 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: b-smith
Date: 2012-03-19 04:20
Hey,
I've been noticing that my tone is getting a bit airy and it's really starting to bother me. It hasn't been a problem until recently and I was just wondering if anyone had any tip as to how to get rid of it. I've been playing on a Pyne Pk but now I'm thinking I should start looking at other mouthpieces?
Thanks
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Author: ttay1122
Date: 2012-03-19 07:20
Take a break from those hard reeds and go down a size temporarily to give your chops a break. Make sure the corners of your mouth aren't leaking air. I think looking for a new mouthpiece would also be a good idea, at least try some and see if your tone doesn't improve.
Good luck!
Taylor.
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Author: TianL
Date: 2012-03-19 16:35
yes try a softer reed!! it's not like a race of whoever can play the hardest reed!
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Author: b-smith
Date: 2012-03-19 22:02
But I get the sound even when I play on reeds that I consider too soft. The only time I get rid of the airiness is when I use reeds that are way too soft and the doesn't sound as good.
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Author: BenInBb
Date: 2012-03-19 22:12
It could be that your ligature isn't allowing enough vibration of the reed on its own. Try moving the ligature down the mouthpiece while keeping the reed in the same place, and loosening and tightening it. If you've tried this already and I look like a fool, please don't say so
Ben Parker
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-03-20 05:54
I don't know what the Pyne Pk facing is, but many of Pyne's facings are quite resistant and even well-established pros who use them get some noise in the sound when they play softly. They accept the noise because other features of the tone they are able to produce seem to them to be a worthwhile trade-off. Many players are willing to accept a certain level of airiness, feeling that the noise doesn't carry. You may find that you're more comfortable with a different mouthpiece if simply switching to lighter reeds doesn't help.
Karl
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-03-20 06:57
The rails on the Pyne MP's often have wide rails. which will dull the vibration of reeds in general. Please fellow musicians, dont yell at me for this general statement, because not all of Pyne MP's have thick wide rails. Well if yours is like that there are people that can adjust this this issue and thin the rails and will require in most cases to be refaced, including me. Some of the other mouthpiece makers and refacers can also do a very good job. Go with the highly recommend mouthpiece designers. Pynes were sold in Buffalo, NY. and they attracted a lot of professional and advanced clarinetist, because of the beautiful somewhat dark sound.
If you decide to leave the mouthpiece alone I'd simply play a lighter Vandoren reed, not the think blanks. I would then thin the rails, the sides of the reeds behind the tip. Most of the Vandoren reeds have fair thin rails close to the tip of the MP so leave that area alone. Sand or use a reed knife. I prefer a sharp reed knife because it cuts where you want it to and sand paper can take off a shade too much. Sometimes just taking off about 3 to 4 thousanths of an ince in the back of the reed and 2 thousanths in the middle and finally just 1 thousanth behind the tip really works wonders. Not to close to the tip though. To make a good reed play great, just very minor adjustments are needed or required to make the reed really fantastic.
Please, try not to ever take wood out of the center of the reed, also known as the heart. Sometimes after working on the rails and the reeds still don't play you may have to slightly take some wood out of the heart, perhaps no closer then an 1/8 of an inch behind the tip. With a reed knife try 2 or 3 small strokes. When I made reeds at Rico it took very little to adjust the Grand Concerts to play fantastic. When designing these reeds I made sure the rail measurements were close and the spine was dead on, so players wouldn't have to do much to get a good reed. Sadly it's a different story now since I left. I hear a lot of complaints now. I was also the one that demanded making these top reeds in quarter strengths instead of 1/2 strengths. Well now when you buy quarter strengths are really closer to 1/2 strengths, simply to be able to sell more.
Some of these old Pynes and also the Johnson mouthpieces were very well made. Johnson mouthpieces were also made in Buffalo, most likely they were friends.
Lastly, most mouthpieces in general, even the old Chedevilles and Kaspers need minor touch ups to the facings will fix your problem totally. Rubber changes. Have your MP's looked at whenever they feel different, such as it's harder to find a great playing reed and of course the tone and articulation changes. Cold and heat can change the table in just one season of playing.
Hope this helps. Feel free in emailing me with questions or comments. With more info I can guide you in the right direction. Perhaps a new MP will help.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2012-03-20 07:03)
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