 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2009-10-15 11:05
I seem to remember a long time ago seeing a small device that could be used to measure how much of the reed was off the rails. Anyone remember what it was?
Also, is there something that would allow me to measure the tip opening? I've tried to do this by eye, but it's not easy!
Finally, are the 'lay' and 'facing' synonyms? I must admit to being confused by this. So what's new? ;-)
Steve
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Author: RAB
Date: 2009-10-15 12:24
There is s kit made by Morgan and a measuring device made by Lomax.
RAB
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Author: huff n' puff
Date: 2009-10-15 14:28
Hi, stevensfo....... If you smear a little white oil paint (it works with acrylic or even emulsion) on to a piece of glass ( very thinly, about 3" by 1") and place the mouthpiece down carefully on to the paint (while wet) the transferred paint will show you exactly where the reed would leave the lay. It will also show if your table is flat or curved, and if your mouthpiece is squint.
An old engineering trick for checking flat surfaces.......... and it will cost you nothing.......... (maybe a donation to the H n' P benevolent fund) ..... H n' P.
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Author: jparrette
Date: 2009-10-15 14:38
The Lomax kit is excellent. Very accurate and well made. I use it every day.
John Parrette
CLARION MUSICAL SERVICES
john@clarionmusical.com
914-805-3388
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Author: graham
Date: 2009-10-15 14:49
I have always taken "facing" and "lay" to be synonyms, though perhaps I am missing a subtlety in assuming that.
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2009-10-15 16:00
Thanks for all the replies so far.
Re. facing and lay, I asked because for a while I assumed they were the opposites. i.e. 'Facing' is the part of the reed that vibrates because it lifts off and faces the rails, and 'Lay' is the part that lies on the rails. So a MP with a short lay has a long facing...etc.
Of course, I may be wrong.
Steve
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-10-15 16:39
FWIW, I've never heard that distinction before and have always treated lay and facing as synonyms. On the other hand, I almost never use the term "lay" at all, nearly always referring to it as the "facing," which includes the area where the reed covers the mouthpiece - from tip all the way down to the bottom of the table.
Karl
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2009-10-15 17:48
I still use a tip wand that I got with the Morgan kit. The dial indicator type is perhaps more common today. As far as lay and facing one tends to see facing length used descriptively rather than lay length. I don't think there is any difference with the terms themselves.
You should look at the Yahoo group.....MouthpieceWork If you want a do it yourself tip gauge... get a small piece of plate glass to rest the mouthpiece on and measure the tip opening with dial calipers. The plate glass I have is nothing more than plate glass etched with 1/2 mm spaced lines widthwise and a few lines longitudinally to help center the mouthpiece. Mouthpieces described as having measurements of 34, 22, 12, 6 for example are achieved by inserting various set feeler guages between the facing and the glass. 34 translates to 17mm, 22 to 11 etc as they are in 1/2 mm graduations. Not so long ago many makers used these four feeler guages .034, .024, .010 and .0015 to come up with a description of the mouthpiece along with a tip opening. The feeler guages are in thousandths of an inch and the stations or points where they hit are measured in 1/2 mm. Tip openings are frequently in mm or thousandths of an inch. It seems today people are using more feeler guages to help with the process. On a clarinet mouthpiece they might measure the curve at 20 points. People come up with their own recipes for what works.
Freelance woodwind performer
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