 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jon Parkin
Date: 2006-11-06 13:35
Hi everyone...I'm a 4th year undergrad at the RCM. For the last 4 years, I've been in search of the mouthpiece of my dreams, where I can just get on and play without messing about with reeds, and where I can make the sound I want to make. I have finally found it!
Whether you need work doing on your mouthpiece, in search of a new one or already happy with your own, just go and see Ramon Wodkowski...I can guarantee you will be well impressed with this guy's work...he's a genius!!!! The quality of his work is unparalleled...the mouthpiece he has done for me is without any doubt the finest mouthpiece I have ever tried or played & I'm completely in love with it!! Its easy to find reeds, response is fantastic (quiet fast tonguing is no effort) and it just plays like a dream. Ramon's a top player too...the quality of his playing is reflected in his mouthpiece work. He is currently freelancing in London and his experience really shows in his work...he really knows what players need from their mouthpieces. He started making mouthpieces in America with great succes, and has just started up here in the UK, most recently doing work for Richard Hosford. Seriously...go and see him. The mouthpiece I brought to him was practically ruined and now its my dream mouthpiece - I have no reason to try anything else. His work is so consistant that I would have no hesitation to give him all of my mouthpieces to be altered...I've already given him a few and they all play much better now. You can contact him through Morgensterns Diary Service.
Post Edited (2006-11-06 13:58)
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Author: sherman
Date: 2006-11-06 16:02
It is interesting to read of such wonderful enthusiasm, and without meaning to pour water on such an impressive note, I would like to stress that the acquisition of a new mouthpiece or even a new instrument cannot be ascertained for a period of time usually commensurate with one's experience.
These things are all new and will feel completely different than what preceded them, and frequently the enthusiasm curls up and passes within a short period of time and one finds oneself even going back .
I have a dear friend, actually one of the world's finest hornists, Tom Kenny, now retired and an enthusiast of old cars, absolutely loves them, and fixes them , acquires them constantly. Sells some as well.
What Tom has told me is that one cannot tell if a "new" used car burns or uses oil for at least thirty days, and I feel that he is correct and see the corollary with mouthpieces. Do you?
Phil Farcas, former principal of of the Chicago Symphony upon the conclusion of a concert which included "Til Eulenspiegl" was complimented by a student who told him it was the finest "Til" he had ever heard.
Phil looked up quizically and said, "Oh my God!. I wonder which mouthpiece I played it on."
And that is the story, it is always you the player who makes the sound, never the equipment.
stay well,
sherman friedland
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Author: hans
Date: 2006-11-06 16:20
Jon Parkin,
I agree with Professor Friedland's statement: ".......frequently the enthusiasm curls up and passes within a short period of time and one finds oneself even going back", since that has happened to me on several occasions.
Hopefully that will not happen in your case. It would be interesting to learn what mouthpiece you are using a year from now.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-11-06 16:31
Hans,
I'd say it's a component race. The mouthpiece may have been the weakest link now. A new clarinet might be the next victim.... ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
But I can understand Jon's joy. I vividly remember when I accidentally got some other reeds (sort of eBay bycatch), tried them and knew that these were The Chosen Ones. They were just right. Fit like a glove. Like made for me. That really is a great feeling, and I wish you tons of joy, Jon.
--
Ben
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Author: b.roke
Date: 2006-11-06 22:33
there do seem to have been a lot of mpc threads recently!
and i too have an experience of refacing worth recounting. i bought a new Pomarico off ebay as it went cheaply enough for my bid to be the winner. it arrived and i was disappointed and put it in a drawer. tried it a couple of times with the same result so i thought i would sell it. i got no bids on our local internet auction site at the same time as i was testing/buying alto sax mpc's from dave spiegelthal. when i was returning the 2 i wasn't buying i thought - reface it! so it was put into the package.
it arrived back home this morning and i have just spent a very enjoyable hour. it is hugely improved. thanks dave!
in light of sherman's observations it may pay us to have 3 or 4 quality mpc's and to rotate their usage. i seem to like a change every now and again, where-as my teacher has had her series 9 with its selmer mpc from new and does not want anything else.
we are all different and need to find what works for us.
steadfastness stands higher than any success
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Author: antaresclar
Date: 2006-11-06 23:24
Ramon's Mouthpiece work is truly outstanding! He made a mouthpiece for me about 5 years ago and I have been playing on it ever since. He puts an enormous amount of thought and dedication into what he is doing and the results are excellent! Well worth a try!
Garrick Zoeter
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2006-11-07 16:49
Does Ramon use Zinner blanks or some other proprietary base for his mouthpieces?
.........Paul Aviles
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Author: CJB
Date: 2006-11-09 11:52
I too can understand the enthusiasm of the initial post. I'm in a similar state of elation after a mouthpiece purchase just yesterday afternoon.
I knew from the 1st clarion B I played that the Weinberg customised mouthpiece was going to come home with me. On most of the normally stable notes the difference was a bit like the difference between FM and AM radio. On the lower clarion my tone was transformed and the ease of getting the notes out and the dynamic range acheivable was greatly increased. I had been playing on a Yamaha 4C whilst developing enough technique and knowledge of the instrument to be able to make a good choice. I have been pleasantly surprised how long I've used it for (4 years)and how good the results have been but it was time to upgrade. Changing over yesterday made me feel as if I'd been playing with the handbrake on for the last few months.
I'm sure this is mostly gear acquisition euphoria but for the forseeable future any problems that can't be solved by a change of reed are a problem with the player who will just have to take responsibility for her short comings.
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