Author: lmliberson
Date: 2023-07-25 19:55
Just to clarify - no sore spot poked, touched, or scraped. However, you must see that what you state, Ken, is your own opinion and nothing more than that. But have you actually done a study of who plays what and why you think any given player would sound “better” ( as relative and personal term as there ever was!) on a so-called “custom” mouthpiece?
And to further clarify, I happen to play on a handcrafted mouthpiece and have done so for literally decades. But that was (and is) my personal choice based on what works for me, what facilitates what I want to sound like, allows me to play in tune, and is comfortable in all other respects.
But a custom mouthpiece isn’t for everyone for various reasons. For example, two members (maybe three?) of my former clarinet section (I retired after last summer), play on Vandoren B40s. They are all phenomenal players/musicians. Do you honestly believe that they have never tried and tested “custom” mouthpieces and made their own assessment as to what meets their needs both intelligently, tonally, and musically? Of course not! They chose that mouthpiece for its merits, not by default.
Furthermore, you could play a dozen or so of that same machined mouthpiece and come up with just as many different ways they might play. Just because they might come from the same machine doesn’t mean that they will play the same. Same design, yes; same results, no.
A custom mouthpiece might be better or might not be better for any individual player as we all - you included - have our own criteria as to what is best for us.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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