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Author: Roger Harvey  
Date:   2000-05-15 01:49 
 I recently took delivery of a Ralph Morgan mouthpiece measuring and refacing kit.  I have measured the facing schedules on seven of my mouthpieces and I am surprised how similar they all are.  They all play quite well, but with some differences in colour.  The measurements are as follows:- 
 
Mouthpiece	Tip	.0015	.010	.024	.034 
Fobes Debut	106	34	22	11	5 
Fobes Nova	105	32	21	10	5 
Pyne Polycrystl	110	34	23	11	5 
Vandoren 5RVL	105	35	22	11	5 
Vandoren B45	115	34	23	12	7 
Vandoren B45DOT	100	34	21	11	5 
Woodwind K10M	100	35	22	12	6 
Average	        106	34	22	11	5 
 
The above measurements suggest to me that the mouthpiece facing curve for mouthpieces that would be playable for an intermediate player using 2.5  3 strength reeds are similar for all makes of mouthpiece.  So what is the magic that the custom makers apply to achieve differences between mouthpieces.  Is it in the shaping of the chamber, or the rails, etc.? 
 
Roger Harvey 
  
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Author: Kim  
Date:   2000-05-15 02:30 
 I think that it's the material and the care and time put into making the mouthpiece.
  
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