 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinet60
Date: 2007-11-20 15:09
I've recently been experimenting with different thicknesses of mouthpiece patches. I've found that putting several on top of each other somewhat mimics the effect of a double lip embouchure ( which I use on occasion). It seems to open up the oral cavity and provides a warmer tone. I'm just curious if anyone else has tried this technique and what your results have been.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-11-20 15:15
It may just be an affect of your teeth vibrating less (and therefore your whole jaw and head feeling less vibrations) and so your perception of the sound you output is changing. Just another option. Can you record yourself on a decent quality medium and play it back both before and after? Or have someone else listen to the differences?
Also, is there a difference in pitch? I would assume (perhaps incorrectly?) that the size of the oral cavity would affect pitch. Hence why we 'drop' our jaws and lower the tongue in the mouth to lower the pitch or "scoop" it up to our normal pitch. If there's a definite difference in pitch while your tongue position is the same, I'd say there's a definite chance that it is changing your oral cavity, and therefore would in fact be changing your sound. And why not compare an differences in pitch and how it founds to ACTUAL double lip embouchure?
Alexi - who has been watching way too much mythbusters lately .. .
US Army Japan Band
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-11-21 00:50
I use yamaha patches - not too thick and not too thin. I can also use a double, regular and a doublers emb (common for sax players).
I *maybe* find some minor tonal difference in using a double but very minor. it could be from my brains vibrating more too for some odd reason.
with the two regular emb i try and maintain a altissimmo D with the mpc alone. that's the way i was taught and as long as that pitch is maintained everything else is in good order.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2007-11-21 02:28
Well, around 150,000 years ago, when I was a little younger, there was a brief fad (at least if my clarinet teacher was a good indicator) for trimming out auto innertube patches (which had a peel-off adhesive backing) and sticking them on the mouthpiece. These were probably 1/16 of an inch thick, and it REALLY enlarged one's oral cavity. Unfortunately, the adhesive wore out quickly, and I never found a good replacement adhesive to apply that wouldn't also damage the mouthpiece, and the bigger bite caused air-leak issues at the corners of my mouth, so the plusses were clearly outweighed by the minuses, and that was the end of THAT.
I haven't thought of inner-tube patches for years until this minute. I can't tell you if they helped or not. I also have no idea if inner-tube patches are even made anymore. You could get a similar effect by doubling several of the thicker Yamaha patches.
The Smithsonian might have some inner-tube patches. Maybe they'd let you try some out. (don't get me started on how I used to have to trudge in my bare feet throught 5 miles of snow and rain just to buy ONE used, crudded-up reed after the local circus clarinetist got done with it.)
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Author: Bubalooy
Date: 2007-11-21 19:59
Many moons ago I experimented briefly with a piece of bicycle inner-tube. You don't need any adhesive at all. Just lick the side that touches the mouthpiece and put it on. I don't use it anymore. I find it too thick.
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Author: ariel3
Date: 2007-11-23 17:40
In response to DougR:
For many years I used Bicycle inner-tubes (the thin skinny wheel touring type).
I simply cut out what I needed and washed it well with Ivory Dish detergent. Then I applied it with a single layer of scotch clear double-stick tape, being careful not to touch the sticky surfaces. (apply the tape after trimming the patch to suit), then trim the tape before applying to mouthpiece.
However in my later years I discovered a better tape. Seek out a barber who fits hair pieces and purchase a small package of hair piece tape. It works better than the above - and is easily removed from the mouthpiece without having to use any solvents.
My friends were amused and would not believe me until I pulled out a length of the bicycle tube out from my music cabinet.
But now I use the Bay cushions. They are more expensive, but they are more convenient. But at least the source for the bike tubes is still at hand.
Take care. Gene Hall
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