 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-11-13 20:52
I'm not sure if they're from the same blank, but I really love the sound I get from the Gigliotti mouthpieces (the newer ones) and Ridenour mouthpieces. And I noticed that these two are NOT zinner blanks (are they even the same?).
Ideally, I'd like to go somewhere and sit there while a mouthpiece maker tailors a mouthpiece to ME. But what I'd like to do is obtain one of these blanks that Mr. Ridenour or Gigliotti use, and basically have it on me until I can get a chance to bring it to a mouthpiece maker. Or even just have the knowledge.
Basically, I'd like to make a nice comparison on blanks. I'd love to compare my richard hawkins mouthpieces (two on zinner blanks) with two richard hawkins facings on whatever that other blank is. Just wondering if I would be able to get the facing of my current richard hawkins on the blank that I believe (just my personal opinion) seems to have consistantly given me a more favorable sound.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-11-13 20:57
Oh yes. And BTW, my sudden influx of posts was because I had laser eye surgery (PRK) done last week, and I couldn't ask my multitude of questions or read the board. now I can see enough to type. But tomorrow I get the protective contact lenses taken out so I won't be able to see again for a few days (and here's where a few of you audibly breathe, "Thank God.") - but I'll be back a few days later (sorry) to read the responses to my question.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2007-11-13 21:23
I think you will find that side-by-side comparisons with the same facing on different blanks doesn't really work. A facing, particularly one previously set by a maker, is the result of finding the optimum combination of both the blank and facing characteristics. On another blank, they woudl almost certainly choose a different facing. Interestingly, I'm fairly certain I remember Hawkins not putting his facing on another blank, in essence telling the student "it won't work out the way you're hoping.
I'm not 100% sure, but I thought I remembered that Ridenour mouthpieces are from Babbit blanks.
Post Edited (2007-11-13 21:30)
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-11-13 22:13
J.J.- the facing is a balance of the inner dimentions? I wonder about that sometimes- I have measured mouthpieces by well known makers that have a differance of 2mm and more in length but are marked as the same facing. They play very differently, as expected.
I think of the facing as a surface that the reed must bend over- more reed related than chamber related.
Post Edited (2007-11-13 22:50)
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2007-11-13 23:32
I was pretty unclear in what I wrote. The facing is a combination of two factors: Facing length and tip opening. Some people would also include the shape of the curve, but that's a bit murkier area. All I was trying to state was that the facings that a mouthpiece craftsman chooses are a result of finding the optimal facing for a particular blank. Different blanks are made out of different materials and have very different bore sizes, not to mention differences in the baffle.
As for differences in facngs that are marked the same... you can draw your own conclusions. Sometimes a blank is longer in overall length, but the facing is only measured from the beginning of the curve to the tip. Theorhetically, the same facing could be applied to two blanks of very different overall lengths, since the curve could just start in different spots. Still, as you say, the mouthpieces are guaranteed to play differently.
In the end, the facing is just one factor in the playability of a mouthpiece. For that reason, I doubt that applying the same facing from a Hawkins Zinner blank to a Babbit will have any decent results.
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Author: grifffinity
Date: 2007-11-13 23:40
Quote:
And BTW, my sudden influx of posts was because I had laser eye surgery (PRK) done last week, and I couldn't ask my multitude of questions or read the board. now I can see enough to type. But tomorrow I get the protective contact lenses taken out so I won't be able to see again for a few days
Slightly OT, but I had PRK a year ago. Depending on the amount of correction, (I was -2.25 w/ an astigmatism in one eye), you should be able to see when they take the lense off. The protective lense is just to allow the outer lense to heal in the first few days without irritating your eyelid. Occassionally, they will issue a protective lense of a .5 correction as your vision sharpens over the first month. Trust me, it feels like sandpaper if the cornea hasn't healed over, that's why they put a protective contact lense in your eye.
I have heard if you have had a major correction, above 7, that you may need repeat treatments.
Quote:
I'm not 100% sure, but I thought I remembered that Ridenour mouthpieces are from Babbit blanks.
I'm not sure about Ridenour, but I know Gennusa Excellente are Babbitt blanks. I absolutely love the warm tone quality in the altissimo produced by the Babbitt, compared with Vandoreen or Zinner.
Post Edited (2007-11-13 23:43)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-11-14 00:52
Well, I meant "facing" as in "everything". Basically, send the blank to him, ask him to do whatever magic he can (including chamber, baffle, etc) and see what result I get with that blank (I figured it mighta been babbitt since those seem to be the two major players in the hard rubber blank game). I have a mouthpiece from Richard Hawkins which is, well, phenominal. Control and sound are amazing. And with the right reed (which isn't too hard to adjust a reed for it) just sings everything. So I was just wondering what would happen with a different blank (the other blanks that I seem to prefer their sound quality). If it's not great, I have a PERFECTLY great mouthpiece. And a very good backup (which of course, is a tom ridenour so I'm mixing blanks as it is).
And as for the PRK, I was -6. On the fence for PRK crossing into LASIK (LASIK is approved for much higher diopters) however chose PRK since I don't want the chance of a poke in the eye dislodging the flap years down the road. Maybe not so much a risk if I was just a clarinet player, but definitely a risk since my hobbies include snowboarding and mountainbiking. Sure I wear protective goggles and equipment, but there's still always a higher risk being active (and in the army!)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: redwine
Date: 2007-11-15 10:59
Hello,
Just a clarification: Babbitt produces the blanks for the Gennusa, but the Gennusa blanks are proprietary, having been designed by Iggy Gennusa. Babbitt does produce their own proprietary blanks, which anyone may purchase to make mouthpieces from. They also make a lot of other brand's proprietary blanks, which anyone many not purchase, including the Gennusa.
By the way, I had PRK performed about 3 years ago. I love not having to wear glasses! My recovery was immediate--the day after the surgery, I could actually read my alarm clock in the morning without having to first find my glasses!
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: Peter Spriggs
Date: 2007-11-15 12:34
When I was studying with Gigliotti, he was having Babbitt make his mouthpieces for him. I presume that even though he is gone now that this is still the case.
Peter
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-11-15 14:03
Thank you all for the information. I'll email Mr. Hawkins and see what his thoughts are on refacing and completely working over a different blank. He seems to have the experience, and even the "refacing" jobs he's done for me have significantly improved those mpcs. So I'm curious to see how it'd work on a babbit blank and if it'd produce a different actual 'sound' while retaining the richard hawkins control and fit that I like so much.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Ed
Date: 2007-11-15 15:11
It is important to note, as has been mentioned, that some measurements fit a particular style of mouthpiece blank better than another. Some do not transfer well to another because of a variety of factors. For example, some blanks have a particularly deep baffle that would not allow the same facing as another style. There are so many other factors working together other than a facing to give the results you get.
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