 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kfrank1
Date: 2006-12-21 17:14
I am thinking of calling a mpc maker and refacer (Jimmy Yan in NYC) to try to find a suitable clarinet mpc.
I was wondering, for anyone who has done this before, what kind of info would be useful to provide.
For example I can let him know it's intended use (jazz, pit band), my setup, and the mpc I am currently using (Vandoren B40). In terms of the sound I am after all I can say is I am after a dark, fat sound with projection. I could also tell him my issues with the current mpc (it overblows sometimes)
Is there any other info that might be helpful providing? Thanks
Post Edited (2006-12-21 17:38)
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Author: Ed
Date: 2006-12-21 17:25
Those are good places to start. He can also guide you through. It is also sometimes a good idea to make sure find someone whose work you like and let them take you to where you want.
Sometimes you find someone who does great work, but their style doesn't exactly fit what you are looking for. I have tried some mouthpieces that play beautifully and are well crafted, but don't fit me. Sometimes the overall concept of the maker doesn't exactly work for what you need.
Good luck.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-12-21 18:28
Let me provide a generic shopping list -- this is what probably 80% of my refacing customers ask for:
1. Less resistance (less stuffy)
2. "Dark" sound
3. "Big" sound
4. Reed-friendly
That should just about take care of it....................
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Author: kfrank1
Date: 2006-12-21 19:11
Interesting. So would that mean that most refacing work ends up being the same because you already know what most people want?
Thanks for the replies so far.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-12-21 19:22
It might help to tell about the mouthpieces you're already using and what you like and dislike about them, or what you dislike about the one you want to have refaced.
I also wanted to have some fur around it for a warmer sound, but the maestro declined. ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
--
Ben
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-12-21 20:06
kfrank1,
I'm not sure that "what most people want" is quite correct -- the basic problem is that we are forced to describe tonal concepts using words -- and as has been discussed many times in other threads on this BB, words are inadequate for describing sound -- they are unclear, ambiguous, and misleading. Mainly, we use the words that have been applied by others to those players who are considered to be great -- i.e., since (for example) Karl Leister sounds wonderful and has been 'accused' of having a "dark" sound, therefore "darK" is "good" and we should all want a "dark" sound".
Am I making any sense?
Of course no one wants a "small" sound -- so a "big" sound (whatever that is!) must be good.....
And who ever desired a "reed-hostile" mouthpiece?
It's like asking people what they want for the world: peace, an end to poverty and hunger, etc. These are generically 'good' things, but their descriptives say nothing about the feasibility or means of achieving them.
In the final analysis, though, you've hit it on the nose: In my own case (and I certainly can't speak for other refacers, as I fully realize I'm somewhere in left field) I pretty much DO reface all mouthpieces the same -- I work on them until they play just the way I like -- because I've found in most cases that also works for the customers. Sometimes this approach fails, though, because certain players (for physical or artistic reasons) want a mouthpiece that players considerably differently than the 'norm' -- in which case I would advise they go elsewhere.
I apologize if there is any trace of self-promotion in this posting, I did not intend it that way at all -- just trying to explain things.
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Author: kfrank1
Date: 2006-12-21 20:39
Thanks David.
I wasn't aware of previous posts on the problem with discussing tonal concepts, but that was basically my question.
When one says "I want a dark fat sound with projection" does that really help the mpc maker/refacer? If not, what would be useful info to provide?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-12-21 20:55
You've just cut to the chase. Essentially, nearly everybody says "I want a dark, fat sound with projection", so, again speaking only for myself, I don't find such a request to be very helpful.
Ben ("tictactux") above has pointed out some useful bits of information to provide a mouthpiece maker or refacer. I would also want to know answers to few specific questions such as:
-- Is the general pitch level of your mouthpiece good, or generally sharp or flat?
-- Is there any tendency for the mouthpiece to chirp or squeak, and if so, under what conditions and when using what reeds?
-- Are there any response or tonal problems when playing extreme dynamics (very soft or very loud)?
-- Is the mouthpiece tiring to play? If so, after how long?
-- How many "good" reeds does the player seem to get from a box, using the mouthpiece in question?
-- Is this the player's only mouthpiece, or are additional mouthpieces used for different purposes?
I'm sure there are more such questions, the above are just some that come to mind immediately.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2006-12-21 23:43
It may also help to have the person measure tour current mpce to see the particular characteristics of it and help to determine what *might* be causing you not get your desired result.
You may also see if Jimmy (or someone else you choose to work with) has some things that they can send and see what comes closest to what you may like. Sometimes what we think we may like and what we end up liking are not the same. It may help to see what direction (facing, chamber, etc) may work for you.
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Author: kfrank1
Date: 2006-12-22 17:39
Ok thanks. I guess in the final analysis it is just a matter of getting the mpc maker to send whatever he thinks is best, and then based on how you find it, take things from there.
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Author: Ken Mills
Date: 2006-12-22 23:11
kfrankl, you forgot to mention rapid tonguing and the ability to hit notes hard, sort of like an alto sax can. There is Al Gallodoro who tongues the alto to impress us, but when he switches to the clarinet then he can't do it, something about the air column. My Selmer CP100 has your big, fat, dark sound but it can tongue better than anything, so I bought it. It has a deep baffle so that the chamber (the area inside the duckbill) and the throat to its bore is really big. The facing is a long, gradual 1.22mm. It goes up to the altissimo note "a" in the fourth mode; this is a fourth above the altissimo "e" and uses the same fingering of course. All the altissimo is in really good tune without the little finger key except for the "e-flat" with the rh middle finger (which I prefer to the forked figering). This I do with a #2 Vandoren reed. Tonguing ability will sacrifice the high note ability, but well. Me Jazz, Ken
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Author: Ken Mills
Date: 2006-12-23 21:13
kfrankl; I should have spelled out that two mouthpieces of the same facing can require different strength reeds, depending of how deep the baffle is. Shallow go hard, deep go soft. And size of the throat. Ken
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-12-24 08:00
I really think it is better to find a good mouthpiece instead of getting a custom made one (and same with clarinets). This is because if you are not happy with a custom made anything you are usually stuck with it. Also, vage description (dark, fat, etc.) mean basically nothing to what mouthpiece might be best for you. David Spiegelthal's advice above is good.
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