 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2006-10-17 00:13
If the tip, rails, table, and exit bore remains untouched, and the curve relatively good, what will cause a good mouthpiece to go bad? bad in a sense that when a reed is put on it, the mouthpiece projects fine until it starts to squeak? its like playing a low G and hearing an annoying feedback squeak? Is it warpage or damage to the lay that changes a mouthpiece that significantly?
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2006-10-17 01:29
I would verify that the table where the reed sits is still flat.
Dan Johnston of Buffalo paid particular attention to the section of the table just aft of the "window" to get a good seal on between the reed and mouthpiece - without this seal, he felt that response was unpredictable.
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2006-10-17 01:53
It's an anomaly in the table or facing somewhere...the rails most commonly....which I'm sorry to say can't always be picked up by a mouthpiece craftsman. Sometimes it's apparent but many times it's subtle enough not to be seen. A "light" adjustment or full refacing can determine where that anomaly is just by reading the "signature" left on the sandpaper.
BTW, the reed suction test is a good one for tables that are flat. Those with a pronounced concavity like the Zinner standard blank will not seal because the concavity extends up above the bottom of the window if not taken out by the mouthpiece maker.
That kind of concavity is considered an attribute by those who leave it intact. The only way to override it is to crank a ligature so tight on the reed that it conforms to the concavity. Not a good result in my experience - with any ligature on that type of mouthpiece.
Gregory Smith
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2006-10-17 01:56
Couple of questions:
Have you tried several other reeds?
Of other brands?
How much do you tighten your ligature (meaning it can be so tight as to distort the mouthpiece)?
What kind of ligature have you been using?
Have you tried another?
Do you smooth the underside of your reeds on #600 wetordry abrasive paper placed on plate glass before playing them for the 1st time, and periodically thereafter?
Has you mouthpiece been exposed to heat? To sunlight long enough to make it hot?
b/
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2006-10-17 04:31
i will get some pictures up on the mouthpiece. it's a blank that i acquired from somewhere. it has big sound, however right when it gets down to the low g and sometimes Staff C, it seems to develop feedback or a squeak. The tips and rails are still untouched. the table is flat, but i will let the pics speak for the meaning. I'll hopefully get them up by tomorrow.
reed use: zonda 3.
ligature: doesn't matter, it still happens. something is clashing in the sound.
how it plays: quite strong, a little airy on the throat A and Bb notes, but it has a good instant attack feel.
until tomorrow
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2006-10-17 04:33
ooh just a quick update. every time i hit a low E, the reed seems to vibrate like a wasp. not for a long time. just a split second; the initial attack, then i guess it subsides?
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: 2E
Date: 2006-10-17 07:29
This sometimes happens to me but i find its not because of mouthpiece problems, its generally because ive rushed during set up and have put my reed on crooked. I'd try moving the position of the reed on the mouthpiece slightly. Perhaps the tip of the reed is a mm or two out of line with the tip of the mouthpiece. That lets different amounts of air in when switching from clarion to chalmeau registers and will cause a small squeak. Also check the position of the ligature - placing it high on the mouthpiece will strangle the reed and not allow it to vibrate freely whilst placing it low on the mouthpiece will allow more vibration of the reed a more vibrant projection of sound.
2E
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-10-17 14:12
In general the "low notes" tend to cause vibrations that are more noticeable. Is it possible that the screw threads on your ligature are defective to the point of loosening due to the vibrations. Or...loosening the A/Aflat adjustment screw. Sometimes when attempting to solve problems what seems obvious is not the solution.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-10-17 20:15
Is your reed balanced?
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2006-10-19 05:44
Ok i've finally got some pictures of the mouthpiece. It handles fairly well except for
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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