 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Eugene
Date: 2002-05-08 04:40
who out there makes the best crystal mouthpiece or how would you rate them 1-10
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-05-08 05:39
Eugene...Since the mid 70's, my primary performing mouthpieces have been a pair of(selected from many!!) Vandoren crystals. (I do have a Fobes "San Francisco" as a back-up, in case the unthinkable ever happens).
If a particular crystal mouthpiece enables you to produce the sound you strive for, with flexibility, coloration and effortless articulation, then for you (and only you) it is a 10.
Don't get hung up on brands, and don't play "mouthpiece roulette".
If you have your heart set on a crystal mouthpiece, spend considerable time trying different facings, openings, etc...from the major mouthpiece makers.
No one person can rate the different crystal mouthpieces for you. This would be as meaningless as trying to rate different flavors of ice cream.
It is a very personal decision...GBK
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-05-08 14:15
Let me reiterate my warning about crystal mouthpieces.
Remember that, while your teeth are harder than vulcanised rubber, (you may leave a mark on your mp.), they are softer than glass, so if any wearing down takes place, its of your teeth. If you play single-lip on crystal ALWAYS use a patch. Vandoren make a nice hard one if you don't want any difference in feel and Yamaha make a good soft one for extra comfort
jez
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-05-08 14:16
Try some Pomaricos (or their 'stencil' the Mitchell Lurie Premiums), but expect to try a bunch before you find one you really like. The blanks themselves are very good, but the facings are usually not the greatest. They can be refaced, however, and can be made to play great. Don't drop them or bang the tip against anything (including your teeth --- it hurts! Ask me how I know...). And I also recommend you put a mouthpiece patch on the top, unless you like getting a buzz job to your teeth.
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Author: Donn
Date: 2002-05-08 16:27
Have a Pete Fountain crystal mpc which sounds very stuffy compared to others, regardless what reed I try. Have had no replies re: refacing. Any suggestions?
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-05-08 18:41
Certain fools out there have been known to reface crystal mouthpieces. It just takes longer (and uses more sandpaper and perspiration) than refacing hard rubber mouthpieces. On the bright side, it's a lot easier than refacing stainless-steel sax mouthpieces.
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Author: FT
Date: 2002-05-08 20:15
Well, my Pomarico is like 1-2 centemeters shorter than my regular mp, no wonder I was so sharp!!! Also I sounded very stuffy and it was VERY VERY VERY hard to play forte, (pianisimo, tough, was very very easy)
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-05-08 20:26
FT: The overall pitch level of a mouthpiece is equally affected by the internal volume (bore & chamber), not just the length. For what it's worth, my glass Pomarico bass clarinet mouthpiece plays slightly lower in overall pitch than nearly all the hard-rubber mouthpieces I've tried. There is a lot of sample-to-sample variation between mass-produced mouthpieces of all brands, Pomarico included --- yours may be on the 'poor' end of the spread!
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-05-08 22:12
Eugene -
Crystal mouthpieces vary tremendously, because the chamber dimensions change when the material cools from semi-liquid to solid. I have a good one made by Kalmen Opperman, but I don't use it much because it's so heavy, and I prefer the sound I get on a hard rubber mouthpiece.
As with any high-level equipment, you have to try lots of crystals until you find the one that's right for you.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-05-09 01:41
David, it should not take long to reface crystal if you use diamond abrasive, which cuts glass as if it were hard rubber.
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Author: Rob
Date: 2002-05-09 02:34
Ken wrote
"the chamber dimensions change when the material cools from semi-liquid to solid"
If the material is glass, it is technically not a solid. Glass is a super-cooled liquid. There must be some chemists out there.
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Author: Andy
Date: 2002-05-09 06:16
Just a little thing I heard once, I hope someone can clarify for me. Did Pomarico actually make the crystal mpcs for Vandoren to the vandoren specifications. This into turn has lead to the new range of pomarico's that are now available.
Can anyone add any truth to that?
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Author: Josh
Date: 2002-05-09 10:40
Has anyone tried the Nigun model from Pomarico? How do the new pomarico mpcs ( sapphire, emerald, diamond.. )compare to the older ones where they are marked 1 , 2.
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Author: David Dow Symphony NB
Date: 2002-05-09 11:50
Crystal has a much differnet soundscape from hard rubber and I found that the A2 Vandoren was much better than the A1 which i also had. I found crystal to be hard on the teeth even with a cushion and if the room was cold it was hard to keep warmed up. I then quickly got rid of them and swithched over to a B40, however, I was under the impression that O'Brein made the best crystal mouthpieces in the US and was surprised to find that Pomarico played as sharp as one of the previous posts stated.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2002-05-09 12:40
I had a crystal mouthpiece made by O'Brien once. It was great but it got smashed, like the player, and was unable to be replaced. If anybody knows where to get one out there let me know.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-05-09 13:53
To answer Josh's question, I just refaced a Pomarico "Nigun" clarinet mouthpiece for a gentleman in Hawaii -- as received, the mouthpiece was much too closed for my taste, rather stuffy, very small sound. It needed considerable refacing to even approach a useful state. Although this is based on a sample size of one, I didn't find the Nigun to be any better (or different) than previous models of Pomaricos.
Gordon: Thanks for the tip on using diamond abrasive, but is it available in sandpaper form? I exclusively use silicon carbide sandpaper for refacing, and despite my whining, it's really not that onerous to reface crystal mouthpieces using it.
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2002-05-09 18:37
Josh...
I had a Pomarico Diamond...and loved it, until the cat knocked it off the dresser where I set it while taking apart my horn. Cat is now buried in the same hole as the MPC.
I also have an older Pomarico that is a much different design, Facing is longer...and I think the tip is much more open. It is a stuffy player....so maybe I'll have to send it to Spiegelthal for a re-do. Once he gets the diamond abrasive that is.....
John
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-05-09 19:01
John,
Have fun in Hawaii, maybe bring back some pumice from the volcanos for refacing your mouthpiece (in lieu of diamond abrasive --- LOL)
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-05-09 19:07
When I hear the word crystal, it means glass crystal used for precious wine glasses. 'Crystal' clarinet mouthpieces do not seem made of such materials and I guess they would not be made for such low costs. This is what I long doubted. Are they really glass crystal?
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Author: Joe
Date: 2002-05-09 23:35
Glass, no mater what the physical shape, or composition, is NOT a crystal. A crystal is a precisely ordered structure. Glass is a super-cooled liquid and completely amorphus. True, by varying the COMPOSITION of glass, its physical properties can be changed, but it never was, nor never will be crystalline.
If in doubt, just ask your friendly metallurgist or crystalographer.
Joe.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-05-10 15:42
As a chem engr [with a bit of experience re: "crystalline" polyolefins], I agree with Rob and Joe as to the physical character of glasses in general. I have the impression that at least some of my older O'Briens and Selmers [Bb's] are of the "lead-glass" variety [as is the best, Waterfords and others, for table use], prob. to increase mp density more than for optical "brilliance". Dave, I just now have rec'd my 2nd GG [Italy]!! bass mp, this one is a #3 [Pomarico?] facing, old but no scars, am eager to compare it to your reface of my [formerly] #1. After our Tulsa comm band concert last nite [playing #1], I was complimented on both tone and in-tune-ness quality on playing the rhythmic-accompaniment, lengthy "solo" on "Send In The Clowns" [Great, try it!], lots of low F's!, am happy! with re-discovering glass mps. Don
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Author: JPM
Date: 2002-06-25 23:05
Pomarico did make the Vandoren crystals to
Vandoren specifications, even including
omitting final polishing of the table and facing.
The new Pomarico models have the same tip openings
as the original pomaricos, but the facings and chambers have been redesigned.
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