 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: maiohmai
Date: 2017-04-24 00:50
I've tried to compile some research on the boards regarding this subject, but find it to be a little bit spotty so I wanted to ask this question directly!
I have been curious to know if overbites (top teeth are over the bottom teeth when one is neutral and not jutting or receding the jaw.) or underbites, smaller/larger oral cavity, shorter/longer tongue, thicker/thinner lower lips, TMJ/Lockjaw sufferers or any other oral configuration has caused musicians to favor a specific set up over the other to accommodate their own oral configuration.
Although I'd love to trial all the mouthpieces that I can, my financial state very much limits to trying anything... I am hoping the summer will be a different story!
So really, my goal with this thread is to see if anyone purchased and plays on a specific mouthpiece due to their oral configuration. I know a lot of it is what feels good to a player rather than thinking specifically of "oh, my lips are thick so I have to play on this mouthpiece to accommodate." Just looking to see if anyone else has assessed finding a mouthpiece in this manner.
Thank you!
On the road to a non-collapsing embouchure!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2017-04-24 02:48
I have an underbite. My bottom teeth are in front of my top teeth when my mouth is closed. Even if I were to TRY to pull my lower jaw back, I cannot physically even get my incisors to meet.
I've pondered its affects on my playing and setup. I would say that, in general for me, my clarinet angle sticks out a little more towards horizontal, and I do not do well with a very short facing - for my bottom lip/teeth to line up with the point where the reed meets the table AND for my top teeth to fit comfortably on the mouthpiece, I need a little room between the tip and where the reed meets the curve of the rails.
Other than, no issues playing.
FWIW, any mouthpiece facing that is considered "medium" or longer, has worked fine for me. The shortest facing I remember playing was a Dan Johnston mouthpiece that just wasn't very comfortable.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2017-04-24 05:03
AS a mouthpiece designer/refacer I've seen a lot since 1984. Bob Marcellus used around a 1.11 tip opening with an overbite and an average length facing. Then we have Julian Bliss who plays on somewhat of a very short facing, actually very short, with a tip opening around 1.15 or slightly more.
This is interesting. Eddie Daniels plays a lot of jazz, but he is only using about a 1.03 tip opening. Most jazz players are around 1.15 to as open as 1.25, with soft reeds.
Double lip players are usually around 1.03 but I've seen some players at 1.20. I play with a double lip and this new mouthpiece I have I jumped to a 1.11. I was around 1.05. It might have to do with switching to the more open sounding clarinets? On Buffets I was at 1.03.
To answer your question it surely has to do with the mouthpieces and your setup. In a million years I never thought I'd be playing on a 1.11 tip opening with a double lip. Oh and a very short facing. A few days ago I was using a 1.15 tip opening in the orchestra with a 3 strength reed, but it didn't feel right way up high, slightly out of control.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2017-04-24 05:47
I have to add that most German players use very close facings, 0.85mm's or so, with stiffer reeds. 5 strength reeds and the tips of the reeds are usually thicker. Almost double the thickness of a French cut reed tips. The facings are usually on the longer side as well, but this is surely a generalization.
Also in general, the more open the tip opening is the longer people like the facing to be, but as we look at different players these rules change a lot. Such as Julian Bliss. He has shark jaws as an embouchure, a very short facing a very open tip and a 5 straight reed. As we all know he is one wicked player. He can play jazz to classical. His setup works.
I strongly feel a good facing should be around 1.07 tip with an average length curve and a 3 1/2 reed. Most of the mouthpieces today are too close right now and the sound doesn't fill the concert halls. This is a really good starting point. I know tons of people will disagree, but tons of people will also totally agree.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-04-24 05:51
Bob Bernardo wrote:
> Such as Julian Bliss. He has
> shark jaws as an embouchure, a very short facing a very open
> tip and a 5 straight reed. As we all know he is one wicked
> player. He can play jazz to classical. His setup works.
>
Works for him! I couldn't play on it.
Karl
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2017-04-27 06:42
Karl, standing next to Julian while he was playing, gave me pain! His sound was very hard close up, like a foot away. But as we all know he gets the job done. He plays on a specially made Zinner. I think Zinner made it just for him. He had the measurements saved in his phone, this is how I found out what they were. The facing started at 30 on a glass gauge. I'm at or around 36, translates to 18mm's. He did have a patch on the mouthpiece. lol he probably changes it after each concert.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-04-28 05:48
Bob--given your interest with this:
"This is interesting. Eddie Daniels plays a lot of jazz, but he is only using about a 1.03 tip opening. Most jazz players are around 1.15 to as open as 1.25, with soft reeds."
I don't know if you've seen this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10LxbdRJ-UQ
If you haven't, you might find it interesting to see how Mr. Daniels, as primarily a jazz player, rationalizes his decision to go relative closed tip.
Post Edited (2017-04-28 17:35)
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