 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Copez
Date: 2001-04-24 17:19
As a novice alto player I'am unfamiliar with refacing. What is it? What are the benefits of having a mouthpiece refaced? Does it effect the tone and is it necessary to change reed brand and strength? Thank you.
Copez
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-04-25 14:48
Refacing is the process of changing the curvature of the portion of the mouthpiece on which the reed sits, along with (usually) improving the flatness of the table on which the reed is clamped. Different refacers use different tools to do these things. If done properly, refacing can dramatically improve the tone and response of a mouthpiece (and sometimes can improve intonation also).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed
Date: 2001-04-25 16:05
Refacing can make a variety of improvements, notably in the feel or response of a mouthpiece. Years ago, Everett Matson told me that he could not change the basic tone of a mouthpiece. I think that it can bring out the qualities that may be hidden from a facing that is not working efficiently.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-04-25 16:54
I'll bet that Everett Matson CAN, in fact, change the basic tone of a mouthpiece, but perhaps not by refacing alone --- he might have to make changes in the interior design (chamber, baffle, bore, window) also. Such things can be done by a good mouthpiece refacer.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed
Date: 2001-04-25 18:52
To Dave: you are right in your comments above. I hope I did not seem to sound as if I was disagreeing with you. My comments were to point out that refacing alone cannot change the basic qualities of a mouthpiece. Again, Matson once said to me that anyone can put a facing on a mouthpiece. It is the interior work as you mention which takes greater skill. To get all of those elements to work together in combination takes a real craftsman. Thanks for reading between the lines and clarifying that one.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Fred
Date: 2001-04-25 19:23
Matson is . . . of course . . . correct. Even I can put a facing on a mouthpiece. The resulting mouthpiece is, of course, unplayable . . . but that's beside the point.
Forgive the humor . . . very interesting subject.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-04-26 05:47
Why not mailing Christopher Hill on Sponcers' page? Each re-surfacer may have different black magic.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-04-26 14:25
I have a few spare jars of Black Magic Refacing Powder I'd be happy to sell for only $49.95 (US) each (taxes not included, void where prohibited, no warrantees expressed or implied, caveat emptor).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Stephen Froehlich
Date: 2001-04-26 15:24
I assume this would be powder from mouthpieces that you've refaced down to the cork, Dave?
What kind of tools are used for mouthpeice refacing, and how does one establish an accurate profile?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-04-26 16:42
Stephen,
Unfortunately I am at liberty to divulge neither the chemical composition nor the source of my Refacing Powder. You have no choice but to buy it and try it.
For mouthpiece refacing, my personal process is unusual in that I do it completely without measurements or tools. I use various grades of 3M Wet-Or-Dry silicon carbide sandpaper, a thick, very flat piece of plate glass, and my eyeballs. I work on a mouthpiece until the facing looks right, then I play-test it. I repeat the process until I'm happy. No magic, no special tools, no machines --- just years of experience and many dozens of ruined mouthpieces along the way until I got it right.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-04-28 00:14
Hey Copez, as they say on the "Telly"---"TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT."
I did and do, Thanks again Dave.
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2001-04-29 04:16
I use a Morgan refacing kit to measure, and 400 or occasionally 600 or 320 grit sandpaper to work the facing. I polish the facing with construction paper or the back side of the wet or dry sandpaper. I use various files to work the chamber, and have a baffle scraper and bore reamer which were made for me by Ed Maury. I learned to reface by watching Mr. Matson, and asking him a lot of questions. He also would critique mouthpieces that I worked on. He's a genious and a gentleman.
Chris
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
