 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mark
Date: 2001-10-09 17:41
I am about to buy a new pair of clarinets and I am also thinking of getting one or two extra mouthpieces.
Can anyone explain to me the meaning of the various tip openings, how they correspond to reed strengths, and what different effects they produce?
Thanks
Mark
Cambridge UK
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Author: Benny
Date: 2001-10-09 22:26
Ok, here's how it goes. The more closed a mouthpiece is, the less "curved" the facing is. This means you need a thicker reed. I find closed mouthpieces to be better for classical and orchestral music. The more open a mouthpiece is, the more "curved" the facing is. This means you need a thinner reed. Open mouthpieces are good for jazz. I play a Gregory Smith facing 1 mouthpiece which is a more closed facing and use a Vandoren V12 #4.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-10-10 13:05
One correction to Benny's statements. It should really say "stiffer" rather than "thicker" and "softer" rather than "thinner" reed. The physical thickness of the reed does not correlate directly to the stiffness.
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Author: jeff
Date: 2001-10-11 03:17
hello
the tip opening does not necessarily have anything else to do with the rest of the facing. just because it has an open tip does not mean that it is a long facing and the oppoosite is also true. the same facing can be put on with different type openings. For instance i like 6-12-22-34 and i used to really like 108 at the tip(on my wand) and now i like it closer even down to 104. So basically teh tip opening tells you in generic terms how hard or soft the tip of the reed needs to be.
best
jeff
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-10-12 02:27
Agree to Jeff.
Another thing is reed comparison table. That is the same sort
of generic things. 3.5 'hardeness' (not thickness) reeds with different tip thicknesses and firmnesses of heart on the same tip opening but with different lay profiles obviously give different vibration characteristics of reeds.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2001-10-12 17:50
Just to clarify some earlier comments:
The combination of tip opening and facing will determine how "hard" or "soft" a reed you want to use. The general rules are:
the longer the facing, the less "resistant" the mouthpiece and the harder the reed
the smaller the tip opening, the less "resistant" the mouthpiece and the harder the reed
This is why beginner mouthpieces tend to have close tips and medium to long facings.
It is possible that an open tip with a long facing will take a harder reed than a medium opening with a short facing.
While many U.S. clarinetists (at least the ones who have checked in on the BB and Klarinet) generally seem to prefer medium or medium-close openings with medium facings and relatively hard reeds for "classical" playing. There are at least a few who believe a more open tip/shorter facing with a softer reed (e.g., #3 Vandoren regular) is preferable because it reduces the likelihood of a "rushing air" sound in soft passages but still provides enough resistance for altissimo. Either Robert Spring or Jonathan Cohler has discussed this point on the Klarinet list. The thread is in the archives.
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Author: David dow Sympony NB
Date: 2002-04-26 16:09
Tip opening is the leagnth between the tip of the mouthpiece and the reed, normally it is measured in millimetres and is the object of much obsession of players young and old...generally the tone of the clarinet I feel is decided more by the facing leagnth then by tip, and this is really a hard area in terms of choice. i prefer longer facings over short...ie the 5RV is very short but I fing it not as responsive as say the B45 or B40. Beginners definitely should go towards a smaller tip opening like the 5RV or more so the 5RV lyre.
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Author: David dow Sympony NB
Date: 2002-04-26 16:12
m13 tip 1.01 mm M14 is 1.02 b45 is 1.19mm the 5RV is 1.06mm and the 5RVLyre is 1.09mm which for some is ideal...the B45Lyre is 1.21mm which is quite opn by not wildly so like some jazz facings...its best just to pick and choose and even find the comfort zone and then find what is best and offers the compromise between fleixibility and tone and ease of playing.
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