 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2020-02-14 19:15
I have a Ridenour mouthpiece which I find to be a delight to play in all regards except the volume of sound it produces. The volume , and therefore the projection are just not there. I play it with 3.5 Vandoren 56 Rue Lepic. I've tried other reed/strength combinations, but the problem remains. Is it possible or practical to adjust the mouthpiece to improve the volume without altering the other characteristics?
Thanks.
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: seabreeze
Date: 2020-02-14 20:04
A more vibrant reed than the 56 Rue Lepic, such as a Behn Aria or a Vandoren V12 or a Vandoren Blue Box, might help. Ridenour vintages and models vary in resonance, dynamic range, and projection. The HW model he was making a few years ago had good resonance and projection; the old models with the fish symbol were duller and stuffier. The newest Homage Wright model with thick rails has a very covered sound that can become muffled. One mouthpiece tech who mentioned that he can sometimes improved the projection of Ridenour pieces (by removing material from the baffle and chamber areas) is Tim Wright. You can reach him at twright3109@yahoo.com.
Post Edited (2020-02-14 20:09)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-02-14 20:53
For me, the issue is one of achieving more vibrancy from the action of the reed.
Two key aspects that I found to be consistent with more vibrancy are, thin rails (side rails and tip rail), and a SHALLOWER baffle (or more contour with fairly shallow slope close to the tip before the steeper grade moving into the bore.
The reason thin rails aid in a more vibrant sound is because there is less surface area contact and therefore less mouthpiece material to dampen the sound. I think you go through your mouthpiece collection you'll find consistency with this premise.
The shallower baffle aids vibrancy because it allows a quicker negative pressure cycle for the reed, or "slap back." The essence is that the reed vibrates more efficiently when it can move BACK into place faster. [back in the day, jazz saxophone players would place small wads of gum on the baffles of their mouthpieces to give them more projection] The converse of this is an effect shown to me by David McClune. There is a depth of baffle that you cannot exceed. If you do, the reed won't vibrate properly and there is nothing further you can do to salvage the mouthpiece. I convinced David to do this to one of almost three identical mouthpiece I had from ESM. Sure enough........he was right........of course!
.........................Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2020-02-14 20:56)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2020-02-14 22:11
I have a Ridenour Eroica mouthpiece. I use Aria #4 reeds. It is very easy to play. It has a great sound, volume, projection, and articulation. I am considering trying one of Tom's closest facing mouthpieces just for fun. I'd love to have another.
AAAClarinet
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: fernie121
Date: 2020-02-15 02:46
His Homage works amazingly with Aria reeds. I ended up sending it back though as I’m happy with my Behn mouthpiece. I did find it full sounding with a V12 or other thicker tip reeds. The Aria reeds have a thin tip, which if you work on the tip, become even more vibrant and a perfect match. Try the Aria reeds!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2020-02-15 13:23
Tom is a nice man and very knowledgeable. Ask him to take a look at the mouthpiece. He also has a good sense of humor and it's easy to have a conversation with. Maybe you can play something on the sort side, even just a few scales and send this to him and see what he says. He has a music degree from one of the finest schools in the country and plays with a double lip embouchure.
If you don't have any luck with that feel free in sending the mouthpiece to me. I'll try to figure out what the issue is.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
