes with 8 different patches and you get 2 patches of the same form. In reality the 4 different patches delivered with the junior package are covering more than 90% of the needs, so to save money, I recommend the junior package!
As mentioned above, the system is designed basically for Vandoren mouthpieces, but I also use it successfully on a Morgan mouthpiece.
Claripatch claims the lifetime of their system to be roughly the same as the one of a mouthpiece, but I am convinced that it can actually be much longer!
A positive point at the last: The system comes with a small, coin-like plastic piece called Clarimute that is placed between the upper joint and the barrel. This completely silences the clarinet, but you can still play and train your fingers… You feel like practicing at midnight? No problem for your neighbors with that system!
Their advertising system might be somewhat annoying, but their product is awesome!
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