 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-05-11 16:39
Hi,
I use a rubber patch on all my clarinet MPs. However, most of the patches are very thick and I would like to find out if anyone has had any luck making their own?
I've looked for rubber tape with adhesive on one side but have not had any luck at hardware or electrical stores (too thick or not even available). I've toyed with the idea of using old bike tubes with double-sided tape but tubes are not often without some ridges. Surgical gloves seem too thin.
Does anyone have any ideas?
HRL
PS I'm also looking for a value-laden solution (aka cheap).
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2008-05-11 16:58
I used to use plastic tape for this. I just stacked as many layers as I needed, then shaped the whole stack at once, with a pair of scissors. It was cheap, and worked, but I prefer the commercial ones. This works for testing mouthpieces, etc.
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Author: susieray
Date: 2008-05-11 17:23
Hank,
Do a search on the auction site for "Clear Transparent Vinyl with adhesive."
I've never used it myself but I know someone who uses it to make their own mouthpiece patches, and it's cheap.
Sue
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2008-05-11 18:37
Yeah, the clear patches don't give nearly as dark a tone as the black ones.
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Author: skennedy
Date: 2008-05-11 19:06
Back in the old days in Baltimore I used "Pioneer" brand rubber gloves and double stick Scotch tape. Today I just use Yamaha mpc patches.
Steve K
Two Rivers, Alaska
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Author: ariel3
Date: 2008-05-11 20:53
Hi Hank,
In the past I always made my own patches out of bike innertubes, then discovered an excellent double-sided tape that most would never think of.
And, the beautiful part of it was, it peeled off of the mouthpiece easily when it was time to change. Just go to your favorite barber shop where they sell hair pieces and ask for hairpiece tape. It comes in strips about two inches. One of these is enough for two B-flat clarinets. You would have to use more than one side by side, I believe for your saxes (perhaps). My patches did not come off until I was ready to take them off.
However, I have since begun using Charles Bay's Thick patches. They have an excellent adhesive, but yes, a bit pricey. But I still have the other materials on hand.
Gene
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2008-05-11 21:04
Yamaha makes a patch that is sheet rubber in 0.5 and 0.8mm thickness. 600yen (about $6US) for a pack of 4. As I have been told, this proudct is not exported often, but I am not totally sure about that.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-05-11 21:24
Thanks, everyone.
I am still hopeful that I can find some electrical tape this is thin. I had looked at electrical stores and all I could find was very thick tape.
Gene, the hairpiece tape would probably give me a much more "wavy" or "tinted" sound than I would prefer.
HRL
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-05-11 21:50
Susie Ray,
Thanks. I did find what you suggested on the auction site (along with clear shower curtains).
One more interesting search result was that it seems there are black rubber bed sheets available as well as more similarly colored rubber items than I knew existed (aprons, dresses, pillows, leotards, and straps & belts of all kinds). Some required rubber shiner. LOL.
HRL
PS If I cut up one of those black, rubber bed sheets, I'd have enough materials to make MP patches for everyone on the BB.
Post Edited (2008-05-11 23:51)
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2008-05-11 21:51
I concur with Mr. Blumberg: Vandoren black patches. Thin and not yucky.
But the electrical tape isn't bad---especially for testing mouthpieces.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2008-05-11 23:04
I often use electrical tape. You have to be aware of the brand though. Some use a glue that smells horrid.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2008-05-12 00:04
Hi Hank, Interesting question and many answers. I too like the mp cushions, have many of the ?large, black variety. After hospitalization several years ago, I came home with a couple of partial rolls of 3M Microfoam [TM] ?plastic, adhesive ?surgical tape, white and about 1 mm thick. I have used it in several cl "situations" , where I have inverted the thumb rests and need some "covering". I have made several mp cushions from it also, and find them quite satisfactory for comfort and "adhesive character", they are quite white, which some players may not like !! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-05-12 00:05
Not only the smell, but some insulating tape has a crap adhesive which goes all sticky.
I like the BG black patches (which are available in thin vinyl, though they are hard in comparison to the thicker rubber ones) - the rectangular ones fit very well on Lawton metal sax mouthpieces.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2008-05-12 03:30
You can probably get sheets or strips of self-adhesive vinyl (or polyurethane?) material of suitable thickness from commercial label makers.
A local woodwind shop, KBB Music, has an excellent patch, which I understand they have had stamped out by a local label maker.
Post Edited (2008-05-12 03:30)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-05-12 11:06
These are all great ideas but I think I may try Susie Rays idea but will select the grey sheet vinyl. But I still have hope that the rubber electrical tape can still be found.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-05-12 11:41
Hank...it's another one of those situations where making your own is just not the great idea you thought it might be. There are other ways to exercise your urge to be conservative and you can use the time saved to practice. Make your own clarinet stands from Plumbers Friends , for example.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2008-05-12 11:45
And of course everybody has a built-in cushion, called the upper lip. Come over to the double-lip pasture. The grass actually IS greener.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2008-05-12 12:59
I use Scotch brand black electrical tape,1 1/2 inch wide.
This works better than commercial ones.
You can use double tape underneath if you want to make it slightly thicker.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-05-12 16:26
BobD,
Hey, that's a crazy idea that just might work! Now to find someone crazy enough to do it.
HRL
PS I used my rubber and stainless steel clarinet stand this weekend, BTW.
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2008-05-12 17:55
Personally, I also find the thin black BG patches to stand up well over time but still provide a stable foundation. When I used a thicker patch setup I had no trouble stacking two. They never came apart or presented any problem.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2008-05-13 19:37
stop me if I've posted this before--in fact, I think I have--but in the early '60s there was a brief fad among some clarinetists to use mouthpiece patches cut from auto innertubes (a layer of red, a layer of white, a layer of black), the idea being to open the oral cavity and thus improve the sound, sort of how a double-lip emboucher would.
The guy I was studying with at the time (a local pro gigging around the Washington DC area) suggested it to me. I tried it, but never came up with a good adhesive that wouldn't have destroyed the mouthpiece (and Elmer's Glue, alas, proved to be water-soluble). So, I gave up. Did it improve my sound? Probably, just about anything would have improved my sound back then. Instead, I now use whatever mouthpiece patch is available.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-07-03 12:26
Gene,
That was great to meet you last night at the Findlay Civic Band concert. The gift was most wonderful.
HRL
PS Sorry I missed the "wavy" joke. I guess I was still wired from the concert.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2008-07-03 22:48
Hi Hank!
Thank you for this great post. Best wishes to you also as I really enjoyed meeting you a while back.
I've also been searching for vinyl sheets with adhesive on them to make patches as I use them on all single reed instruments but have not found them. The 3M logo appears on some patches indicating that sheets are probably available. Black vinyl tape is fine for mouthpiece tryouts.
It sounds like you are having a good time as I am. Tomorrow, I play my clarinet with the LAPD band at the Reagan Library, an annual event. The rehearsal Wednesday was kind of rough, but the concert will be fine. We're having some vocal soloists which took a lot of rehearsal time and will have to read Victory at Sea and others at the gig. It's not new to us, however.
Having played a 120/0 Berg metal tenor mp for very many years, I was pleasantly surprized of the sound and greatness of a new mottled hr 105/2 Berg mp cheaply bought on ebay.
Regards, Wes
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Author: Ryder
Date: 2008-07-03 23:16
I use Bay 0.8mm patches. I used to use Vandoren, but didn't think the logo was neccesary (botherd me, weird?...yes) and I thought that I was going through them to fast to be paying so much for them. My teeth are very sharp, no I'm not biting.
I have found that Bay are more durable then Vandoren as I've only gone through three is two months where as with Vandoren I'd cut through one every week or two. One thing I don't like about Bay mp patches is that the glue comes off on my mp when I change the patch, but that's nothing I'm concerned about.
I'm questioning wether I'd find something durable enough to take my razor sharp teeth if I made my own.
____________________
Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-07-04 01:43
Hi Wes,
Yes, we did have a good dinner in LA. And the oboe lesson on your Loree in my rental car in the parking lot of Outback after dinner was something I will not forget for a long time.
I used a Berg 105 2 (a rather short MP as I recall) for a very long time when I first stared playing but have gone over to Dukoff D7 and my trusty old Guy Hawkins. Surprisingly, for legit playing I use a $15 Rico Royal Metallite B7 or M7 and it plays better than any Meyer or Selmer setup I've ever had in the past.
Each time I get more into the clarinet (I'm playing it solely this summer), the more I really enjoy it. How's bass sax???
Regards,
HRL
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-07-04 01:51
Hi,
Please look at the post by Gene above. At a concert I played last night, a gentleman and his lovely wife came up to me afterwards and gave me a gift. It took me a minute to figure out what he was talking about having a "wavy tone" but it was Gene and his wife Nancy.
I now have some official male hair extension holding strips to use on my MPs. I'll try these soon and give you an after action report. Thanks, Gene. I never did really determine if these were from your personal supply or you just picked them up at work in Tiffin, OH.
HRL
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Author: ariel3
Date: 2008-07-04 12:24
Hi Hank,
To clarify a point, it took a bit of courage to buy the hairpiece adhesive patches. Have you ever gone someplace and said "I am buying this for a friend" ? So, you see it does takes a bit of courage.
Anyhow, when I heard you were playing with our Civic Concert Band I could not pass up the opportunity to meet you and to hear you play. You did a terrific job.
Gene
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Author: Wes
Date: 2008-07-05 00:42
Hi Hank!
Please solve the mp patch situation so we can relax a bit and save some money.
The Buescher bass sax is fine. I recently rented it to the Paris conservatorie sax ensemble for their concert in Los Angeles as they didn't want to ship their Selmer all the way from Paris. Their player played on a Selmer mouthpiece but my mouthpieces for it are an old Olympian hr bass or a 6* metal Brillhart baritone with Van Doren bass or Rico Royal baritone reeds. I'm not surprized that a Metalite mp works good. Good Wishes.
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