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Re: Asymmetrical curve vs. Symmetrical curve

Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2006-09-13 02:06

While it is true that all mouthpiece makers need the *ability* to be able to accommodate particular oral occlusions and jaw-to-reed pressure patterns to compensate *if needed*, most of the time it is not necessary with reasonably straight teeth and relatively normal occlusions.

(But not necessarily. Robert Marcellus had a terrific overbite and Bonade a boldly protruding lower jaw but played very "regular", normal facings, recommending these "medium" facings as the norm to their students.)

The only fact that I intended to make clear was that based on the two people that knew him best and were knowledgeable about mouthpiece making relayed that specific information to me...and they were adamant about it.

As a mouthpiece maker I also know that no two measuring tools or even systems are alike and no two people will get exactly (or interpret exactly) the same measurements - even using the same tools! Kaspar's were rather unusual because the tip wand(s) that he used did not match most of the modern day wands.

Undoubtedly he went through many measuring glasses and feeler gages (he used more than the standard Brand-recommended 4 gages) that became worn, broken, bent, etc, and had to be replaced.

Try measuring a mouthpiece with 10 measuring glasses, freshly minted, of the type and from the maker that Kaspar used. Then you will know what I am talking about.

Gregory Smith

BTW, the 23 - 22 and 35 - 34 measurements for the bottom 2 numbers are the most common asymmetry that I have found with hundreds of original Frank Kaspar facings over the years.

Post Edited (2006-09-13 02:09)

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