 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2015-05-30 06:26
I have purchased a few vintage clarinets, and seen hundreds more posted online in ads or auctions. A significant number I have seen (and a couple that I have purchased) have yellow tape on the mouthpiece cap. What's that about?
I'm not rushing out to buy yellow tape, but just wondered what the story is.
Thanks in advance for the insight.
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Author: RAL
Date: 2015-05-30 07:02
Now that you mention it, I just won an auction on a B&H that has a yellow tape with the word "secret" on the cap in one of the pics. Still has not been delivered though.
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Author: GLHopkins
Date: 2015-05-30 10:40
WTH?? I've had yellow tape on my mouthpiece cap for over 10 years so that I can find my test mouthpiece on my cluttered workbench. Now, everyone else is doing it? I knew I should have gotten that patent.
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Author: jimk
Date: 2015-05-30 13:45
I have blue tape on my clarinet mouthpiece cap. I initially put black tape on my black plastic BG mouthpiece cap so cracks wouldn't result in it falling apart. I kept adding tape until now it is well covered. One dark night in a dark orchestra pit I realized it would be easier to find a dropped cap if the tape was some color other than black. That worked so well I began putting a band of tape on each of my sax mouthpieces and end plugs, color coding them so could quickly determine which sax they were from. A simple band of orange tape around a black end plug makes it much easier to find backstage against the black case interior.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2015-05-30 18:03
Tape, I imagine Tom Ridenour would suggest, keeps the ligature tight, and the reed--when the clarinet is momentarily not being played--moist.
https://youtu.be/Y7TwVEI5r6A?t=6m23s
Has the time come for someone to create a cap that attaches to the bottom of the mouthpiece/top of the barrel that swings to the left or right when not covering the mouthpiece and reed, but that remains attached to the clarinet when not in use; thereby not capable of being lost?
Post Edited (2015-05-30 18:37)
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2015-05-30 20:09
Attachment: yellow.JPG (28k)
Just for perspective, and so that you don't think I've completely lost my mind, here is a photo from a current auction with the yellow tape on the mouthpiece cover.
I suggest that it may signify something or make the cap easier to find (as suggested by some posters above), but that the functionality of the tape is limited. (I have no association with this auction, merely trying to show the issue in question).
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2015-05-30 20:18
WhitePlainsDave wrote,
>Has the time come for someone to create a cap that attaches to the bottom of the mouthpiece/top of the barrel that swings to the left or right when not covering the mouthpiece and reed, but that remains attached to the clarinet when not in use; thereby not capable of being lost?
>
I'm trying the visualize how such a cap would work. In use, it would need to cover the tip of the mouthpiece and the top of the reed. If the cap were about the same size and shape as today's familiar models, but open at the back side, then simply swinging the closed side of the cover around to the non-reed side of the mouthpiece would still leave the top of the cover obstructing the player's upper lip, wouldn't it?
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2015-05-30 20:29
Such a cap already exists. Saw one on a clarinet website ages ago. It's part of the ligature and is hinged at the bottom (bell end) of the ligature. It just tilts out of the way when playing. I think it was German and quite old.
Tony F.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2015-05-30 23:01
Tony, was the picture attached to this bboard thread one of the ligature you were talking about?
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=417617&t=417617
Lelia: I hear your concerns. I'm envisioning, as I think about it, that said cap would like have to come up from both left and right sides, and some how join to make a reasonable seal.
Alternatively, something could be devised that opens/closes doors of the cap as it is pulled away/towards the mouthpiece respectively. But I'm thinking that would raise development and per/unit product costs drastically, and invite product returns wihen failures occurs after the "1500th time" said device is used.
Maybe a better mousetrap is a strong magnet wrapped around the barrel, and a metal ligature adhered to it when not it use!
Still better, maybe different color tape could, like karate belts, be awarded to players demonstrating certain levels of proficiency.
Post Edited (2015-05-30 23:02)
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2015-05-31 01:23
...and another thread had been hijacked to discuss gear and individual musings...
<SMH>
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Author: Wes
Date: 2015-05-31 01:28
Well, I use yellow fingernail polish on my Bb clarinet cap to keep it from being stolen by the Eb clarinet player.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2015-05-31 03:49
I'd forgotten about that one, Dave. That wasn't the one I had in mind, it had a short arm perpendicular to the long axis of the fairly conventional mouthpiece, which hinged with a similar arm which formed part of the ligature. When in playing mode the mouthpiece hinged down under the clarinet.
Tony F.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2015-05-31 05:28
Back on the OP's track I think Ridenour has a good idea to apply a non adhesive layer first, and a bright color (like yellow.) It makes sure the tape is easy to remove, keeps its adhesive from contacting the reed at side openings in the cap, at makes it easy to find on the cap on the floor.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2015-05-31 07:38
Easy to spot the cap on floor or in the air when on a stand (it's a "hi-viz" color). Also, wrapping tape around the cap covers the little slit that goes down towards the ligature keeping the saliva evaporating from the reed a little more than NOT having it (traps moisture in).
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2015-05-31 07:49
Yellow tape is for crime scenes. Perhaps the instrument for sale is a crime, either how it was made or how it was obtained, or how the transaction will come down. Or perhaps how the previous owner played it was a crime.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2015-05-31 08:39
I use white tape on my black mouthpiece cap so I can find the darned thing in the black plush of my case. Of course, any other bright color would work. It's a lot easier that painting the inside of the case white.!
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