 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ed
Date: 2003-02-24 01:52
Many mouthpiece makers out there are using the Zinner blank for their mouthpieces. (Smith, Fobes, Grabner, Lomax, Hawkins, etc) I am sure each maker is looking for slightly different results and doing slightly different things to the facing or interior. Since they are using the same or similar raw material, I am wondering how the characteristics of each compare for anyone who have played a number of different ones.
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-02-24 11:11
I've played mouthpieces by Viotto and Greg Smith, both using Zinner blanks. The mouthpieces have very different facings. They sound and respond completely differently. The material is good, but ultimately I think it's the design that makes most of the difference.
I also had Viotto put the same facing on a Zinner and a Vandoren blank. The Vandoren sounded a bit brighter, but there wasn't a huge difference.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-02-24 16:00
I think that the blanks make a difference. Years ago (1970), I sent my Chicago Kaspar #14 out to Charlie Bay who copied its facing onto one of his Ithica custom mpcs. The resulting Bay played with much more "presence" than the Kaspar, although they both had the same facing (confirmed by my old clarinet professor who measured both pieces). I am currently playing my Kaspar, however I still use that Bay occassionally when I simply need more volume. My point remains, however, both Kaspar and Bay used different blanks and that is the basis for the different sounds.
Perhaps economics and availability (apart from pure quality) have something to do with the extensive use of Zinners among different mouthpiece makers.
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Author: Clarence
Date: 2003-02-25 04:39
Ed,
Of the mouthpieces that you mentioned, I have had a trial on Smith, Lomax and Hawkins. All three of these mouthpieces had very good sound, good altissimo characteristics and are designed for V12 3 1/2 reeds. Here is a short summary.
Hawkins Std: High resistence
Not very reed friendly and limited dynamic range.
Smith: medium-low resistence
Smooth playing with good dynamic range. I would have like these mouthpieces better if they were available in a wider tip opening.
Lomax: Low resistence
Wide dynamic range. Excellent sound with good ring. My mouthpiece search of 6 months ended with me buying the Lomax Classic A3. I spent more on mouthpiece trials then I paid for this mouthpiece, but this is what I was looking for.
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Author: jez
Date: 2003-02-25 18:23
Can anyone tell me how the Zinner blank differs from the Babbitt?
I think most of my mp's were from Babbitt.
Do Vandoren supply blanks or was Liquorice's a finished mp refaced?
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-02-25 22:17
Mine was a Vandoren refaced by Viotto. Sorry for the confusion. I don't think Vandoren supply blanks.
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