 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: charles
Date: 2002-01-17 23:19
I bought a "David Hite" mpc from eBay last month. It's very easy to blow and sounds bit bright but very nicely. It has "David Hite" right above the tenon. That's it. No number, no letter. What kind of mpc is this, compare to his modern mpcs? Auction title was "Vintage David Hite mpc". Thanks in advance.
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Author: Mark P.
Date: 2002-01-18 02:17
I'd guess it's from the late 70s. I have a Hite mouthpiece that I bought from his son Chris when he was stationed with the Air Force Band at Andrews AFB just outside Washington, DC. I bought it in 1980. I believe at this time the Hite mouthpieces were hand finished by David Hite.
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Author: Jim S.
Date: 2002-01-18 04:50
I have one from about 1980, or a little later, and it just has "Hite" in white above the tenon on the right side of the table. Mine has no other designation regarding the lay either on the mouthpiece or on the box either. I can't remember whether I asked for a particular lay or whether at that time there was no choice offered. Your's sounds like an earlier model. By the way, mine has a very distinct longitudinal concavity in the table. I assume that was by design in my model.
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Author: Brent
Date: 2002-01-18 13:43
I've had a number of Hite mouthpieces. The earliest seem to be the ones with "David" in caps above "Hite" just above the tenon. The "David" is curved. Later than that are the ones with the name in one line in the same location. None of these had any indication of the facing, probably because only one was offered as standard (i don't know if Dave made special facings for certain people, but i wouldn't be surprised). I don't think facing designations showed up until they became J&D Hite.
I was in Jr HIgh when i went to Columbus OH (about 1970) with my dad and got my first Hite mouthpiece. It was pretty awe-inspiring to a 13-year-old to see all of those mouthieces and blanks lined up, row after row. I got to try quite a few, although i can't remember what exactly i thought i was looking for at the time. The mouthpiece i ended up with was a tremendous step beyond the HS* i was playing at the time. I've used them almost all the time since then. I have Morgan, Richard Hawkins, Pyne (which i also like very much) and several others. I really like all of the Hite mouthpieces, and only recently did my M41 get supplanted as my current favorite--by a Grabner.
I suspect the mouthpiece you have, if original, is like his "D" mouthpiece. Dave would be the one to tell you for sure, though.
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Author: Mark P.
Date: 2002-01-18 23:23
I just looked at my Hite, and it says "DAVID HITE" right above the tenon in small letters opposite the table. No other markings. I remember Chris Hite also giving me another Hite that had the number 45 on the side of the table. This was in 1980.
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Author: charles
Date: 2002-01-18 23:33
Mark P. So, mine is about 20 yrs old?
Table, rail and tip looks very clean and well crafted. It could be hand finished one.
I sent email to J&D HITE. They're probably in NAMM show this time. I'll post as soon as his mail gets in. Thanks.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2002-01-19 19:02
I have an old Hite that says David Hite in small typeface (all caps) just above the tenon on the back. I spoke to him some years back about this mouthpiece. He told me it was from the 1970's (maybe early 70's). He said it is similar to the current D. I haven't played it in a while, but I remember it being a very good mouthpiece, lots of core and ring to the sound.
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