Woodwind.OrgThe Clarinet BBoardThe C4 standard

 
  BBoard Equipment Study Resources Music General    
 
 New Topic  |  Go to Top  |  Go to Topic  |  Search  |  Help/Rules  |  Smileys/Notes  |  Log In   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 
 Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Old Geezer 
Date:   2010-07-09 17:33


Brad Behn is now selling or attempting to sell a clarinet mouthpiece that is bent at quite an angle. Really bent...not just a selling angle.

Should one laugh or cry! Documentary evidence of this nutiness is on page 9 of the June issue of "The Clarinet," Read it and weep or rant or giggle as the wont may strike you.

Clarinet Redux

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Alseg 
Date:   2010-07-09 18:09

Aw c'mon Old Geezer, ya know ya wanna try it !!!
[tongue]

Brad is a thoughtul innovator and craftsman, so there must be considerable rationale for this product.


Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-





 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: GLHopkins 
Date:   2010-07-09 18:40

Don't knock it until you try it.

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: TianL 
Date:   2010-07-09 19:03

i saw it on Brad's website at one time and i think it's called his "signature series". but i can't find it on there anymore.

i think it's for people who have to raise the clarinet higher than normal (due to how their embouchure is formed - like myself, my upper and lower lip/teeth are almost on the same plane, so my clarinet's angle is almost 45 degrees from my body), so that the clarinet can be held more "downward" or closer to the body.

in any case, i trust his thoughts and designs. i tried almost all different mouthpieces on the markets and his mouthpieces are definitely among the best, if not the best.

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2010-07-09 19:17

They said the same thing over 30 years ago when Rovner came out with his "new" type of ligature. I fell in love with it as soon as I played is so I was helping him market it by sending them to orchestra players and teachers around the country to get their opinions to help market it. You wouldn't believe some of the comments I received back about how it "looked". It just looked so different from the metal ligatures most players were using. Now it's the most copied style ligature on the market. You don't know it until you try it, and keep an opened mind when you do because you never know until you know. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: skygardener 
Date:   2010-07-09 23:50

What part is the "bent" part?
I don't have the Journal and I can't find it in Brad's website.

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: DavidBlumberg 
Date:   2010-07-10 00:04

The idea isn't original - Piet Jeggers has/had a mouthpiece line that was bent in either direction based on the player's occlusion type.

I saw it in Belgium @ a ClarFest in the 90's.

http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com


 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Ed 
Date:   2010-07-10 00:52

http://www.behnmouthpieces.info/

has pics

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: DavidBlumberg 
Date:   2010-07-10 02:18

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet_Jeegers

Don't know if he even still makes em or not.

http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com


 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Ed 
Date:   2010-07-10 02:57

Check out

http://www.paraschos.gr/pwsite/barell.htm

Add the two and you can play clarinet like a sax! ;-)



Post Edited (2010-07-10 11:54)

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2010-07-10 08:17

Whoa! I'd like to have one for my bass, but bent the other way, so that also tenor-sax-like necks can be comfortably played.

--
Ben

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Phurster 
Date:   2010-07-10 10:18

The concept seems quite good, but the price...$750!!!!

I have a few mouthpieces; B40 series 13, Viotto, Grabner, its hard to imagine that this mpc is going to be that much better.

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2010-07-10 14:54

I must say that for $750 I'd want the mouthpiece to play itself, and sound fantastic and perfectly in tune as well. That's big bucks for a MP. ESP

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Old Geezer 
Date:   2010-07-10 17:18

Aw come on...you guys need to get real.
Brad is the P.T. Barnum of the clarinet world!
Any one simple enough to pay $750 for such goofiness....

Go ahead try one, buy one. I don't think so.

Clarinet Redux

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Old Geezer 
Date:   2010-07-10 17:23

We are waiting to hear the results of your "trial" or "purchase," Ed.

Be very careful you don't scratch it when on trial, else you may find youself with $750 dollars worth of "bent" regrets.

Clarinet Redux

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: DavidBlumberg 
Date:   2010-07-10 17:34

Brad makes very, very high quality Mouthpieces.

Lamborgini isn't the PT Barnum of the Car World - but few can afford it.

http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com


 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: skygardener 
Date:   2010-07-11 06:43

It's not a bad idea OG.
Keep in mind that the only reason that almost all mouthpieces are straight has to do with the lack of engineering to create mouthpieces with bends.
CNC has made this possible and duplicatable, and we have not had CNC that long.

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: bmcgar 2017
Date:   2010-07-11 08:57

These things have been said before, of course:

Whether an item is worth what's charged for it is an individual decision. And whether the market will bear a mouthpiece of this price is something that Brad will know, or find out, better than we.

I've played several of Brad's mouthpieces, and he was very helpful in working with me to find what I wanted, but in the end, they didn't work for me so much better than what I've been using that I could justify the cost. (As usual, though, your results may be different.)

If the market won't bear Brad's prices, excellent mouthpieces though his may be, then Brad will have to scale down his prices or maybe ultimately go out of business. But if there are those out there who are, after diligently trying many other makers' offerings, willing to pay for what they find to be the ultimate mouthpiece for them, then they should go for it. Brad isn't shoving his mouthpiece down anyone's throat, he's offering them.

The only people who should be chided for buying $750 mouthpieces are those who equate excellence with price, those who like to show off the logos of expensive or rare equipment, and those who must rely on others' opinions to determine their choices, but not be able to evaluate things on their own. (See the scramble for Chedevilles and Kapars on "that" auction site, where they are sucked up for a gazillion dollars even with no returns or trials accepted.)

Redundantly yours,

B.

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: redwine 
Date:   2010-07-11 10:18

Hello,

If you have never met Brad Behn, you could be pardoned for calling him PT Barnum, except that you had never met him and, therefore, would have no basis of knowledge, thus you would be completely ignorant.

Brad is one of the nicest, most unassuming people I have ever met.

His ideas and inventions are important to the clarinet and mouthpiece community. Without people producing new things, advancement and evolution would not occur.

I applaud him on his work, encourage him to produce more, and will be most interested to test this new mouthpiece in Austin, Texas this month.

$750 is very expensive for a new mouthpiece (or for an old one, for that matter), but wouldn't that price be worth it if it allowed you to win your next high dollar audition?

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



 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Bob Phillips 
Date:   2010-07-11 15:56

Excuse me, but

That's Behn, not Bent, not Behnt.

Brad Behn is an excellent and unusually generous human being. He knows exactly what he is doing with clarinets and clarinet mouthpieces. He often shares proprietary information here and on the mouthpiece discussion group over at Yahoo.

I imagine his silence here on this thread results from his unwillingness to use the BB as a marketing forum.

Go see him play. See if he's playing a straight mouthpiece or a Behnt.

Bob Phillips

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: JJAlbrecht 
Date:   2010-07-11 16:56

Geezer, if you weren't tearing someone down, I doubt we would hear much from you at all.

As Ben Redwine mentioned above, I doubt you have ever had a dealing with Mr. Behn. Though I haven't yet bought a mouthpiece from him, he was quite helpful to me when I had mouthpiece questions, and offered me some good FREE advice.

I may very well purchase my net mouthpiece e from him. Time will tell, but indications are positive.

Jeff

“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010

"A drummer is a musician's best friend."


 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Old Geezer 
Date:   2010-07-11 17:42

Let us know when you buy one JJ!
Who says I haven't bought one. At last count I have 18 mouthpieces and two very expensive mouthpiece facing tool kits!

I am not always critical...I've often praised the incomparable Emma Johnson on this BB!

Clarinet Redux

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: JJAlbrecht 
Date:   2010-07-11 20:16

$750 is a bit rich for my wallet, but I would give it a fair trial, given the chance. Who knows? Could be a great step forward.

Next time I acquire a new mouthpiece, you'll be the first to know. :) I'll call you personally about 3 am.... OK? [rotate]

Jeff

“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010

"A drummer is a musician's best friend."


 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: cigleris 
Date:   2010-07-11 21:12

What's Emma Johnson got to do with it??

Peter Cigleris

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: hartt 
Date:   2010-07-11 21:13

I did not intend to respond but your personal affronts towards/upon Brad are childish, uncalled for and frankly, despicable ("PT Barnum"?). You stated your ‘peace’ but you go on and on.
If you are a child then perhaps readers could give you some latitude. However, if an adult then you surely need Finishing school to learn manners, respect, tact, and what lines to cross and how to cross them.

Brad expends a significant amount of finances in his research, development and manufacture of his products. His concepts are extremely well thought out…..from a playing, acoustical and physics point of view.
Prior to marketing a product (which is usually years in the making), Brad does extensive play testing using various symphony plays (current & retired), soloists, and numerous players of lesser positions & talent levels.
The feedback he receives is perhaps the deciding factor to revise & manufacture or not.

There are many, many adjectives that can be used to describe Brad Behn, a few are: professional, dedicated, concerned, courteous, and a fine human being. He is a most highly respected person in the Clarinet community. Unlike yourself, if he feels the need to offer criticism, it is done in a constructive and tasteful way.
“I’m not always critical”……..is that to say that when you are, you usually/always portray yourself in this manner?

I’ve known Brad for many years, have had in-depth conversations with him, dined with him, use his products and have had the privilege to have him work with me.
Brad does not simply or just sell a mp. Invariably, he endlessly works with the player (even when geographically distant) to provide the mp playing aspects they are desiring. And, this includes his more economical Artist series.

I have two Behn mps, one a Vintage series. Not only am I happy with them, but other players/conductors have also commented on the difference in my sound ….for the better (which I add was already very good, so told).
No mp is perhaps good for another player but players have tried mine and then worked with Brad in securing their own. I would venture to say I was at the basis of perhaps 7 mp sales, Vintage & Artist series).

In selecting my first Vintage mp (A series) I was fortunate to have not only he help me but also Michael Norsworthy, Francois koloc, Bruce Markham. The latter two offered to purchase it from me (along with my Vintage model clarinet, literally). My other Behn mp is an Artist series and I use it as a backup and when I want a different sound, tonal coloring, etc.

There have been prior posts wherein people questioned the validly of charging/spending $650 for a mp. As Brad has shared with me, the Vintage series, as well as any series, may not be for everyone. Not only will Brad mention that, he will and has helped a potential buyer play select an Artist series over the Vintage….even when the buyer is desirous of spending the more money.

Lastly, Brad has done much for the clarinet industry, specifically the MP arena.
I know personally that when asked, he has even offered advice & shared information to another looking to be a future competitor.

I’ve no intention of asking what you’ve done/accomplished for your career industry or life’s path.
If you choose you be critical of one’s pursuit perhaps tact is something you might inject in your critical, insulting rants.

Please don’t bother responding: I’m not looking to carry on a dialogue with you. Should you chose to do so, it will be ignored. And, anything you might add to your already unfounded remarks seemingly would deafly fall upon many open minded, educated ears reading this post.

Now, go practice


ps...players spend $500-600 for a used Kaspar (yes, that God) mp that has been altered, reamed, faced, etc.
or $850 for an old NOS Meyer NY alto sax mp. (I would have sold you mine for $849.99 and saved the buyer 1 cent......a lot of money in today's economy.

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Old Geezer 
Date:   2010-07-11 21:46

Emma has nothing to do with it really.
Someone wrote that I was always critical. I just pointed out that I have always praised Emma on this BB.

My favorite clarinetist is Louis Cahuzac dead or alive. He was playing quite well at 80 years old! He was killed while speeding on his motorbike!

Clarinet Redux

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Old Geezer 
Date:   2010-07-11 22:07

Let me understand this now. If you can't afford the $600 mouthpiece he'll sell you one almost as good for only $300 or so. This is good to know.

Everyone agrees that those guys that spend $700 or $800 for a "vintage" refaced "Kasper etc" mouthpiece on eBay and elsewhere are dummies, but one of BB's $600 wonders is a great buy?

It's universally agreed that my critical viewpoints are expressed in a polite and consturctive manner.

Emma Johnson performs on an Eaton clarinet...I'm not sure but I think he's asking $750 for a mouthpiece to match his bores?

Clarinet Redux

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: justme 
Date:   2010-07-11 22:37

The price is $386 or $348 at a 10% discount for prompt payment on the Peter Eaton Mouthpieces.

But he does give you a choice of mouthpieces with the purchase of the clarinet.

http://www.eatonclarinets.co.uk/

Click on the Export Prices on the left side of the page.


Justme





"A critic is like a eunuch: he knows exactly how it ought to be done."

CLARINET, n.
An instrument of torture operated by a person with cotton in his ears. There are two instruments that are worse than a clarinet -- two clarinets

Post Edited (2010-07-11 22:44)

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: redwine 
Date:   2010-07-12 03:08

Old Geezer says: "It's universally agreed that my critical viewpoints are expressed in a polite and consturctive manner."

I must live in another universe.

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



 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Chetclarinet 
Date:   2010-07-12 12:51

Brad has been recently appointed Principal Clarinet with the Oklahoma City Symphony and Professor of Clarinet at Oklahoma City University. Congratulations to him! I have had the great pleasure of playing his C model vintage clarinet mouthpiece and his great playing, huge orchestral sound bass clarinet mouthpiece with the Houston Ballet Orchestra. I also have enjoyed playing many fine , some original, some refaced Frank Kaspar mouthpieces on both instruments over the years . Brad has also re-worked many fine vintage mouthpieces for me and my students to enjoy. He has brought to life previiously unplayable Bettoney's, Chedevilles, Lelandais, that would have been useless to anyone without his masterful touch. He is a delightful and gifted person and musician!

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: hartt 
Date:   2010-07-12 14:02

Chet....

I was aware of his recent appointments but did not want to take the liberty in announcing it on the BB. I guess it was already 'industry' news.

This is a tremendous opportunity for Brad.It' almost 'going back home' considering the work/playing he's done in the OK area.
Many people do not realize just how talented a clarinetist he is. He will be a tremendous asset to these organizations.
Hopefully, he will have the time to establish a studio for private lessons.

Congratulations to Brad and his wife, So Rhee, Executive Director of the ICA.

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Ed 
Date:   2010-07-12 15:55

Brad is certainly a talented guy in many respects who does great work. He is also a nice guy. It makes for a great combination. Bravo to anybody willing to take the time and financial risk to develop new ideas and equipment.

There seems to be a perpetual question as to the worth of equipment. It is worth whatever value YOU put on it. You find whatever helps you to do the job most comfortably. That is different for each person. There are people who have major jobs and play a humble Vandoren, others on custom of vintage mouthpieces costing hundreds.

It is certainly the player and not the equipment. I am sure that any of the greats could get the job done in an emergency on whatever is handy. At the same time, each player chooses what seems to fit them best (at least at that moment!)

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Old Geezer 
Date:   2010-07-12 17:13

It would seem his "great" clarinet playing and skill at refacing "unplayable" classic mouthpices is irrrelevent. This thread was supposed to be about his overpriced mouthpieces, bent or otherwise.

It is noticed that none of hls supporters on this thread have purchased or regularly play on one or more of his $600 plus mouthpieces.

Clarinet Redux

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: srattle 
Date:   2010-07-12 17:28

I also didn't really want to chime in, but I'm getting a bit fed up reading this.

First of all, I am a Brad Behn supporter. I play on a Brad Behn vintage mouthpiece, and I have one more as a backup. I choose to buy 2 of Brad's mouthpieces which play beautifully for me, rather than having a draw of 20 mediocre mouthpieces, and 15 barrels, all unused. . . I just spent my money one 2 things that work, period.

secondly, you (Old Geezer) started this thread mentioning nothing about price, only about the 'ridiculous' idea of having a bent mouthpiece. I would also like to add that you have uttered nothing in the way of a reasoning why this isn't a good idea, or why you would be badmouthing these mouthpieces. . .

Lastly, what could be so stuck up your butt that makes you care SO MUCH about what product someone is selling, or how much it costs. Are you also going onto every forum on the net to complain about the high prices of inner city mansions? The cost of vacations to the Maldives? The cost of first class plane tickets?
If you don't want to deal with the product, then just don't deal with it. But don't bring everyone else down with you.

I suggest that you get an order of some of Brad's mouthpiece and do a thorough play test on them. Then you can legitimately write on here about everything and anything you don't like about them, but until then just leave it as it is, and attack something else that you actually know something, anything, about.

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: MarlboroughMan 
Date:   2010-07-12 17:31

The argument that equipment doesn't count and that the greats could make anything sound good is purely hypothetical (and would seem self-evidently false), as we have no recorded data whatsoever to support it, and everything else against it.

Anyone have a recording of Robert Marcellus, Sabine Meyer, Ricardo Morales, Karl Leister, or George Pieterson playing a plastic elementary model? Me neither.

Believe me, if quality of equipment didn't matter, at least one of the greats would have been smart enough to know it, and would have stopped 'wasting' money. We would have at least one example of a great orchestral player who played on a plastic $99 clarinet. The fact remains that we don't.

I wrote a more detailed article on this topic, posted here:

http://wurlitzerclarinetsamerica.com/learn/seddon2.html

******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: TianL 
Date:   2010-07-12 17:40

I somehow remember Brad's signature model used to be a bit less than now, like something in the 400s. I guess 750 is kinda expensive but I might be tempted to try one someday.. just because the vintage one I bought from him is so good..

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: davetrow 
Date:   2010-07-12 18:18

Old Geezer, I recommend that you take responsibility for your opinions by using first person in your attacks rather than the passive voice you favor, such as "it is noticed" or "it's universally agreed." To me, as a professional writer, that's a red flag--the written equivalent of passive-aggressive behavior.

In other words, write "I notice" or "I think" or "I believe." By doing otherwise, you are implying the support of an unstated authority, which is, at the least, disingenuous.

Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Ed 
Date:   2010-07-12 18:29

Quote:

The argument that equipment doesn't count and that the greats could make anything sound good is purely hypothetical (and would seem self-evidently false), as we have no recorded data whatsoever to support it, and everything else against it............


I don't think that the argument is that the quality of the equipment doesn't matter. It certainly has to be of a reasonable quality to get the job done. WHAT the equipment is or the PRICE does not necessarily matter. It is all about what works for you.

Could a top player play a student clarinet? I am sure that it would play, but the design and level of refinement would likely leave something to be desired.

More appropriately, if someone were to ask me, "Is a $6000 clarinet better than a $2500 clarinet?" My answer would have to be, it depends.

A $6000 clarinet is better *for me* only if it works better *for me*. It may not be better for anyone else here. The name, price or other factors are irrelevant. Each player needs to find what works best for their physical structure and concepts. Then go home and practice a lot.



 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: hartt 
Date:   2010-07-12 18:35

If, as Old Geezer stated that this thread is about Brad's overpriced mp's, then he should have first done a search about THAT topic. The pricing issues vs worth have been addressed here for years......and responded to by a number of custom mp makers.

However, this thread quickly became more than mp cost. Childish, personal affronts were made which indicate childish mentality. Let go.

If one cares to be informed of high priced mps, then know this...

there is a mp maker in upstate NY who will make you a mp on his time schedule and only if you travel to him be if fly/drive and stay in a motel.
(when I questioned that posture, I was told that people come from Europe for his mps so it should not be an issue for me to travel across the US and that if I was not willing to do that then I did not want one of his mps)

ouch

Also, Kal Opperman, who was my teacher at Hartt in the late 60's also made custom mps and bbls, even into this century. It's known that Kal would make one only for a past/present student. Several yrs ago, I had a convo with him regarding old times and a mp. He stated the price was $600 and the material was of his own concoction. He required one to send their clarinet and stated it had to be sent overnight express with same service return postage paid in advance adn in advance for the mp/bbl.
Also, that when made, it would not need any tweaking. He would also make a custom bbl (with or without the clarinet or mp in hand) for another $350.
His overhaul was "just send me a blank check with the clarinet". He would not give me even a ballpark amount.

That said, is the cost of a custom made clarinet 'worth' more than that of a commercially available one? Is one model of a given manufacturer 'worth' more than another model?

There are numerous threads on these and related topics. Perhaps one of those could be resurrected so this one can be put to bed; where it seemingly belongs.

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: MarlboroughMan 
Date:   2010-07-12 18:45

Well clarified, Ed. You won't catch me disagreeing on that count.

Cheers.

******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: JJAlbrecht 
Date:   2010-07-12 19:47

>>>>>It is noticed that none of hls supporters on this thread have purchased or regularly play on one or more of his $600 plus mouthpieces.


"It is noticed" only by you, Geezer. If you actually took the time to read the posts, you would see several poeple own at least one of the $600 Vintage mouthpieces you disparaged.

While I mentioned that I do not (yet) have one of the Vintage series mouthpiecees, they are on my list of things to try out, as soon as I pay for my latest clarinet gear addiction object. :)

I agree with the above statement about passive voice. It only weakens your argument, and as an editor and writing tutor, I might add that it is rather pretentious, and that many people who use the passive voice excessively do so in order to appear "scholarly." It doesn't work out that way for most people.

Jeff

“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010

"A drummer is a musician's best friend."


 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Alseg 
Date:   2010-07-12 20:59

OG said">It is noticed that none of hls supporters on this thread have purchased or regularly play on one or more of his $600 plus mouthpieces.<<"

That statement is misinformed. (polite, huh?)
Contact me privately for more info.


Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-





 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: TianL 
Date:   2010-07-12 21:27

Yup Allan is right.. There are at least three people on this thread who do play on a Behn, including myself, and perhaps more than three.

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Old Geezer 
Date:   2010-07-12 21:30

davetrow wrote;

"Old Geezer, I recommend that you take responsibility for your opinions by using first person in your attacks rather than the passive voice you favor, such as "it is noticed" or "it's universally agreed." To me, as a professional writer, that's a red flag--the written equivalent of passive-aggressive behavior.

In other words, write "I notice" or "I think" or "I believe." By doing otherwise, you are implying the support of an unstated authority, which is, at the least, disingenuous."

I'll thank you not to lecture me on writing, dave; don't forget I am a high school graduate! As for passive-aggressive behavior, can't we leave that quack Freud out of it?

Surely a "professional writer" as yourself is aware of the existence of irony?

Clarinet Redux

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: davetrow 
Date:   2010-07-13 00:15

OG, in an online forum, one can be aware of irony only when the person attempting to wield it is capable of communicating it in writing. Furthermore, there is a big difference between irony and the after-the-fact "I was only joking" response that is characteristic of passive-aggressive behavior.

I have dealt with Brad Behn only on a casual level, in a telephone conversation when ordering his student mouthpiece, when I found him quite pleasant and helpful. His mouthpiece has made a noticeable and positive contribution to my attempt to re-educate myself on the clarinet after a long hiatus. I'd love to be able to try one of his top-of-the-line mouthpieces, once I understand what I'm doing well enough to communicate to him what I'm looking for, and am capable of discerning whether or not the cost is worth it to me. Until that time, however, I certainly don't feel I'm in a position to comment on the value of his mouthpieces, especially in the presence of the people on this forum who can speak from personal experience.

That's all I have to say; I think hartt has the right idea.

Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: justme 
Date:   2010-07-13 00:25

MarlboroughMan:-,

That's a good article about equipment.

I hope you don't mind but I think that others could benefit from this, so I'm taking your link and making it a "clickable link" in order to make it easier for all to read it...

http://wurlitzerclarinetsamerica.com/learn/seddon2.html



Justme





"A critic is like a eunuch: he knows exactly how it ought to be done."

CLARINET, n.
An instrument of torture operated by a person with cotton in his ears. There are two instruments that are worse than a clarinet -- two clarinets

Post Edited (2010-07-13 00:28)

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: MarlboroughMan 
Date:   2010-07-13 00:41

Thanks Justme....I would have made it a clickable link myself, but couldn't figure out how! If anyone wants to explain it to me, I'll gladly listen LOL....

******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: blazian 
Date:   2010-07-13 05:12

I find this thread both irritating and amusing. Why do we insist on talking to a brick wall?

(Back to the original topic)

I think owning a bent mouthpiece would be interesting. However, my arms are a bit long (not ape long [rotate]). It may not put my clarinet in the most comfortable position.

Two inane questions:

What if it were bent the opposite direction?
What if it was used in conjunction with the Paraschos barrel turned backwards? (Think offset clarinet)

- Martin

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Jack Kissinger 
Date:   2010-07-13 06:14

Good grief! Don't you all recognize a troll yet when you see one? Old Jarhe.., (sorry) Old Geezer certainly knows how to push your buttons! (At least no one really took up the bait this time when he tossed in Emma. Thank goodness for that!)


Best regards,
jnk

(Who thinks that OG's parents must have been far too lenient during the second stage and that the Barnum comment is pure irony... and who has learned a lot about passive voice that was not known by him before.)

 
 Re: Bent! mouthpiece offered
Author: Alseg 
Date:   2010-07-13 13:39

Ah, the passive voice.

We learned to use it in High School ( circa the carboniferous age).
Its use was considered "erudite" at the time.
Now is it passe (sic)?
When I allow my word processor to use its grammar checking software, it suggests eliminating or changing passive voice sentences.

Plue perfect plural anyone????

Well, doesnt matter, they closed this thread (for other reasons, I am sure)


Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-





Post Edited (2010-07-14 17:51)

 Avail. Forums  |  Threaded View   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 


 This thread is closed 
Search Woodwind.Org

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages
For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.

 
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org