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Re: Time to rail against mouthpiece makers

Author: Mojo
Date: 2018-08-11 17:48

Having more info will help in some cases. But it will add to the confusion in other cases. Players still have to try facings and reeds out. More info may save you 1-2 iterations of trial and error. In other cases it will add 1-2 iterations of trial and error because you relied on the facing info and other factors were more significant.

I mark all my facings with the tip opening (inside the tip rail), facing length (to a .0015” feeler), and some kind of designation for the curve shape between those two points. The curve may be radial (+1), elliptical (>1 depending on degree), a power curve (p#) or off one of these math curves (+#x). This helps me more than my clients. I can make a long facing play more resistant than a short facing by what curve shape I use.

Sometimes I can copy a facing from one mouthpiece to another and it works great. Other times follow up adjustments are needed to make two mouthpiece more similar (baffle and/or facing) and the facing numbers end up significantly different.

Some of my clients (who are mostly sax players) ask me for certain facing lengths. But we talk about the resistance in the curve in general terms like medium or free blowing. I select what I think they will like based on communications. Follow up adjustments are sometimes needed. But most of them get where they want with reed choice after a reface.

A few start trying to split hairs with the facing number requests. I tell them a +3 curve in my system is barely less resistant than a +5 curve for the same tip opening and facing length. They ask for a +4.5 curve (palm slap on head). I feel like just breathing on the mouthpiece and sending it back to them.

You are frustrated. But I doubt that having more info will make you a lot less frustrated.

MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com

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