 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: joevacc
Date: 2002-05-29 05:08
I have been looking for a mouthpiece for some time without any luck. It is not that I am looking for the *Holy Grail* or haven't played some fine mouthpieces but I have yet to find one that for me surpasses my favorite one. As a matter of fact I rarely play any of my other mouthpieces which arguably are good.
My problem is I don't think mouthpieces last forever... or do they? I can't imagine the devastation to my psyche when this one goes. What do you professional musicians who have been playing for years have to say on the matter?
Can anyone accurately duplicate my favorite mouthpiece? Has anyone heard of this being done before?
Best,
-=[Joe Vacc]=-
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-05-29 06:06
It seems to me that hard rubber mouthpieces can warp a little over time, possibly because of the temperature cycling that they are subjected to. When that I happens, I touch up the table an iota to bring it back. As a result, I still play on a Mitchel Lurie mouthpiece that I bought when he sold them from his house in West LA in the middle 50's. If you don't reface mouthpieces you can take it to your local mouthpiece man and get it fixed. Good luck!!
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-05-29 12:43
I'm not a professional but I've been playing for years. Any "object" can be duplicated using the so-called "lost wax" process. I only have experience with the production of metal objects in this manner but can imagine that a "plastic" object could be produced by using a variation of the process. I could imagine producing an acrylic mouthpiece in this manner but can't provide any facts. By the same token I can even more vividly imagine producing glass mouthpieces in this manner since glass has a relatively high melting point as do metals.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-05-29 14:22
A molding or casting process such as "lost wax" does not have sufficient accuracy to reproduce a mouthpiece facing to the precision required. Unfortunately.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-05-29 14:59
Dave: I hear you. I would assume that if one were going to utilize this process one would "finish" the casting appropriately. I am curious,however, as to how you seem to know just what level of accuracy investment casting can and cannot reproduce. I am aware of some metal investment castings that are as-cast to extremely tight tolerances.
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Author: graham
Date: 2002-05-29 17:10
read Brymer : The Clarinet : page 145, which deals with the "super mouthpiece" syndrome. You have to break out of this, NOW.
I have three mouthpieces for one of my instruments and can use all three in different scenarios. They are all quite different as regards lay, and one is also different as regards tone chamber. Within your personal taste range, a range of mouthpieces gives greater flexibility. The ability to play on more than one good one seems to me a worthwhile skill to acquire, suggesting a good underlying technique.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-05-29 20:09
Bob,
The tolerances in the curvature of the lay are significant (to the player) at levels invisible to the naked eye and unmeasurable by hand instruments (such as the popular Eric Brand-type feeler gauges) -- we're talking levels in the micron region that can probably only be accurately resolved by optical instruments such as lasers. Can even your best investment casting provide such precision, especially taking into account post-casting shrinkage and other effects?
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Author: joevacc
Date: 2002-05-30 00:16
graham, I am quite sure you are correct with your statements and warnings.
My statement, "I can't imagine the devastation to my psyche when this one goes." is partially tongue-in-cheek but I do have a great affinity toward not only the sound, intonation and playability of this mouthpiece, but also the physical outside dimensions of it. It is unique.
I was more interested in knowing if anyone has tried to exactly reproduce a mouthpiece and if so what the result was.
Best,
-=[Joe Vacc]=-
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Author: graham
Date: 2002-05-30 07:30
Joe, that's fine of course. I chose to answer only the middle paragraph, not that I am a professional, but Brymer was (of course).
In the UK Ed Pillinger makes copies of mouthpieces. He made me a replica of that used by Charles Draper. Yes, it can be done, as other posts on this thread say.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2002-05-30 12:12
I have been using my favourite Berg Larsen tenor mouthpiece for at least 20 years. I have only ever owned 3 others which I have played for a short time and always gone back. Likewise with my Meyer 6 alto I still go back. I have only played three different clarinet mouthpieces, other than brief flirtations, and all of them have been Selmer C85 120. 24 years as a professional player and teacher has taught me not to stuff around. You need to be able to perform consistently up to standard day in day out without becoming precious about mouthpieces, ligatures blah blah. If it works dont change it and try and buy another as close as possible when it wears out.
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-05-30 21:12
A mouthpiece copying service is also offered by Brian Ackerman in th U.K. I've had my favourite copied and now think I prefer the copy
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Author: joevacc
Date: 2002-05-31 00:07
jez Thanks!
Searching for "Brian Ackerman mouthpiece" quickly yielded...
< http://www.ackermanmusic.co.uk/resin_mouthpieces.htm>
Best,
-=[Joe Vacc]=-
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-05-31 17:55
joevacc
the horrible looking yellow mouthpiece on the ackermanmusic site is mine. I didn't realise he'd changed his picture before he sent it to me.
It's a copy of one by Michael Meyerowitz who, sadly, died a few years ago, so I'm very glad that the service is available.
jez
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Author: joevacc
Date: 2002-06-01 02:57
jez that's very cool. I will certainly give this man a call and ask a few questions.
The fact that he makes the reproductions out of a resin makes me wonder about the material's part in the production of sound. (My mouthpiece is made of rubber.) There are a lot of people on this board (who are educated in engineering) with the opinion that material used to make woodwinds has a negligible effect on the sound of the instrument. At first I thought this preposterous. I still believe that materials make a difference but now having done a small amount of studying on bore dimensions and the effect of the air column in the bore I have changed my opinion of complete opposition.
This will be a fun and educational test (if not completely scientific) on the materials question. I am very interested in your perception of the sound of your mouthpiece compared to your reproduction.
Thank you,
-=[Joe Vacc]=-
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