Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-12-27 14:15
Robin -
At a workshop a few years ago, there was a mouthpiece makers' round table, with Tom Ridenour, Charles Bay, James Pyne, Ralph Morgan and several others. I asked them how long one of their mouthpieces would last in prime condition with daily use, and they agreed that it should be touched up after about a year.
They said that one of the signs of wear is that tongued notes in the clarion become "tender" or unstable.
Tom Ridenour said one way to tell extreme wear is to wet the lay lightly, hold the mouthpiece on the bottom of a piece of plate glass and roll it forward along the lay, looking at it from the other side of the glass. If you see circular patterns along the lay, or if there are any places where the water doesn't make an even seal, then the mouthpiece is in serious trouble.
Why not go to a music store and try a new B45. If it plays noticeably better than your current mouthpiece, it's time to change.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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The Clarinet BBoard
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