 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kev182
Date: 2007-05-02 15:24
I recently bumped the tip of the mouthpiece on my front tooth while putting it into my mouth.
there is a small dent at the very tip.... do you think this will affect much?
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-05-02 15:33
Can you explain a bit more about the location of the chip? Is it on the outside part of the tip or the inside toward the reed?
A good mouthpiece refacer can smooth that down for you. If you're at Interlochen there is probably a professor who can take a look at it and help you with finding someone to smooth it. Or, he/she might be able to do it for you right there.
Can you take a photo and post it?
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Author: Katelyn
Date: 2007-05-02 16:07
Depending on where it is, if you don't mind dealing with the possibility of occasional chirps, you should be fine.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-05-02 16:42
Katelyn wrote:
> Depending on where it is, if you don't mind dealing with the
> possibility of occasional chirps, you should be fine.
When ARE "occasional chirps" fine?
I guess that I must have missed it, when Szell told Marcellus: "Aside from the few chirps during your solos on Beethoven 6, you sound great - keep it up."
If a mouthpiece had the possibility of chirping/squeeking it would immediately be in my junk drawer, or sent off to a refacer to see if it could be salvaged...GBK
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Author: Brad Behn
Date: 2007-05-02 17:03
There is a very simple solution but it may seem a bit scary. Heat will bring the rubber back to its original state. By simply grazing the middle part of a flame (cigarette lighter preferred) against the dent, for a split second (about a half second), the dent will come right out and there will be no evidence of past neglect.
The benefit of this solution is that it doesn’t alter the facing in any way. It simply restores the facing to its original specs (and removes the dent).
Good luck.
Brad Behn
http://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2007-05-02 17:17
Kevin,
I have done this before myself. The most I ever got were very, very small dents, but I could see them nonetheless. I would just play it and if it plays fine consider yourself lucky. If you notice a difference then you'll have to think about other options. Give yourself enough credit to decide if it's playing the same or not.
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Author: Detru Cofidin
Date: 2007-05-02 18:28
The cigarette lighter idea will work, as long as it is a dent and not a chip. If it's a chip, no amount of heat will do it any good whatsoever.
Nevertheless, taking a lighter to the tip of your mouthpiece is very risky business. I've done it successfully before, but if I were you, I would have somebody do it who has done it before. If you do try it, don't keep the heat on very long.
It works because there is slightly more outward pressure in the material that is dented and a certain amount of heat will bring it back to original shape. The problem is if you get too much heat, it will melt the other material as well. Regulating the heat with a cigarette lighter is of course very difficult to do. Like I say, it's very risky business, and could end up in the total destruction of your mouthpiece if you're not careful.
If you don't notice a difference in your playing, don't mess with it at all. It's the purpose of the mouthpiece that counts right?
Nicholas Arend
Post Edited (2007-05-02 18:33)
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2007-05-02 19:57
Rather than a cigarette lighter, try turning on a lamp, wait for the bulb to heat up, then hold the mouthpiece tip against the light bulb. Check often for changes in the damaged area. Safer than using a flame.
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