Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-09-30 08:14
I have a new mouthpiece in front of me which the manufacturer states has a "length" (facing) of 17.5mm.
Just to make sure, I decided to measure it. Now, since I don't have an accurate 0.0015" feeler gauge, I decided to measure the length from where the light just begins to the tip of the mouthpiece.
So, I put the bark flat end of a reed over the facing extending it to 10mm from the tip and looked carefully for where the curve just started to show some light. I quickly put my plastic, mm ruler's edge at the point of initial light and looked at the tip for the measurement. I measured 17mm.
The purpose of this posting is to reveal my suspicions that there exists two completely different facing length measurement techniques in existence.
IMO, it seems to me that the facing lengths of CNC machined mouthpieces start at the beginning of the cut and end at the mouthpiece tip.
I also believe that boutique mouthpiece craftspeople still use the 0.0015" feeler gauge point as the beginning of the facing length and end it, again, at the tip of the mouthpiece.
This, unfortunately, kinda confuses me. I expected the 17.5mm facing to start light somewhere around 18 or even more but certainly somewhere beyond 17.5mm.
So, with me measuring 17mm, I suspect this mouthpiece actually has a Brand 32 facing (utilizing 0.0015" as the starting point) which might be defined as a medium-short facing.
Has anyone else noticed this?
Is there a new definition as to what actually constitutes how a true facing length should be measured?
I just measured the facing on my Prescott which is advertised as 1.01@36. From the initial point of light to the tip, I measured......18mm.
It definitely appears to me that CNC technology has totally changed the definition of facing length.
What do you think?
Post Edited (2022-09-30 08:54)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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