Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2020-01-09 17:35
I read with interest the comments made by JTJC, and I would like to provide a few clarifications.
I think inherent in these comments above, is an assumption that my mouthpieces should feel and look like all the other mouthpieces on the market, and have basically the same design features.
I will state right here that although I have the greatest respect for other makers, I am trying to make something different and hopefully in some ways better. Why should we all make the same product?
In terms of the finish, I don't care if the mouthpieces are bright, shiny, and extremely smooth. In terms of HOW THEY SOUND, the exterior appearance makes no difference. Since the material I am currently using will never buff up to a smooth shiny surface anyway, I have let the material and the process decide the outer surface. I believe that what I provide is quite pleasant and suitable (and kind of fun).
After six months use, most mouthpieces look like something the cat threw up anyway, so I don't think a lot of effort in that direction makes a lot of sense.
In terms of finishing the facing curve, that is another matter. I do only enough hand finishing to get the response and tone that I want. No more, no less. The easiest way to make mediocre mouthpieces is to hand finish too much and try to make every single mouthpiece the same.
In terms of the width of the tip and side rails I will admit to a lot of thought and experimentation. As many of you know, I have become quite impressed by the Legere Signature European Cut reeds. In my experience, the tone and response of these reeds is enhanced by the wide side rails, that JTJC is reporting.
If you want the mouthpiece to work, and optimize, the use of both conventional cane reeds and Legere European Cut reeds, you then have a design issue to confront. There has been a lot of comment on these reeds here, both positive and negative. I believe that Legere has finally come up with a reed that is in most important ways, better than cane. I have found I can make some design changes in my mouthpiece to further enhance the performance of these reeds. Currently I am making a "wider than normal" side rail, as I feel this adds stability which is beneficial to the use of the Legere European cut reeds. Will I continue with this or not is still not clear to me.
I may wind up with mouthpieces that are specifically only for Legere vs cane. I would prefer not to, but we shall see what the market wants.
Friends, I am only one year into this journey, and many things might change. But I assure you that I am not trying to make the same mouthpiece as it has been made for the last one hundred years. There are some that think the best mouthpieces were made 30 to 50 years ago, and everything that needs to be discovered has been discovered.
I simply think that with new materials and new methods we might be able to eke some additional performance out of what I consider to be the most important clarinet accessory.
I am open to all questions and comments.
Thank you.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
847-266-8644
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The Clarinet BBoard
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