 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: moeboy
Date: 2005-11-28 01:28
I have been playing on vandoren b45's for a couple years now, and during my practice session today, i was looking on the computer in the WWBW company at several mouthpieces. One of major interest was the pomarico crystal mouthpiece with the M Sapphire cut. Another was their ebony mouthpiece. can anyone give me their opinions on these mouthpeices?
much appreciated
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Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2005-11-28 02:53
The Pomarico ebony is okay, but not great. They have a rough woody sound and are pretty resistant. Also I have heard of people having problems with them in cold or dry enviroments (but living in Minnesota and Wisconsin I guess thats what I get from tropical hardwoods). The Crystal is not bad for jazz playing, or just for fun but I would not recommend it as a primary piece. I think Selmer does a much better crystal mouthpiece than Pomarico, more centered and reed friendly anyway. If you like B45's, and have not tried a Selmer C95s (I currently use one for jazz) or CP100s, they are excellent for jazz or pop stuff.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-11-28 03:57
"The Crystal is not bad for jazz playing, or just for fun but I would not recommend it as a primary piece."
Vandoren and Pomarico crystal are the most popular mouthpieces for classical players in my country. The first clarinetist in the philharmonic orchestra plays on a Pomarico crystal, and he has one of the most beautiful classical sound I know.
Moeboy, I happen to have an audio file with me playing on two Pomarico crystal and two Pomarico wood mouthpieces. If you want I can send you the file. Email me to clarnibass@yahoo.com if you are interested.
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Author: moeboy
Date: 2005-11-28 11:28
hopefully that email will send. Thanks again clarnibass!
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2005-11-28 16:49
I LOVE the ebony Pomarico!!! Of course I got turned on to them overseas (Korea) where there were plenty of L1 facings available. I was told that the jazz players over there love them too. I have yet to find the "L" version in the states but I am sure you could get it straight from Italy. They are really free blowing. Yes, they have a less forward sound because of the material but that makes them great for classical.
Personally, I have never had any luck with the crystals. Who knows?
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: moeboy
Date: 2005-11-28 17:21
yeah i want to buy a mp for classical. i don't use my clarinet in jazz: our band doesn't want one.
i might just get the crystal because they say it's cheaper, and will last forever (least i break it)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-11-28 18:28
moeboy wrote:
> and vandoren makes crystal mps?!?!?!?
No longer ...GBK
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Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2005-11-28 23:23
I have not tried the L1, just the regular 1 and -1. Now I am a little interested, although if I do get a wood mouthpiece I am thinking of a Grabner or a Greg Smith. Everyone I have talked to about both seems to absolutely love them. Too bad O'Brien isn't still making mouthpieces, those were fantastic crystal mouthpieces, and still are if you can find a good one.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-11-29 04:39
I wouldn't get too nostalgic about O'Briens --- I've refaced probably a dozen of them, and I can't remember even one that played well with the factory facing. All the ones I got were stuffy and thin-sounding as-received.
With all the wonderful mouthpiece makers out there right now, some of whom are sponsors of this BB, I'd say that today's clarinet player has more and better choices than ever.
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2005-11-29 11:34
First O'briens were not crystal but rather glass. Big difference.
Second, I have several Pomarico crystals and love them all. Also have a wooden Pomarico and love that as well. Never had any problems with Pomarico crystals or wood.
FYI.....the Selmer crystals marked made in Italy, are made by Pomarico.
JG
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-11-29 22:21
John - How do you distinguish between glass and crystal [both being "generic" terms]? There are many formulations for "glasses", some of which are "high lead content" as in/for expensive "crystal glassware" such as "Waterford" [which we visited in Ireland]. As to comparisons with woods for mps., glass densities are about twice those of even the most dense woods, and I "believe" that that makes some diffferences in sound "quality". I do prefer the Pom/O'Brien crystals. Just thots on return from a TKSG trip! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: archer1960
Date: 2005-11-30 12:12
Don Berger wrote:
> John - How do you distinguish between glass and crystal [both
> being "generic" terms]? There are many formulations for
...
I believe (and I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong) the different terms are based on their molecular arrangemehts. "Glass" is normally an amorphous solid, where the molecules are arranged essentially randomly.
The term "crystal", on the other hand normally refers to a specific arrangement of the molecules of the substance in question, hence the "crystal structure" of metals, for example.
So I would assume (and this is where I'm unsure) that "crystal" in this context refers to glass-like materials which have a regular molecular arrangement rather than an amorphous one. I do know that Pyrex cookware is made of a glass-like material with a crystalline molecular structure, which gives it its ability to survive temperature extremes better than regular glass does.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-12-01 18:54
In an attempt to learn a bit about [the usually amorphous] glass becomming [at least partially] "crystallized" so that the name is used appropriately, not just being characterized as a high-quality/expensive item, I've done some reading in "Crystals" by Douglas Bullis, and in my old "Science Study Series" PB, "Crystals and Crystal Growth" by Holden and Singer. My crystal-growing experience was in chemistry classes and growing alum et al cry's. from water solution for my kids. We all know of the complex-lengthy methods for making silicon et al microchip cry's., and I believe that similar methods would be needed to significantly crystallize glass compositions. Migration time for cry. formation should be long! Someone spoke of Pyrex glass, I believe it may be only a tempered/stress-relieved glass composition, not cry'd, and its breakage shows NO crystal structure. I believe that X-ray diffraction tests would be needed to show any crystallinity. SO, [winding down], my belief is that our glass mps are NOT crystals, but are high-quality amorphous, tempered glass. I hope for more knowlegable scientists to comment/correct my thots. WOW, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: moeboy
Date: 2005-12-01 21:47
so if i would happen to get this mp, would i still be able to use my rovner ligature on it? it is just a normal leather strap ligature.
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Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2005-12-01 22:23
You certainly should be able to. I always use a fabric lig with a crystal mouthpiece. I do normally use a woven one with rubber ones as well, I like them better than metal or hybrid ones in most situations.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-12-02 00:52
Yes. The rovner ligatures DO fit pomaricos. That you don't need to worry about!
US Army Japan Band
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Author: JoeMich
Date: 2005-12-02 01:00
Don B and Archer are correct.
So-called "crystal glass" is a misnomer. It has no ordered molecular structure. Rather, it is described as a "supercooled liquid", and is amorphus. X-ray diffraction techniques will not produce a Laue, or typical diffraction pattern. Breaks in glass/crystal-glass/Pyrex will occur in random patterns/directions, again demonstrating lack of crystalline structure.
All these mixtures, (glass, "crystal glass", Pyrex), exhibit the same amorphus structure. However, additives may give the basic material unique properties.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-12-02 13:26
Thank You, JoeMich, its a pleasure to hear from someone who has even heard of [possibly employed] X-Ray diffraction analysis. While I had no part in the X-Ray investigations, it was a highly important test in my company's patent litigations to show, [at least, partial] crystallinity in our polyolefin, [ethylene, propylene and co-polymers] patent court-battles, and at least one validated patent was allowed to claim it. Will try to re-find it. AH, memories ! Did I ask you before if the Mich meant my state, MI ? TKS, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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