 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nick
Date: 2002-10-06 16:08
Ever since I've been looking into getting a new mouthpiece, I keep hearing words like "facing" and how open or closed it is. Now, I've looked through the clarinet equipment pages and, though I do have an understanding of what facing is, I don't know to what extent its "openness" (?) affects the sound of the instrument.
I told my teacher I wanted a new mouthpiece, and he recommended me the Hite Premiere with a fairly open facing. The question did not occur to me at the time, but why would he feel one way or another about the facing? What difference does it make?
Thank you.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-10-06 17:18
Nick said: "...he recommended me the Hite Premiere with a fairly open facing..."
The Hite Premier comes in one model only. It has a tip opening of .043 Inches (1.0922 millimeters). For point of reference it has a similar tip opening to a Vandoren 5RVLyre, a , a Selmer C*, a Portnoy 1, a Woodwind G7*, etc...
These would not be considered "open" mouthpieces...GBK
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Author: RonD
Date: 2002-10-06 17:51
The facing is the distance ftom the tip of the reed to the tip of the mouthpiece. 1.1 millimeter is about average. The Vandoren B45 lyre not the standard B45 is about 1.4 mm, the wider the tip opening the softer the reed required to play it ie. B45lyre plays best with a 2 or 2.5 . A mp with a closer opening than average such a a 1.0 mm opening requires a # 3 to # 4 reed. Wider tip openings are widely used to play jazz narower openings are normally use for chamber or orchestra music.
Vandoren has a web site that has an excellent diagram of a mouthpiece and explains the terms of usage. Do a searcd on the web under Vandoren or one of the mail order sites such as International Music Suppliers or the Wood wind and Brass wind
The Hite Premier is well thought of and is a good choice for someone just begining to play and is very reasonable priced, appx $20 to $30.
hope that helps, good luck.
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2002-10-06 17:51
Buying more open mouthpiece is like buying a car with more powerful engine. More power, less control. (Formula-1 engine on a Honda Civic) hehe
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2002-10-06 18:00
RonD,
1.4 mm is definitely a mistake. B45Lyre has 1.27mm tip opening, 5JB has 1.47mm tip opening.
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Author: RonD
Date: 2002-10-06 18:33
And require softer reeds and are more difficult to control. Not recommended for beginers.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-10-07 00:51
It's not just about how large the tip opening may be, it's also about the length of the reed that must bend.
Facings more accurately refer to curve shapes, which can be very gradually tapered to the tip, and still have a large tip opening in comparison to the plane described by the table, where the reed is affixed...
The facing and tip opening factors amount to about 20% of what goes on in a mouthpiece...
The Hite Premier is an excellent quality, reliable mouthpiece that suits many beginning players for the first years of study.
When you have practiced for some time, and have a sound concept rattling around in your head, it may be time to find something more specifically suited to your needs.
Forget about the dimensions... if it PLAYS well, buy it!
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2002-10-07 02:43
>>>>>>The facing is the distance ftom the tip of the reed to the tip of the mouthpiece.<<<<<<<<<
Sorry RonD, it isn't a facing. That's called TIP OPENING. "The facing" or "Curve" is the length of the curve measured from the tip to the point where the arc breaks away from flat.....V
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Author: d dow
Date: 2002-10-07 03:17
The normal B45 tip is 1.19mm open and the B40 is 1.19mm as well...
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Author: d dow
Date: 2002-10-07 03:24
I would hesitate to agree that a more open tip means a more powerful sound. Projection is based on sound technique and this no matter the facing.
In Vienna a .65mm tip(very closed) opening is used --and these players have no trouble cutting through an orchestra.
In my experience as an orchestral player I also find more open mouthpieces can tend to cuase fatigue(in myself), so they defintely have to match well with the reed. I also will add that I have used open mouthpiece but in orchestra I stick with a medium closed facing --and have no trouble projecting. It is also about what you do with your sound and dynamics that counts too!
I also think that the leagnth of the window affects tone far more than the tip opening.
Sincerely
DD
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-10-07 12:06
Hay Nick, didja get that?
Tip opening is not the entire story...
The Hite is as good a place to start as any.
What we players need is PRACTICE, that makes all the difference.
The gear should be unobtrusive, invisible almost.
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