 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Bill
Date: 2007-01-25 22:09
Attachment: p6160001.JPG (70k)
Attachment: p6160005.JPG (41k)
Attachment: p6160006.JPG (41k)
Attachment: p6160004.JPG (50k)
I obtained from the auction site yet another substantially misrepresented mouthpiece, with a badly eroded right rail. Unplayable. I had only just declared a new mantra for myself: Never try to reface.
Proceeding against my own mandate, I set about trying to salvage what had looked so promising - an "M. Martin Master Model" that looked to me vaguely H. Chedeville-ish. Had to take it down very far in order to restore a tip rail and re-establish the one side rail. Uh-oh, here we go again ...
It resulted beautifully. I couldn't believe my ears and jaw ... the thing sang. I play almost every evening, and I have not enjoyed a set-up in weeks as I enjoyed this (after about 90 minutes of work). But it rejected Gonzalez reeds, and I had to use a Vandoren traditional (thinner blank) 2.5/3.0. OK, fine with me because on this mouthpiece they sounded beautiful.
But it occurred to me that professional refacers have a different job altogether. Am I wrong in concluding that those who reface for clients must create a facing that plays with as large a variety of reed designs as possible? The thing about my "new" mouthpiece is that I will always have to look pretty hard for the right reed to use with it. It's gorgeous-sounding but really fussy about reeds ... only a narrow section of them will work (I tested about 10). I imagine that a professional refacer has to deal with clients who expect to slap their favorite design of reed onto the mouthpiece and expect magic. Were I to sell what I did today, my "client" would probably send it back because it doesn't work with Gonzalez #3 reeds.
Sounds like tough work to me!
Bill.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2007-01-25 23:24
Nah, piece of cake. A few swipes of the old sandpaper and every customer is pleased as punch, and 8 out of 10 reeds per box of any brand work like a charm!
That's why I've gotten richer than Billy Gates from refacing, and you can too!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-01-26 05:52
Try adjusting one of those reeds that won't play on your newly refaced 'piece. If your rails aren't symmetrical (how could that be possible?), you'll need an assymetrical reed (with the right assymetry) to match it.
If you have to consistently soften the same edge of the reed to get it to work well, then you probably have to fiddle a bit with one rail of the 'piece.
BTW: congratulations! I've ruined several mouthpieces fussing with the sanding block.
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bill
Date: 2007-01-26 12:00
Thanks Bob. I think my rails are pretty even. It's the curve ratio itself that's unorthodox ... not mainstream enough. My point was that professionals have to achieve a curve that is mainstream enough to satisfy a fairly broad number of players and reeds.
That being said, I have a mouthpiece that - with a pretty narrow selection of reeds - plays as well or better than a lot of my other mouthpieces. I'm rather shocked! Intonation is great, I can slur through the different registers with ease, staccato is good, and the tone quality is a combination of dark with a buzzing edge to it.
Bill.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Alseg
Date: 2007-01-26 14:43
You are all working too hard at this.
Best Buy/Circuit City has the new " iFACE "
Look for it in the MAC iPod section. Insert the mpc and it does the rest.*
Woz and Jobs have staked their life savings that the new refacer will overtake Microsoft and Gates by 2008 with the new inovation.
*you need to download the .mpc codec conversion software.
mp3 will not work.
The LAME mpc file will then straighten the .waves on the rails and tip. Yep it does.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
Post Edited (2007-01-26 14:53)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2007-01-26 15:00
That's still too complicated, Dr. Allan! I just hand junk mouthpieces to my 5-year-old along with a huge flat file, and let her go to town. Then I take what she's done, engrave "Frank Kaspar" on them in crude block letters, put it up on That Auction Site, and sell 'em for thousands of dollars each. That's why I'm so wealthy, and you can do it too!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2007-01-27 12:58
I had a long discussion with Everett Matson (such a gracious man) about the ins and outs of mouthpiece work.
He said, "Don't work for clarinet players, they'll make you crazy."
When he determined that I would ignore his advice, he filled me in on some general notions;
Get balanced
Get flat
Get even (tone)
Get the most (reeds playable)
I still regret not making the trip to visit when invited; as he wasn't feeling well.
In essence, he said the mouthpiece should allow flexibility above all - and the reed should be adjusted for the desired finish on each player's sound.
I haven't a clue as to what goes on inside a mouthpiece, and that's easily 80% of the art - obscure to me, for certain.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
