 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ben
Date: 2003-10-31 13:50
Having never played any vintage mouthpieces for any length of time (Kasper, Chedeville, etc.), I don't have a good comparison between them and current mouthpiece blanks/makers. Even if I had, I wonder also how much a mouthpiece may change over 30+ years, causing it to deteriate in playablity.
It seems to me that most of the top professional clarinetists I have met play on one of three types of mouthpiece: Zinner blank (faced by whoever), Vandoren, or Pyne.
It seems that compared to these three (and a some others, of course), very few active professionals are playing on vintage mouthpieces. Is this because they are in much smaller supply, they were never or are at least not now better than some newer mouthpieces, or something else perhaps.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-10-31 17:29
The Vintage concept is a pile of malarky.
If you have a Vintage mouthpiece that works well then you are certainly among the few but proud.
Most Kaspars are so green and tarnished and smell bad the dog wouldn't eat them.
As to other Chedeville's mine have warped long ago and so I replaced them with something quite similar.
vandoren makes super pieces at a low price.
Vintage on E bay could mean a 10 to 20 year old piece to some players!!!
Vintage to me is at least 1950 to 1960.....oh well.
Caveat Emptor. Let the buyer beware!!!
David Dow
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Author: Ed
Date: 2003-10-31 18:29
I know many players who play on and love vintage mouthpieces. If it works, great. There are many opinions on the use and quality of these pieces vs. new. I know some people who think there is nothing like the old pieces and rubber. Some who think that they are overrated and like newer mouthpieces. Personally, I like whatever plays best for me. The name shouldn't be the deciding factor.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-10-31 18:54
In my humble refacing experience I've found no significant difference between the playing quality of the typical (unmodified) vintage mouthpiece and the typical new mouthpiece. On the average, about the same fraction of each category seem to play well without refacing (a ludicrously SMALL percentage, I might add), and about the same percentage play like refried canine ca-ca (a frighteningly LARGE percentage) --- yes, even Vandorens (although they're far from the worst in that regard). As I and others have noted, there are lots of awful Kaspars and Chedevilles out there, along with some really good ones.
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Author: CPW
Date: 2003-10-31 21:35
Well I have this Vintage Kostzalott that I am offering on ebay that you should definitely consider buying at any cost.
Seriously some of the Selmers Bettoneys etc have good reflective material that hold refacing well and sound good.
Pipe stem cleaner and polish available at tobacconists do wonders for the Green Kaspar.
My dog ate one once.
Her bark is more in tune.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2003-10-31 21:40
My dog ate one once.
Her bark is more in tune.
I'll bet she is also darker!
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Author: donald
Date: 2003-11-01 08:00
in my experience, the vintage mouthpieces seem to be from an era where people were looking for a brighter/sweeter sound rather than a darker one. Almost every good vintage mouthpiece i've tried has suprised me with it's ring/projection/sweetness. The Chedeville i have is not a good example, but has a ring like no modern piece i've ever tried. The old Selmers (including Prototype blanks that a colleague borrowed from Selmer) seem to have a sweetness that leaves their current mouthpieces sounding hard and edgy.
i wonder, have players always been going on about a "darker sound" being the goal, or is it maybe only in the last 20/30 years?
donald....
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-11-01 12:38
It is entirely possible that constant refinement of the process makes for a BETTER product, after several iterations.
I have seen vintage Chedeville mouthpieces sell for more than my first car.
These are then refaced (at considerable expense) to become playable.
It would be a worthwhile investment to contact a living maker.
Contrary to what one noteable maker would lead you to believe, most stock material is made by Zinner, Riffault, Babbit or Glotin and then finished.
*******
I now play a Vandoren M30, and for fifty-five bucks (plus a little sandpaper) it plays in tune, and readily (reedily?)...
*******
And if you think a Green Kaspar smells bad BEFORE the dog eats it...
"The purpose of your life may only be as a warning to others."
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-11-01 13:08
I think it should be mentioned that glass crystal mps , in my long-time experience, dont seem to age at all. The OLD [close] O'Briens still are, as is the Sel Clarion quite good, the Pomarico bass GG's are holding up well, and I'm looking forward to a long and happy life with my new Pom Alto cl mp, its excellent so far, as is my refaced [to 5RVL] no-name, now that I've found its "companion" horn. I do try to take care of my HR's also. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: CPW
Date: 2003-11-01 18:32
Ed...the dog is dark to begin with. A Rottweiler
But her muzzle is white, not green, with age.
As for sweetness....she was always sweet....she even likes my playing
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