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Re: Is my mouthpiece too asymmetrical?

Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2015-04-24 16:48

Like you Peter (the OP), I too play on an M15 that I believe bears the same assymetries you describe. I otherwise, like you, enjoy the mouthpiece.

I imagine if I had to use my adjusted (to this mouthpiece) reeds with different mouthpieces, that this assymetry might create a problem. Otherwise it doesn't for me.

Using ATG and ATG-like techniques (e.g. I tend to use a Vandoren Reed Resurfacer or Reedgeek rather than the ATG sanding block for the latter two's (small) portability and reusability) I shave down the right side of reeds (more than left) for this mouthpiece.

Perhaps what I may be able to add to the conversation is some opinions on ATG's use over the life of reeds, and reiterate Stan's idea of reed positioning on the mouthpiece.

As wonderful as I believe ATG to be, I believe its use is subject to diminishing returns over the life of a reed. This is by no means a criticism of this excellent tool, which always makes my top 5 list of clarinet accessory values, but simple a product of the fact that (at the risk of pointing out the obvious) unlike working with clay, where we can always, pre-kiln, reapply material if we've found ourselves removing too much, our wood adjustment techniques mostly allow us only a single direction of material removal, with no turning back, of adjustment to the relatively stronger side of the reed. This then often gives us a weaker reed over time, which we clip, and readjust to ultimately produce the same weakness issue, etc. All this happens with the diminisihing marginal returns of each reed clip, as we find ourselves with a reed that is unbalanced with respect to its tip and heel (as opposed to its left and right.)

A far better approach after a couple of rounds of ATG, I think, and one that does not marry an otherwise ever changing reed to a partciular mouthpiece, is to incorporate, like Stan said, microns of adjustment to the reed's position on the mouthpiece: up and down for weak and strong reeds respectively, and to the left for reeds with stronger right sides, and vice versa.

By no means do I suggest continued use of a mouthpiece so out of alignment that it negatively affects your play or technique. But even a symmetrical mouthpiece contends with ever changing assymmetrical reeds (synthetics and their pros and cons notwithstanding).

Let me leave you with this satirical analogy. If we clarinetists were assigned the task of making the first playground see saw, we might instinctively, from our life experiences, design a dynamic fulcrum point, whose position changes randomly, without warning or predictability, where those using the device were expected to shift their weight closer or further from their end of the board to adjust for such fulcrum point changes. The notion of a stable fulcrum point would have us point out, in disgust "what skill's involved with that!" while the rest of the world would, with common sense, point out to us that in the lack of need for skill, lies....(3 letter clarinet curse word).....fun.

Stupid lay people, how could we possibly be impressed with the likes of Julian Bliss if clarinet was easy and fun (despite the immense enjoyment we take in it despite either attribute)!!!!! [wink]