The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Greg Smith Mouthpiece

Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2004-03-18 19:21

My Kaspar style has a tip opening of the original Kaspar "11" (Chicago or Cicero) at approx. 1.11mm's. The "11" was Frank Kaspar's most successful and popular symphonic facing. Mine are meant to replicate my own personal, original Kaspars (a Chicago and a Cicero) with an "11" stamped on the L. side of the table. These two are the best examples that I have played and use them as comparators when I make each mthpc. The interior dimensions are slightly different between the Chicago and the Cicero models but the facing remains essentially the same (as in my own originals).

The Chedeville style facings have a tip opening hovering around 1mm but the concavity in the table makes it feel a little above that. I like to think that I make one, "medium" Chedeville style mouthpiece but vary the 4 facings ever so slightly so that they are made to fit slightly different embouchures or jaw occulsions. It's a variation done more out of concern for the player's comfort than anything else. The inherent sound of each mthpc varies little if at all despite the slightest change in the tip opening of the 4 models.

All of my mthpcs, amongst the plethora of mthpcs available out there today, feel "medium" in every respect. The fact that they work best with the middle of the road reed strengths (3.5 - 4) demonstrates something of that.

Gregory Smith

PS. I do take scupulous measurements and rarely if ever vary from them since they are the most successful for me and clients.

Post Edited (2004-03-18 19:24)

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics