 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Drenkier_1
Date: 2005-05-29 17:32
So my lesson teacher let me borrow some of his vintage mouthpieces. 1 is a Kasper made in Chicago. The one I have had for about 3 months is a Kasper made in Cissero. And the other, which I have never played on, is a Bettoney. Compared to the two Kaspers, I find that the Bettoney has a really really nice sound to it. Its quite ringy, and I can finally use 3 1/2 V12's on it. I find that 4's on the Kaspers are a little too hard and that 3 1/2's are far too soft. I find that hard 3 1/2 V12's are very hard to find in a box, as in maybe you might get lucky with 1 or 2. But 4's tend to be the biggest pain in the *(fill in with your own word)* and that they tend just to be far too inconsistent with the Kaspers. I have heard that 4 1/2's tend to be better at consistency than 4's are. Anyway, does anybody have any past experience with Kaspers and Bettoneys/Chedvilles and what kind of reeds you play on with them? Just would like to hear what yall have to say.
Kevin Collins
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-05-29 17:50
Drenkier_1 wrote:
> Anyway, does anybody
> have any past experience with Kaspers and Bettoneys/Chedvilles
> and what kind of reeds you play on with them? Just would like to
> hear what yall have to say.
It depends on the facing (or refacing) of the mouthpiece, tip opening, baffle, thickness of the rails, your particular embouchure and oral cavity, and (to a much lesser degree) ligature, barrel and clarinet.
Other than that, no difference ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif) ...GBK
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-05-29 19:05
I've had several Kaspars--3 Ciceros, 1 Chicago and 3 Ann Arbors. I liked the Ciceros and the Chicago better than the Ann Arbors, but as GBK says, the facing, etc. is what really makes the difference.
What a priviledge to get to play them.
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Author: ClarinetConnoisseur
Date: 2005-05-29 19:34
Does anybody know where I could purchase a Kaspar MP? I heard about them helping my friend find a new MP after his chipped (and it received a proper burial!), and I've been intrigued ever since. They sound too good to be true! Advice, anyone?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-05-29 19:45
ClarinetConnoisseur wrote:
> Does anybody know where I could purchase a Kaspar MP?
Generally eBay, and generally they have been refaced/modified over the years, so the chances of an "original" Kaspar (Ann Arbor or Chicago) are very slim.
I've played a number from my former teacher's collection, and found one that was very nice. The others were "stinkers" for me. Personally I'd much rather have a mouthpiece from one of the current crop of makers (Walter Grabner, Greg Smith, Richard Hawkins, Chris Hill, Clark Fobes, Ben Redwine, Herb Blayman, Jim Pyne ... just a few examples) who can work with you to get the "right sound".
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Author: Drenkier_1
Date: 2005-05-29 21:03
Is Greg Smith coming to the clarinet Symposium in June? I heard from someone he might be! Man it would be SOO sweet to go there and get to try out a bunch of clarinets and mouthpieces.
Kevin Collins
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Author: William
Date: 2005-05-29 22:04
Greg does send mouthpieces out to your home for audition if you provide some sort of collateral--like your Visa #, etc. IMO, this would be a better way to play-test his products than on the convention floor.
I own two of his mouthpieces that I selected via UPS and think that they are the next best thing to a good original Kaspar or Ched. He is easy to work with and quite accessable by phone or email.
Post Edited (2005-05-29 22:08)
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-05-29 23:24
As Mark C intimates - you will have a direct line of response from a living maker, if you need adjustments.
The Kaspar stuff is just too valuable to collectors for me to consider...
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Author: fredackerman
Date: 2005-05-30 23:30
Greg Smith makes some of the finest mouthpieces... period! He treated me a amateur like an equal, I was impressed greatly by this gentleman's knowledge, kindness and his wonderful mouthpieces.
Fred
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-05-31 21:28
I play a Grenadilla wood Greg Smith Kaspar Cicero 13. I've had it about 3 years now and have sold all my real Kaspars because I prefer this one. I used the money I got out of the Kaspars for a good cause.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-05-31 22:01
I have several old Penzel-Mueller mps, a Conn Zyloid and a Pedler/Pruefer or so, could these be related to the "best" names ?? TKS, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2005-06-01 13:39
Don,
Some of those older mouthpieces were made by Chedeville. I've seen a Preufer that was a Chedeville, and I've seen some Penzel-Muellers that were excellent.
Chris
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-06-01 14:30
TKS, Chris, back in those days, [I guess], the number of GOOD mp-makers, and the sales were few [the Great Depression] so its not surprising that common use was made of the "betters". I'll do a bit more testing-inspecting, perhaps measuring, and fight-off any impulses for refacing !! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Llewsrac
Date: 2005-06-01 15:04
Today Clarinet mp's are of the highest quality, and easiest access to all players, as compared to any time in the history of the Instrument.
Today there is no good reason for a player not to have, to find, or to have made, a mp that does not meet the needs of that player regardless of their playing level or the size of their wallet. Today is the best of all times for vintage and new mp's.
Seek and ye shall find, or "sound like a poor relation"
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-06-01 15:25
Most of today's mouthpiece artisans will work with your set-up. Greg always asks what I'm playing (Buffet R-13). That makes a difference as well. Then, they want to know what kind of a sound you're looking for and what strength reeds you use--a few things like that. Those things you can't get with a vintage mouthpiece and they do influence the overall tonal quality of your sound. Plus--if you have a problem you can send it back to them.
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2005-06-03 10:04
A recent find of mine was the Chadash-Hill Chedeville Blank Replica. I acquired it from a former teacher. Chris Hill put the facing on this one, but you can just buy the blank and take it to the mouthpiece craftsman of your choice. Glotin is also selling this mouthpiece, but for a lot more than I paid for it... You can read about the blank at Guy's webpage, interesting stuff.
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