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 Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: CelesteGB 
Date:   2013-08-12 14:32

Hi all,

I've recently returned to the clarinet after a 29 year hiatus. I was 1st/2nd chair all through high school. Four years ago, my husband bought me a Leblanc Pete Fountain Big Easy and started lessons 4 weeks ago. After a couple of lessons, he wanted to help me pimp my clarinet a little with a Backun barrel. While there, I got my Pete Fountain Crystal mouthpiece, put it on the barrel and gave it a little twist. To my horror, the neck of the mouthpiece broke off into the barrel leaving the ring inside[frown].

I asked which mouthpiece had similar dimensions and he said it was an M30 so I proceeded to scour sites for a replacement crystal mouthpiece. I ordered a Pomarico Sapphire and Selmer Crystal. I received the Pomarico but it is rather difficult to play. It requires very little air compared to the B45 or Rico Reserve that I have (I also have a 5RV and a C**).(I have yet to receive the Selmer) Would a Pomarico Diamond be more in line with a Pete Fountain crystal mouthpiece?

I did manage to snap up a Pete Fountain crystal mpc on a site but won't play it so I can preserve my "set" :)

Does anyone know the dimensions of the mouthpiece or a suitable replacement? I would think it's an open mouthpiece but how open? Which crystal mouthpiece would be similar?

Sorry if this is a little disjointed but I have so many questions in general regarding mouthpieces in general and I'm trying to edit myself for the moment  :)

Thanks in advance!
Celeste

"Born to Rune" - Terry Pratchett

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2013-08-12 21:28

It may be possible to graft a new tenon to what's left of your original crystal mouthpiece (after also digging the broken tenon out of your barrel). You'd have to be careful with the mouthpiece so as not to break the adhesive bond (i.e. the cork not too thick and always liberally greased), but it can be done.

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: CelesteGB 
Date:   2013-08-13 01:06

There is a small triangle of glass missing but I still have the brass ring at the bottom. The mouthpiece body is untouched. Do you think that might be possible? It's a shame because the mouthpiece can sit in there as is....I'm reaching for straws :)

Thanks!

"Born to Rune" - Terry Pratchett

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: Tony F 
Date:   2013-08-13 02:30

If the mouthpiece tenon is largely intact and you still have the brass ring it should be possible to rebuild the mouthpiece. I've successfully repaired a crystal Vandoren with a similar problem. The repair is not invisible, but the mouthpiece is fully functional. I used superstrong Araldite (not the 5 minute type) for the repair and duct tape to hold the parts in place while it set up. I built the repair up in several layers and then polished it back to size and fit.

Tony F.

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2013-08-13 02:44

Even if the tenon is totally destroyed a "donor" tenon (from a hard rubber mouthpiece) can be glued on. I've done it a few times, as I've been using (and occasionally busting) crystal mouthpieces for many years.

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: CelesteGB 
Date:   2013-08-13 02:59

Thanks all for the replies! I'm excited that there is hope for fixing it. It would have been a shame considering the body of the mouthpiece is intact.

Again, thank you!

Celeste

"Born to Rune" - Terry Pratchett

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: Bob Barnhart 2017
Date:   2013-08-13 20:55

My best friend and I grew up playing along with Pete all throughout Junion/Senior high and played Selmer HS*, HS** and Pete Fountain crystal mouthpieces.

After I broke my favorite HS* I gave up on crystals as it seems too hard to find a good one. My friend has stayed with them and about 2 years ago ordered a very different "Pete Fountain" crystal from a company in New York or New Jersey.

THIS mouthpiece is really great--much better than what Leblanc(?) sells as its "Pete Fountain" and probably more similar to the (old) Vandoren A2 Crystal that Pete was quoted as playing in old advertisements. It's quite open (~1.20+ mm) and somewhat resistant, playing best with a 2-2 1/2 reed.

I've asked my friend for the address/phone of this company as they don't have a web-site (can you believe it?) and he's looking for it.

Bob Barnhart

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: CelesteGB 
Date:   2013-08-14 12:15

Bob,

Let me know when you receive the information. Thank you so much for checking into it! :)

Celeste

"Born to Rune" - Terry Pratchett

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: Bob Barnhart 2017
Date:   2013-08-19 19:14

Celeste,

My friend checked the box for HIS "Pete Fountain Crystal" and noted that it was a LeBlanc Product # 2515L3.

A search for "Pete Fountain Mouthpiece 2515L3" indicates that several sites may have this mouthpiece. Brook Mays (http://www.brookmays.com) has this mouthpiece in their inventory (see http://www.brookmays.com/i--2515L3--Leblanc--Bb-Clarinet-Mouthpiece-Artist-Series.aspx). Their product description says "Tip: 1.023mm, Facing: Short" which seems right from my recollection of how it plays.

If you get one, you'll need reeds that are no harder than 2-2 1/2.

Good luck!

Bob Barnhart

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: NOLA Ken 
Date:   2020-10-10 06:08


This thread is a few years old, but I'm going to revive it because my problem is very similar to the initial problem that started it.

I just acquired a Leblanc Pete Fountain crystal mouthpiece mail order. It is absent the cork, and upon arrival I discovered two small cracks of about 7mm each 15mm apart in the tenon running in the direction of the tip from under the brass ring. This looks like a disaster looking to happen if not repaired or reinforced in some manner. I'm on the verge of trying to negotiate a return for refund as the cracks were not disclosed, but want to explore repair possibilities before I do. Does anyone have any suggestions on whether or how to best repair this to make the mpc usable. It otherwise appears to be a nice mouthpiece (really nice rails and tip), and these don't come available all that often anymore, especially for the price I paid for it.

Thanks for any suggestions you can offer.

Ken R.

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: Fuzzy 
Date:   2020-10-10 07:08

Hi Ken,

I will hope others can address your problem directly, but if not - Pomarico made the crystal Pete Fountain mouthpieces (at least at one point in time)...so you might write to them. I had great luck with responses from them a few years ago when I was researching the issue of "Who actually made the Leblanc Pete Fountain mouthpieces?" I even received advice from them about the removal/attachment of the brass ring, resizing it, etc.

Again - I hope one of those with direct knowledge will answer your response, but if not, I'd sure give Pomarico a try via e-mail.

Fuzzy

[Edit: corrected spelling]



Post Edited (2020-10-10 07:10)

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: Tony F 
Date:   2020-10-10 07:23

I've never tried to repair a glass m/p myself, but a friend successfully
repaired a Leblanc crystal m/p with cracks from the corners of the chamber along the table. He used an extremely low viscosity superglue normally used for glass repairs. It penetrates the thinnest crack and sets invisibly. His m/p still works well after several years of regular use.

Tony F.

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: Djudy 
Date:   2020-10-10 15:51

I have an O'Brian with a chip inside the tip (came on a nice metal M.Lacroix). I was going to take it to my dentist to see if he has a solution - they can do amazing repairs on teeth now. Any other ideas?





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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: Mojo 
Date:   2020-10-10 17:39

There are clear epoxies and acrylics that can be used for repairs.

Also the facing on your broken mouthpiece can be measured and copied to another mouthpiece. Copying the baffle and chamber dimensions will probably not be possible with crystal mouthpieces. So it would be best if you have a replacement crystal mouthpiece that measures the same inside as the broken one. Then copying the facing over should work well to get you a replacement.

MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com

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 Re: Pete Fountain Crystal Mouthpiece?
Author: EbClarinet 
Date:   2020-10-11 18:31

I read online that Pomarico mouth pieces make u play # 2 much. When I learned that Pyne makes crystal mouth pieces, I bought 1 4 my C Clarinet. It's in tune and I have excellent tone quality on it with my setup. So let's shift the focus 2 them for intonation purposes.

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/mbtldsongministry/

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