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Re: Facing length and embouchure

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2021-10-24 18:24

There is a lot of info you threw out there. One to correct. The shorter the lay the harder it makes the reed play because less of it is vibrating. Take a wooden ruler and hang off the end of a table. Strum it. Now pull back so less is over the edge and strum again. It will make a higher sound for a shorter duration when shorter. Same for reeds.

That said, you'd want a SMALLER tip opening (or much softer reed) when the the lay is shorter.

Now for German stuff. Some of that length (a lot actually) is "extra" length that is used within the embouchure to control the reed better. So they don't necessarily take in MORE mouthpiece. But if you prefer taking in a small amount of mouthpiece chances are that a shorter length "may" work better (you'll have to try some mouthpieces out to determine that and don't forget to have a good selection of different reed strengths amongst a bunch of brand new reeds when you do this).

So on a French mouthpiece a short facing of 1.00 tip opening will feel pretty robust. You DO NOT want to make the opening bigger as you shorten up unless you want to be on a 1 strength reed (some exaggeration for effect).

Personally I use a 1.03 tip opening with a 16mm length tip (and there are two more dimensions that are really critical for mouthpieces refacers that are missing here to determine curve).

Basics are (all other factors being equal)

o More open = harder
o Shorter = harder
o More closed = softer
o Longer = softer

....................Paul Aviles

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