 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2006-12-16 17:48
I know a vendor or two that have a soft mouthpiece pouch, but is there someplace I can buy a hard mouthpiece case? To better protect? Or does anyone know of a VERY good way to protect a mouthpiece (talking crystal mouthpiece here)? Thanks
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-12-16 18:39
Charles Bay used to package his mouthpieces in a round plastic tube styled case. The Dr. sends out his power barrels in a similar deal. That's probably not hard enough for you, but you can wrap the mouthpiece in bubble wrap before putting it into the tube (if there's enough room), or wrap the outside of the tube.
It sounds like a good idea for someone to build a small wooden mouthpiece case with an opening in the top that would fasten shut. I think I may have seen one somewhere. Hmm. Maybe someone can help with this.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-12-16 19:29
How about a suitable size pill bottle with sponge insert.
Bob Draznik
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2006-12-16 19:36
You can make one out of a piece of PVC pipe with a screw-on end cap (drill a hole in the cap for ventillation) --- roll the mouthpiece in a piece of soft cloth, foam, or bubble wrap and push it in. Such a case would be virtually indestructable. Eu
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2006-12-16 19:55
There was a guy selling some wood cases on e-bay for about $20. I think they hold about 6 mouthpieces. They are a little bulky and made well enough. The finish is slightly rough, but was acceptable for me. I use the case and the cap the Doctor sells for maximum protection.
...Jim
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-12-17 03:11
A Rovner fabric ligature and its plastic mouthpiece cap provide plenty of protection for a crystal mouthpiece in your case.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2006-12-17 13:28
I seem to remember that a while back Ben Redwine, who makes the Gennusa mouthpieces had some type of mouthpiece cases that he sold on ebay. You might try contacting him for more info.
http://www.redwinejazz.com/
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2006-12-17 14:47
A few years ago I found the perfect case for mouthpieces. A tight foam lined pistol case (yeah, for a gun) works great and lasts a long time. I've had mind for about 10 years. The down side is that they are sized for pistols and only practile if you have a lot of pieces or barrels.
For just one... bubble wrap sounds like the quickest idea.
-S
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2006-12-17 16:55
Thanks for letting me know about rovner lig and cap. I have those and will use those to put it in the case. I was wondering more for travel. I want to bring my mouthpiece back to stateside with me and NOT bring the instrument (I have access to a clarinet back home). I'm not sure, but I'll check to see if anyone has a barrel case (like the Bay barrel) with some tissue around it or bubble wrap. And I'll bring it on carryon just so I know where it is and what position it's in at all times.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2006-12-17 17:22
Alexi: There is a gun-related case similar to the pistol case previously mentioned, but smaller. It is a black, heavy plastic case with the Remington name molded onto the lid - - I believe it originally housed a shotgun choke. Anyhoo, I came up with a couple of them at a flea market, one in which I keep my reed finishing tools, trimmer, and glass pieces. The other I sent to Ben over in Zurich. Those cases (which measure about 4" x 6" & 2" thick) are sturdy and virtually indestructable. Eu
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-12-17 18:35
The Remington case is great. It'd be perfect for the undecided who need to carry six-ish mouthpieces with them all the time. ;-)
--
Ben
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2006-12-17 23:48
Alexi: I think I know where I can get another one of those Remington cases -- if I find it, I'll get with you off line and find out where to mail it. Eu
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-12-18 02:57
Just wrap the darn thing in a couple sheets of bubble wrap, tape around it, and stop worrying!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2006-12-18 04:27
hehehe. Sorry 'bout worrying. Completely shattered my last crystal somehow WHILE IN THE CASE. I think I had jammed a metal cap on it which cracked it and it was loose and bouncing around in the case hitting the metal cap. So I am now a little paranoid . . . . I do have bubble wrap though. And I may buy some velvet bag of some sort in addition to a rovner lig and cap.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: William
Date: 2006-12-18 11:48
(I would not recommend a Remington pistol case for transpoting mouthpieces as carry-on when traveling by air)
I used to keep reed blanks on my mouthpieces with ligature and cap to protect them. Now, I just use the tightened lig (VD Optimum)--no blank or reed--and have never had a problem. Just put them in your clarinet case, avoid tossing it around too much and try not to worry--your mouthpiece(s) should be just fine.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-12-18 13:49
If you use the Rovner cap and lig as a protective device for your mouthpiece, please put a bit of bubble wrap or something in the very tip of the mouthpiece cover so your tip doesn't get chipped. I say this because I stopped using the Rovner cap when my Greg Smith mouthpiece started being a bit "off" and I sent it to Greg and he noticed some slight chips in the tip of the mouthpiece and said it looked to him like it had happened in the storage of the mouthpiece. (This was years ago and not on the Grenadilla wood model I've mentioned on the board, but on a standard Smith mouthpiece). I started putting bubble wrap on the tip before putting it into the cap and it worked great. However, I soon went to the tube and that was better.
The idea for a medicine bottle is a good one, and although I have tons of meds (since I'm old), I don't have one long enough.
I wonder if Doc would sell some tubes because his are really great. Perfect, in fact.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-12-18 13:57
I have always a worn reed on my mouthpiece and let it protrude over the tip, just in case. The Rovner cap is far from touching the tip, but I don't shove it on like a berserk.
--
Ben
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2006-12-20 03:30
Go to your local Walgreens or other pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for a pill bottle large enough to hold your mouthpiece which you will have with you. They have a locking screw top, can be padded inside and come in sizes from small to quite large. Perfect for the job and if you smile and look helpless he/she may give it to you free.
B.
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2006-12-20 06:22
Or give you a crazy look and call the store manager. =)
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: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2006-12-20 12:24
Hobby stores, including Michael's, sell little unfinished wooden boxes with latches for less than $1 each. I bought one of these with a metal screen inset in the top, to protect a damp mouthpiece from Shadow Cat here at home. (After I wash a mouthpiece, or if I change mouthpieces during a practice session, I like to let the damp one finish drying completely before I put it back in the case with the clarinet, so that the case lining doesn't grow Things and smell disgusting.) I painted the box black, added foam padding on the inside (including the inside of the lid around the perimeter of the mesh screen) and covered the padding with the same cotton (washable) velvet I've been using to re-line old cases. The mousepiece, oops, I mean mouthpiece, can air-dry out of sight and out of mind for the cat, who would otherwise like to roll it down the stairs.
I've got another box, the same size with a solid top and thicker padding, that I can use to transport a mousepiece with ligature and cap in my luggage, without an instrument case. I've also sewed some heavily-padded bags out of upholstery cloth scraps, with Velcro closures. I use those inside any cases where the only place to put a mouthpiece is inside a loose parts compartment (true of many saxophone cases, for instance). I brought one of those padded bags with me when I commuted back and forth to ClarinetFest 2004 on the subway. Came home with the bag occupied, too! One of the dealers asked me if I'd make more of those bags and wholesale them to her. I had to say no--can't produce them efficiently enough to turn a profit--but I've seen similarly designed commercial bags for sale at music stores.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-12-20 14:35
Lelia,
I tried making the cloth versions of a mouthpiece pouch too. I agree it's pretty hard to make them in enough quantity to be able to sell them and make a profit. I used a soft, thick velour.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2006-12-23 09:24
Turns out that the mouthpiece I ordered CAME in a hard case. Very interesting. It's a cylindrical plastic case with a screw top. And the vendor put a piece of paper towel at the tip and base and you screw it together pushing the paper towel against the mouthpeice so it sorta almost "free floats" in the case, with it's ends held by paper towel. So looks like I don't even need this anymore! I'll take a picture and post it here when I can.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: DougR
Date: 2006-12-23 17:53
Well, this isn't a HARD case, but if you browse the brass accessories section of a well-stocked music store, you'll find various padded bags for brass mouthpieces. I'm using a trumpet mouthpiece bag for my alto mouthpiece (which rides in the bell of the horn when in case).
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Author: William
Date: 2006-12-24 16:16
Personally, I think that keeping your mpcs in boxes is a bit "over the top" paranoia as they are most likely to be damaged via an accident while on your clarinet or from just being carelessly dropped. I have never heard of anyone having their mpc damaged while properly stored their clarinet case mouthpiece compartment--or even stored loose in an assessories drawer, for that matter. Some of my spare Bay's, Pynnes and even a Kaspar (among many others) are stored that way--but I am careful not to slam the drawer shut.
The only time a mouthpiece needs special packaging is when it is being mailed, shipped or carryed home, new, from the music store--or Greg Smiths home. Sometimes, I just put them in my coat pocket to keep them safe during intermission. But special wood cases from the Hobby Shoppe, pill cases, PCV tubes?? Ridiculous. Just put it in your clarinets mouthpiece compartment and stop the worrying. It will be "comfy-cozy" and perfectly safe--unless run over be a steam roller.......and in that case, you will have more serious repair and replacement concerns.
BTW--Happy Holiday's everyone :>)
Post Edited (2006-12-24 21:22)
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2006-12-24 18:49
Personally I don't think it is "ridiculous" to try and protect your equipment. When my wife an I travel we do leave our mouthpieces in the clarinet case, but the extra ones we bring are in a wood case.
...Jim
PS Happy Holidays to everyone!
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-12-24 21:14
The clarinet case compartment for the mouthpiece is a good place to store one mouthpiece, however, if you have more than one that you carry with you all the time, you might want to have that extra protection.
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Author: William
Date: 2006-12-24 21:35
My Yamaha soft-side double case has two mpc compartments--as do my other three double clarinet cases. That's plenty of safe storage for my main Kaspar and my back-up Bay with my Kaspar facing (custom 1970)--don't need to carry any more to my gig than those.
I can understand a potential storage problem if you use a compact single case, but with most average singles, there is ample room for extra mouthpieces and they are perfectly safe with just the ligature, an old reed or reed blank and cap. If your mouthpiece is inside the clarinet case and you treat that case with loving care, the mouthpiece should be safe as well.
Happy Holiday's Brenda and all--and, most importantly, PEACE.
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Author: Steve B.
Date: 2006-12-25 18:39
Personally, If you have a $60 Vandoren mouthpiece, a Rovner dark or MKIII with cap should do the trick.
But if you spend $500+ on a Behn etc... then a hard case makes sense to me. Weiner sells a nice lined hardwood box by Angelica that holds either 2 or 5 mouthpieces. They also sell a cheaper semi-hard belt case from BG.
Steve
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-12-26 14:40
My hardside case protection did nothing to prevent my dropping my Kaspar Cicero mouthpiece. Some of you may remember the thread about the traumatic event that resulted in the tip breaking. (Thank you Brad Behn for the wonderful fix.) In fact, most of the damage that has happened to my mouthpieces over the years were a result of my taking the mouthpiece OUT of the case. I broke a crystal Pete Fountain one time by dropping it as well.
Perhaps a padded rug at my feet when I open the case would be a good thing.
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Author: William
Date: 2006-12-26 23:02
Ditto the rug idea, Brenda. And this word to the wise: a band director friend of mine lent his Kaspar (vintage Cicero) mouthpiece to a student who had "fogotten" her's at home. [how do you bring your clarinet case to band and forget the mouthpiece??] Oh well, back to the story..... At the end of practice as the student was disassembling her clarinet, another student bumped into her and, well..........you can guess the rest. To this day, he says, "never again". Back then, we didn't know about Brad Behn or this story may have had a happier ending. So, y'all, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE..... and Happy New Year.
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Author: CuppaChai
Date: 2006-12-27 00:40
How about a small padded camera case? Cut some foam around it to keep it stable.
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Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2006-12-27 01:08
William, since I have two clarinets, I sometimes only bring home just a mouthpiece and reeds to practice. Then, I might forget the mouthpiece at home when I leave for school. Since I have lunch right before class, I eat, and go home real quick since i live across the street from the school and back in time.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-12-27 14:22
Here's kind of my bottom line on the subject--if the mouthpiece means a great deal to you as a player, whether or not it's an expensive mouthpiece, you should take measures to protect it. So, here are some guidelines:
1. Don't loan it out to students (thanks for the story, William).
2. Don't drop it.
3. Be sure it's in a safe and secure place when not playing it.
4. Have a backup just in case.
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