 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2009-04-25 14:49
I have a Bundy #3 hard rubber mouthpiece that causes my bass clarinet to play 10 to 15 cents flat. The bass plays right on with other mouthpieces.
Is there anything I can do myself to raise the pitch of the Bundy ? There are no mouthpiece refacers near where I live. Many thanks.
Alan
tiaroa@shaw.ca
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-04-25 15:11
Whatever could be done to bring the pitch up, I'm not sure a Bundy mouthpiece would be worth the effort and cost. Unless you're just using reeds that are too soft - you would notice other problems as well - flatness isn't likely to be a facing problem. It has to do with the total volume of space inside - a combination of the length, chamber size, throat size, etc...
If you already know the problem is the mouthpiece and not the instrument, then I'd say find another mouthpiece. You've tried others - pick one of those you like and (if they were borrowed) buy one of them.
Karl
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2009-04-26 02:58
Shorten the mouthpiece. Use relatively coarse sandpaper 220 on the bottom of the mouthpiece....push down and rotate the mouthpiece. Try to take off about 2mm at first. Find a way to measure it before you start sanding so you know your starting length. The next step is to remove 2 mm from the"collar" area of the mouthpiece. Measure the 'before" length. Use a file....do one area and then rotate the mouthpiece. If you have a mandrel this might make it easier. Find a dowel or piece of wood...put it in a vice and mount the mouthpiece on this. It will be difficult to come up with a cosmetically satisfying result with the file but be as meticulous as you can to make a straight result all around.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-04-26 13:59
I have to go with KDKs solution. It will be a lot better to simply try some other mouthpieces and choose one that plays the best. That's your best long term solution. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-04-26 14:19
Having some friends who were expert [lathe] machinists, years ago I had them take off about 1-2mm from the bottom and "collar area" of 2 mps, which raised pitch sufficiently, partic. one for my Eb sop, to satisfy my piccolo ?friend. If you can assemble a number of bass cl mps, find the shortest and try it. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2009-04-26 14:47
I have shortened some of my Bb mouthpieces successfully using the two methods mentioned above.
You can manually sand off a length off the bottom of the mouthpiece and then sand the same amount off at the collar, so that the mouthpiece will sit in the neck without an overhang.
The better method (cleaner and more exact in my experience) is to give the mouthpiece to a trusted lathe worker. He can take off an amount at the two places. The only proviso is that the mouthpiece can be ruined on a lathe if the cutting device catches or if the mouthpiece is attached crooked to the lathe.
I lost a mouthpiece this way. However I have had a number shortened in this way with a different lathe worker with no problem.
If you do have it shortened on a lathe, it is a good idea to cover the top half of the mouthpiece with electrical tape to protect the facing from getting dinged.
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Simon Aldrich
Clarinet Faculty - McGill University
Principal Clarinet - Orchestre Metropolitain de Montreal
Principal Clarinet - Orchestre de l'Opera de Montreal
Artistic Director - Jeffery Summer Concerts
Clarinet - Nouvel Ensemble Moderne
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