 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: crvsp
Date: 2020-10-06 21:29
Any ID on these yellow mouthpiece patches that some pros are using? These look like Yamaha soft patches, but I've seen different size variances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb3e_MWjzN0&t=65s&ab_channel=ClarinetistHanKIM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOlIkJ-YwcU&ab_channel=AlessandroCarbonare
Also just a general question, how does one prolong the life of mouthpiece patches? I tend to go through them fairly quickly, maybe one patch every 1-2 weeks.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2020-10-06 22:13
crvsp wrote:
> Also just a general question, how does one prolong the life of
> mouthpiece patches? I tend to go through them fairly quickly,
> maybe one patch every 1-2 weeks.
The easy answer (not having seen you play) is to find a way not to bite as hard. But, that said, if you're getting the result you want when you play - biting isn't limiting your tone or dynamic and articulation response - then IMO the lifespan of your patches may be beside the point. If the ones you're using are thin, you could try a thicker patch, but some players don't like their feel.
Karl
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Author: Chris_C ★2017
Date: 2020-10-06 22:26
Depends how even your teeth are... My incisors are uneven so I use thick patches and they don't last long. Cheaper than mouthpieces!
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-10-07 02:23
Personally I have found the clear patches last the longest since they do not have the same "give" as the rubberized ones.
The Runyons are my favorite:
https://reverb.com/item/445998-runyon-r2-clear-mouthpiece-patch-2-pack
I believe the fact that they are 3M products has something to do with that as well.
If you burn through all patches that fast, I'd say go the cheap route which is to use 3M (see a pattern here?) plastic tape (it comes in various colors to include black) double thickness. This may last an even shorter time but you can see how this will be considerably less expensive........if that has become an issue.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2020-10-07 02:34
If you have sharp or uneven teeth one option is to have your dentist make you an inexpensive clear rubber appliance that goes over your top teeth. One of my students had this done and has it worked well for her. Biting wasn't the issue with her, it was just the extra sharpness of her teeth.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2020-10-07 04:05
nellsonic wrote:
> If you have sharp or uneven teeth one option is to have your
> dentist make you an inexpensive clear rubber appliance that
> goes over your top teeth.
I've known people who shaped plastic athletic mouth guards to fit their bottom and/or top teeth. I think it softens when heated slightly, almost like an EZO pad. You may be able to cut a conveniently sized piece off and mold that instead of the whole thing. I've never tried this, but I've been told it's a much less expensive substitute for the guards dentists make.
Maybe someone else has experience with this?
Karl
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2020-10-07 04:42
My dentist was delighted to whip out his little power grinding tool when I complained about my slightly uneven front teeth. One had a corner that came to a little point. He was able to even them up pretty close and remove the protruding point.
This all happened not long after I switched to double lip, which I'd done in part so that I wouldn't keep going through mouthpiece patches. Double lip helped me stop biting, and the dentistry markedly helped the upper lip irritation. (Double lip also had other benefits in my case.)
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Author: kchan ★2017
Date: 2020-10-07 04:51
I saw the title "Mouthpiece Patches", thinking it would be about some way to pull off old cracked ones cleanly.
I just can't imagine going through patches that quick. I'm not inferring that it's wrong, but since I've only had it bubble up in an area once in high school it's hard for me think of what it would take to do it. Back in the old days (say the 80s) I know some users used to buy rubber gloves, cut them, then glue them.
Brad Behn sells them in a roll by the foot https://www.epic-cnc.com/product-page/mouthpiece-patch-cushion. If you're going through them quickly or teaching a group of students in a studio that seems the way to go ... and they come of cleanly. Of course you could always buy a mouthpiece while you're at it and save on shipping.
kenwrick
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Author: JMason
Date: 2020-10-07 05:31
I am with Philip on this one...I went to my dentist and he noticed a cut on my gum and I told him it was from clarinet playing and I had it for years. He said I can fix that and just like Philip ..."My dentist was delighted to whip out his little power grinding tool" and he fixed my tooth in a couple of minutes.
I have not had a problem after ...IT WAS GREAT...
They can do lots of things now with your teeth. I mean he seemed like a auto mechanic he just ground down rough the edges, flatten things out and no problems since.
So if you have uneven teeth, sharp points etc. I would check with my dentist he/she might be able to even things up and fix the problem.
It changed my life. I went from pain every day when I played to no pain at all.
So I would suggest at least check with your dentist and see if there is something they can do.
Jeff
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-10-07 05:48
I had slight judicious grinding done in an attempt to even out the pressure on my lower lip (sharp tooth problem). That caused my front teeth to no longer meet completely........not good.
Also I heard the suggestion for years on this Board about getting a small tooth cover made by a dentist and finally asked about this. They CANNOT legally create a "choking hazard" so it would have to be a complete upper (or lower, depending on what you're addressing) cover. This is NOT ideal for playing.......so I never did this.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: Qladstone
Date: 2020-10-07 06:42
They are Yamaha soft mouthpiece patches. I bought some at my local Yamaha store but eventually moved on to clear patches that are thinner and harder so as to reduce my biting. My reasoning is that thinner and hard patches force you not to bite since doing so would really hurt your lips and teeth.
You can see the yellow Yamaha mouthpiece patches on this webpage:
https://sg.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/winds/accessories/mouthpiece_patch2/index.html
At first they are yellow with an orange tinge. Over time them turn pale yellow and slightly greenish. They also get damaged easily with biting because they are soft. I thought that they looked awful on the mouthpiece and was quite eager to switch to clear patches.
Post Edited (2020-10-07 06:45)
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Author: LFabian
Date: 2020-10-07 09:16
My dentist evened out the offending tooth with the other but he took an X-ray to be sure. Anyway I do not show any damage to the mouthpieces or to the patches. My embouchure improved.
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Author: JTJC
Date: 2020-10-07 12:48
There’s an earlier suggestion to use tape to lessen the expense of mouthpiece patches if you get through them quickly. I’d be wary of using any old tape if it’s going to be in contact with mouthpiece, saliva, flesh etc, just in case there’s an adverse reaction. The tape itself or the adhesive might contains something harmful. I’d assume proper patches are made of food grade or whatever material and known not to be harmful.
Linked to this topic, does everyone use a whole patch? I find I only need half to cover the area to avoid the possibility of tooth damage to the mouthpiece. That’s another way to reduce cost.
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2020-10-07 13:16
Silverstein has a thick notched cushion that I like because it is very comfortable for sensitive inscisors, comes in black and clear. I found them here :
https://www.thomann.de/fr/silverstein_omnipatch_clear.htm
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-10-07 16:23
Again, I've used the 3M based plastic tape for many many years with no deleterious effects whatsoever. As far as the adhesive goes.......no goo or any ill effects to mouthpiece or person.
I personally use the clear patches more these days because they last a long long time and do not require as much changing as the plastic tape (again.....PLASTIC tape made by 3M, not electrical tape.....very different).
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Jarmo Hyvakko
Date: 2020-10-08 07:14
I use 3M acrylic tape as a mouthpiece patch and cut suitable pieces of it with nail scissors. It seems to be exactly the same material as f.ex. BG's thin, clear batch. I tried once the yellowish yamaha-patch and i felt that i lost totally the control of the tightness of the embouchure, it gave in under my teeth so much! Therefore I suggest all my students to use as hard and thin patch as possible. The only purpose of the patch is to dampen the vibrations of the mouthpiece, not correcting flaws in your embouchure. You should adjust the tightness of the embouchure with your lips not with a mouthpiece patch! You can buy that acrylic tape by 10€$£ enough to make patches for the rest of your life!
To lower teeth, try film called "parafilm". It should be food-grade as it's used to seal food packages. At least I am still alive. You can fold it exactly the same way as cigarrette paper, that some use on their lower teeth. It molds and shrinks to the shape of your teeth in a couple of minutes by the warmth of your mouth. Again you may find a such product from music stores, but parafilm is ten times cheaper. At least I could by it from a pharmacist. Bought it twenty years ago and still have it!
Jarmo Hyvakko, Principal Clarinet, Tampere Philharmonic, Finland
Post Edited (2020-10-08 07:41)
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2020-10-08 18:34
I have used these when needed and it has been a great embouchure saver. (Five 3 hour rehearsals and a performance in two days).
https://www.earspasm.com/reeds-and-teeth/paraffin
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Author: kilo
Date: 2020-10-09 00:02
I really like the Forestone patches. They just seem to stick on the mouthpiece without any obvious adhesive and can easily be removed for cleaning and put right back on. They last a long time, too.
Another option is to get a 12x12 sheet of 3M Scotchguard Paint Protection film and cut your patches to your desired shape. I believe this is the same material that the excellent Runyan patches are made from. I have one fang that tends to cut through patches pretty quickly so I use a punch to cut a ¾" circle of 3M film and place it over the Forestone patch right where my tooth rests.
I certainly agree with Ed about the Bay patches. They're really good as well.
I never even used patches until I started frequenting woodwind forums and so many people were extolling their virtues. Now it feels really odd not to play with one.
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Author: Qladstone
Date: 2020-10-09 07:06
kilo wrote:
> I really like the
> Forestone
> patches. They just seem to stick on the mouthpiece
> without any obvious adhesive and can easily be removed for
> cleaning and put right back on. They last a long time, too.
That sounds really compelling. I just checked out Forestone and it seems that they also offer synthetic bamboo reeds. Do you have any experience with them?
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Author: kilo
Date: 2020-10-09 12:36
No, Qladstone, I've never played them. And I've read mixed reviews about them. I've been using Legere reeds for the past fifteen years and one thing about synthetic reeds is that you need to try different strengths with different mouthpieces until you find the right combination. So it's possible that people who were disappointed with the bamboo/synthetics didn't invest sufficient time (or money!) looking for the ideal strength.
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Author: Jimis4klar
Date: 2021-07-29 23:11
I just wish the Omnipatch would have a deeper tooth groove. Why Silverstein??
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2021-08-02 01:15
the forestone synth bamboo reeds come in white and black. the black are absolute garbage. dont even think of trying. havnt tried the white. their hinioki line is very good for sax.
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