 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jospalau
Date: 2025-12-13 13:24
Attachment: 2025-12-13-1222_grim.png (596k)
I've just noticed a few scratches on the table of a new Vandoren BD5 mouthpiece.
Are these serious or just superficial scratches? I think they may have been caused by sliding the reed.
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Author: JTJC
Date: 2025-12-13 14:41
The scrateches don't appear to be on the part of the lay where the reed flexes, so i doubt they affect the way it plays. You need to find out how the scratches have occurred in case they affect the rails etc. next time.
With my Rovner Versa ligature, I find I have to be careful the metal part that presses the reed doesn't touch the lay, if i dont have a reed fitted. If you have a ligature that has such a metal part, then I'd look at how you put the ligature on/off if there isn't a reed.
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Author: jospalau
Date: 2025-12-13 18:18
I recently got a Rovner Versa but I never paired it with this mouthpiece. I use the Rovner Black 1RB or the Vandoren Optimum with this one.
I normally put the reed on the table, slide the ligature on and tighten it slightly, and then adjust the reed by sliding it up and down and left and right until it's centered. Could a warped reed cause this when adjusting it while it's slightly tightened?
Also, even though my mouthpieces and reeds are well stored, I live in a place with sand around.
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Author: Slowoldman
Date: 2025-12-13 18:48
I doubt that a reed is causing these scratches.
Do you store the mouthpiece with the ligature and cap on in your case? The metal plate of the Vandoren Optimum can do this. I would suggest storing a mouthpiece with any metal-contact ligature by loosely fastening an old reed to the mouthpiece table to protect it.
Amateur musician, retired physician
Delaware Valley Wind Symphony, clarinet 1
Bucks County Symphony Orchestra, clarinet 2 (sub)
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Author: jospalau
Date: 2025-12-13 19:30
I use a Protec mouthpiece case to store my mouthpieces and yes, I have been keeping them with the ligadure and cap on but always carefully. Thanks for the old reed suggestion.
But I got a new 5RV mouthpiece last week that I have used just a couple or three times and it already has a few similar scratches. This has not been stored yet the same way as the others.
I don't blame the reeds, it is that here there is sand suspended that gets everywhere because the environment and I was wondering since it is abrasive plus the way I adjust the reed with friction, if this may be the reason, to minimize it.
Post Edited (2025-12-13 19:31)
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Author: JTJC
Date: 2025-12-14 13:51
I store my mouthpiece without a reed. I avoid scratches on the lay by reversing the Versa ligature on the mouthpiece for storage. That way, the metal parts of the ligature are on the opposite side of the mouthpiece to the lay.
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2025-12-14 17:46
If sand is all-pervasive, all I can think of is adding a step to your instrument assembly wherein you clean the table and the reed surface just before assembly. The scratches depicted probably don't compromise sound, but if more continue to be added, it's conceivable that some small difference in assembling will one day scratch the rail area, and that might be a problem.
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Author: jospalau
Date: 2025-12-14 18:45
Yes. That is what I am thinking but I don't think is possible. I already spotted a couple of little scratches on one rail just below the table starts curving.
There is lots of of sand in the dessert and the AC moves the sand around the house. The scratches are just superficial and they are more evident in Vandoren mouthpieces tables which are glossy. I have a few mouthpieces and they are all affected in some way.
I will assume it is just "normal" wear and tear.
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