Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-08-24 11:09
Ed- " I've never heard of anyone doing that."
I have met one person like this. She said that she buys a new piece about once every year. When I asked why, she said that loses it's resonance.... I wonder if she swabbed the mouthpiece??? Should have asked.
As someone that makes mouthpieces myself, I can't say that a mouthpiece "loses" something, but there is a gradual physical change over time. This has a lot to do with how much one plays and how they take care of the mouthpiece- ie. cleaning habits, swabbing!!
As the reed makes direct contact with the lay of the mouthpiece there is a small amount of friction as we play and there is a change in the area that is directly contacting the vibrating reed. This is very small, and I would assume (though I have not measured) that the change slows over time- thus, the first year will have a bigger change then the second.
Although the curve of an older mouthpiece might still measure as it was originally, the area of change is much smaller than can be measured with the feeler gauges.
Also, it is a fact that the rubber surfaces will oxidize, and the oxidized portions are not as stable as the unoxidized potions and can wear away more quickly.
However, this is all on a microscopic level and there are great mouthpieces out there of all ages. So the change in a mouthpiece over time is only one of many other factors that will positively or negatively affect the way a 'piece plays.
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