 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-01-19 15:33
I've owned some great Kaspar mouthpieces for my Bb, but recently came across an eBay auction for an alto clarinet Kaspar mouthpiece. I got an email from someone saying Kaspar didn't make Basset horn/alto mouthpieces. The auction is still going on, and the label and mouthpiece certainly look exactly like my other Kaspar mouthpieces. The seller has a good feedback rating. But, unless the question comes from another bidder who wants to keep me from outbidding him, I'm wondering if the question is legit. Did Kaspar make mouthpieces for alto, bass, and other harmony clarinets?
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Author: Forest Aten
Date: 2002-01-19 15:45
Brenda,
I do know that Kaspar made both Eb and Bass clarinet mouthpieces. I would not doubt that he made (at least a few) alto/bassett clarinet mouthpieces.
Forest Aten
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-01-19 16:39
Brenda,
I don't think that this is the first time one of these has turned up on eBay. For a pretty authoritative opinion on the existence of these items, search the Klarinet archives for "Kaspar alto Fobes" without the quotes for a message in which Clark Fobes mentions that, while rare (and perhaps not particularly well done) one or both of the Franks Kaspar did produce Bass, Eb and alto mouthpieces.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2002-01-19 18:22
Many years ago I was hired to play one of the basset horn parts in the Mozart requiem with members of the Chicago Symphony, but, while the other clarinetist had his own basset horn, none was available for me to use. I borrowed an Eb alto clarinet and transposed the part just as one would read a C part on Bb instrument. Now the point of the story: I needed a good mouthpiece, so I had Frank Kaspar (the younger one) reface a Bettoney mouthpiece that I had. He certainly did not hesitate to reface an alto mouthpiece and I can't imagine that he could not have come up with his own blank to face for another player. I certainly vote yes to the eBay alto/Kaspar mp as being authentic.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-01-19 20:45
I'm wondering about the comment from jnk
"Clark Fobes mentions that, while rare (and perhaps not particularly well done) one or both of the Franks Kaspar did produce Bass, Eb and alto mouthpieces."
the part that concerns me is the "perhaps not particularly well done" part. If this is an authentic Kaspar (which it certainly appears to be) I wonder if it would be a very good one. I don't know this seller's track record--so, I might be stuck with an expensive piece of junk and be better off to just get Greg Smith to make me one like my Bb.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-01-20 00:57
I really recommend that you read Clark's post and decide for yourself what he is saying. Also, if you are thinking about sinking alot of money into a Kaspar harmony mouthpiece, it might be a good idea to expand your search in the Klarinet archives to see what others may have had to say about, in particular, Kaspar bass clarinet mouthpieces. Based on a small sample, Clark indicates that he was not overly impressed with Kaspar bass clarinet mouthpieces and suggests that they may not, in general, be up to the standard of the Bb mouthpieces -- perhaps because the Kaspars made so few basses relative to the number of Bb's they made. It seems to me that the ability to make a great Bb mouthpiece does not automatically guarantee the ability to make a great mouthpiece for other instruments. Personally, I have always suspected that the true secret behind Kaspar mouthpieces came from what the Kaspars did with the bore and, perhaps, the baffle rather than their facings (which are, after all, fairly easy to duplicate). Perhaps with the harmonies, they didn't make a sufficient number to warrant investing time and money into special reamers and limited their efforts to refacing blanks. However, this is pure speculation on my part.
Of course, it could also be that Clark simply had a sample consisting of outliers.
Brenda, I have bid against you on some items in the past and probably will do so again in the future but I do not intend to bid on this mouthpiece, even though I consider it authentic and probably made from a Chedeville blank. For me, the price is already far too high (and who knows what the reserve price is) considering the risk (and the limited use my alto gets). Others undoubtedly have a different viewpoint, however.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-01-20 13:57
jnk, I'm not planning to go up on my bid and I'm not at the reserve price yet. I did send the seller an email asking what the reserve was and he would not tell me. I agree that the price is too high to invest in something that is a complete "unknown." If it were from one of my usual sources for Kaspars that I knew as honest and gave a trial period, it would be different.
So, what's a good alto mouthpiece?
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Author: Forest Aten
Date: 2002-01-20 15:26
Brenda,
I own 2 Kaspar bass clarinet mouthpieces and both are excellent. Chris Runk in the Dallas Symphony uses a very fine Kaspar, Cicero with fabulous result.
I am sure that the quality will vary greatly....as well (or greatly)as a players unique needs.
Forest Aten
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Author: William
Date: 2002-01-20 16:16
I like (and play) the two Kaspars (an original "Chicago" and a Greg Smith "Cicero"), but I have always felt that the sound a clarinetist produces is more a result "the clarinetist" rather than "the mouthpiece." I think that the principal factor in KasparMania lies in the reputations and sounds of the famous clarinetists who have performed on them in the past and the fact that, at that time, they may have been the best on the "custom mpc" market. Frankly--no pun intended here--I have other "no-name" mpcs that have been refaced by my old college professor (now retired, but still playing) that perform as well as my Kaspar, with better response and greater volume control. Bottom line--IMH, Kaspars are over priced and over valued. Certainly, with a harmony clarinet mouthpiece, you could invest your $$s more wisely in another Symphony VII or some more of Gregs wonderful products. Good Budgeting and Clarineting, Granny!!!!!!!!!
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-01-20 20:19
I've heard that the seller of the Kaspar alto is a reputable individual. So, I don't doub it is a genuine Kaspar, but still wonder if it would be worth the $$$.
William, I did just invest in a new Symphonie VII. Nice. Very nice.
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Author: William
Date: 2002-01-21 00:11
Brenda--Another one!!!!! or did you forget that I emailed you regarding the one you purchased after the LC clinic?? In any case, WAY TO GO!!!!! BTW, I do think that the Kaspar mpc is over priced (and probably over rated) If you do buy it, let us know. Good Clarineting Clarygranny!!!!!!!!!!
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-01-21 01:56
As far as I know there were at least two Kaspers. Kasper-cicero/Chicago, or Kasper-Andeauver. The former is much adored, and the latter far less adored. Which one?
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-01-21 13:48
William, no--it's the same Symphonie VII. I wasn't clear if you knew I had gotten it. It did need an overhaul--bad pads and some clumbsy key-action--but Lisa's gang did a great job on it. Got it back Friday and it is really a nice clarinet. It was hard enough to find one, I'd hate to try to find another.
I'll post if I end up with the mouthpiece. The seller has contacted me. I haven't decided.
Hiroshi--it's a Cicero. There are three Kaspar mouthpieces that everyone prizes: Chicago, Cicero and Ann Arbor. I've owned all three for my Bb and have learned from research and other collectors that the Ann Arbor is the least of the three--with the Cicero being the most prized--followed closely by the Chicago. The best ones I've owned for the Bb were the Cicero 13 and a Chicago 16 that I wish I hadn't sold. But, I bought clarinets. Addicted, you know.
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Author: SWTClarinet
Date: 2002-01-21 17:38
Hmm, I think that as much as I would love to get my hands on a Kaspar (or two or three hehe) I would much rather put the money towards a new set of clarinets. I've been seriously thinking about trading in my good and well liked R13 and take out a small loan (I pay for school through a scholarship so it wouldn't hurt me so much) or set up a payment plan and purchase a Bb and A Buffet Vintage set (I've played them at TMEA and love the way they respond) along with a couple of Robert Scott mouthpieces and barrels (which I use now) to complete the setup. There's a Bb Kaspar mouthpiece on eBay currently, but if I could get the same quality new and for a fifth of the price I'd go with someone else's mouthpiece like Scott's.
My .02
Jose Garza
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-01-21 18:46
Jose, I also use a Greg Smith mouthpiece (actually I have 2 of his). They are excellent in every way and cost much less than I've paid for any of my Kaspars.
I just bought back my Kaspar Cicero 13 because it was the best mouthpiece I've ever owned and I always regretted selling it. Thankfully, the buyer wasn't using it and had decided to purchase a new bass saxophone and was willing to sell it back for what he paid for it. So, even Steven--so they say. However, my wallet is mucho flatter.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-01-21 21:11
Hiroshi,
The two Kaspars actually refer to two different people (uncle and nephew) both named Frank Kaspar. Both made "Chicago" mouthpieces, the elder eventually moved to Ann Arbor and made "Ann Arbor" Kaspars. The nephew moved to Cicero and is responsible for the mouthpieces with that designation. For a brief history of the Kaspar mouthpiece (contributed to this site by Clark Fobes), go to:
http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Equipment/MBL/Kaspar.html
Clark suggests that late Cicero's (made from Babbitt blanks after Chedeville went out of business) may be less desirable than the others but opinions will vary. (I suspect you probably won't find many negative ones from anyone who paid $300+ for any kind of Kaspar, however.)
Best regards,
jnk
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