 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2001-02-28 22:51
What dose anyone know about hand carved Frank Kasper Mouthpieces? I have one given to me by my father. It is great and I am NOT interested in selling it but I was wondering about value and what other clarinet players think of them. All I have ever been able to find out is that they are highly esteemed and of great value. Thank you for your help.
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Author: Matt S
Date: 2001-02-28 23:19
you got it! Theyre great mpcs and everybody loves them. Anywhere from like 300 to 800 dollars they can seel for. All the companies are trying to copy them and great things have been said about them from all the pros. You should expect a messaage from Gregory Smith LOL. He always answers messages about Kaspar mpcs seeing he's a mpc maker himself. I hear their insides are uniques and the older ones have bores that fit the Selmer clarinets better because Selmer is what everybody was playin on bak then.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-03-01 02:27
These were apparently made by an ancient race of gnomes, the last of their kind only working under the full light of the moon. When the planets aligned, the stars shone forth all their grace apon these black pearls of Chicago.
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There's a history including the Moldavan connection in the Archives.
People will pay insane money for these. Sayres and others make modern variants that probably play as well or better, but scarcity = demand.
I've had played and sold three of these-I'll stick to my M13 pedestrian as it may be.
If it plays nice for you, that's great.
Bottom line really is how it plays - for you.
anji
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-03-01 03:24
It is ridiculously priced around 500$-600$(US dollar, not Hongkong dollar).
I think M13 is a copy of Kasper-Andover.
There are three Kapers: Chicago,Cicero,Andover.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-03-01 03:39
Hiroshi wrote:
> There are three Kapers: Chicago,Cicero,Andover
Ann Arbor, not Andover
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Author: William
Date: 2001-03-01 16:45
I have never heard a Kasper player that didn't sound excellant. They are somewhat difficult mps to play, but once you find the right reed and learn to play with the neccessary breath support and embouchure, the resulting sound quality and reponse is well worth all the effort. FYI--Greg Smiths Kasper copies (he makes "Chicago" and "Cicero" models) are excellant. If I had not already owned a good "Chicago" Kasper, I would have bought one of his (along with the Chedaville 1* that I did buy). Bottom line advice--play the mouthpiece that suits your present needs the best, but remember that you have a treasure in the Kasper that you have that should be evaluated someday. Good clarineting!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2001-03-01 17:25
Don't be mislead by the statements that there were three Kaspars. There were only two. Frank L, the older worked for Arthur Goldbeck in Chicago and later bought out that company. He moved to Ann Arbor MI to continue his work in his home there (2 names on mouthpieces, Frank L. Kaspar in Chicago and in Ann Arbor, but only 1 person). His cousin, also Frank Kaspar, was younger than Frank L. also worked for Goldbeck and then for Frank L. He took over the Chicago Kaspar company when Frank L. moved to Ann Arbor about 1950. The younger Frank K. later moved his shop to his home in Cicero (2 names on mouthpieces, Frank Kaspar, Chicago and Frank Kaspar, Cicero, but only 1 person).
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Author: Ed Wojtowicz
Date: 2001-03-05 02:36
Clark Fobes has an article detailing the background on these mouthpieces. I think it may be on his site. (www.clarkwfobes.com) The Kaspars can vary quite a bit depending on the blank. Many feel that the rubber of that era was much better than much of what is available today. What are they worth? Whatever someone wants to pay for them. Very similar to the case with auction or collectible items. The market for these has been very good lately. I think that the blanket statement that many make that all Kaspars are great is exaggerated. Many are fine, there are many that are not (I have tried some real dogs and some great ones). Take good care of yours!
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