 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: afmdoclaw
Date: 2014-08-16 04:28
I am confused
Bass clarinet mouthpiece tip size and facing length by many makers does not make sense to me if mouthpiece acoustics are considered.
Wider the tip = softer the reed
Longer the facing = harder reed
So what is the optimal facing length for a wide tip say a 2.15 like the Vandoren B50
Thanks for the help
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-08-16 06:44
And it is even more confusing than this. Wider side rails make the system more resistant (and the opposite is true). Then there is the baffle. If the baffle is flatter or even somewhat convex, there is a "slap back" air pressure effect on the reed that makes the system more free blowing (and the opposite is true). So, you cannot simply take the basic dimensions of one mouthpiece with which you are familiar and assume that those dimensions will mean another makers mouthpiece with those same basic dimensions will play the same.
More directly to your question: you can take one specific length of the lay and go through every imaginable tip opening with it; then go to the next length lay and go through every imaginable tip opening......etc.
How you play, what strength reed you use and what type of control you want are all factors to consider.
...........Paul Aviles
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-08-16 17:18
There is no rule that actually works for everyone because everyone is different. Embouchure, jaw strength, teeth formation, size, mouth size and opening and the list goes on and on. We're all different. And of course it depends of the tone you're looking for. Dark, full, brighter, richer. The only way to know what is best for you is to try. Once you think you have the best moutpiece for yourself you need to try a few different brands and strengths for find the one that fits you. Numbers are fine but they make very little difference when they don't make any sense for you once you actually play. Open facing, soft reed, closed facing, hard reed, maybe for some but there are far to many other things to consider. The length of the facing, the baffle, the rails, how much mouthpiece you take in your mouth and all the physicial traites I mentioned above.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Brad Behn
Date: 2014-08-16 18:03
Vandoren's facing length is obviously what they feel is the optimum length for their design and tip opening. If you have an issue with its performance, I would suggest he following:
First determine what elements in performance are flawed for you, then try to figure out the link between design and the performance.
I think both of the above comments are very good, and you can use that information to help guide you (especially Paul's).
So for an experimental example, if a random mouthpiece is too much to handle, then what is it about the mouthpiece which makes it difficult to manage? Assuming the reed is a good choice, simply play it with a neutral embouchure - don't try to make the mouthpiece play, but rather come at it with your personal posture, your ideal blow, and see what happens. I would venture a guess that you will find extra bite, too much resistance, and unreliable response. Then place a little paper shim under the reed's butt so as to change the opening of the tip-gap. If things get better, then you know that the facing is too open and it needs to be closed down and shortened for better playability,
But the interesting thing is that there is so much more than that. Opening is only one small facet of facing design. One can make a mouthpiece perform with a closer feel by altering its facing curve. If you make the facing with an arc which is larger - you will reduce resistance, and if you want to tailor resistance in a certain area, you can change from an arc-architecture to a parabolic-architecture. By lengthening the curve down at the break, one moves more to a parabolic architecture. But both options are viable choices and can create a more manageable experience without having to reduce or increase tip opening.
The first thing to ask is - resistance - too much (tight and inflexible), or too little (loose, wild and uncontrollable)?. If you want more resistance you can open the tip of the facing, thereby tightening or reducing the arc's radius. If you want to parabolize your curve by creating or reducing resistance in a certain place - then you can lengthen the point at which the break occurs or only open the tip without blending throughout the curve. In other words, you can customize resistances to alter how open or close the mouthpiece feels. And ultimately FEEL is extremely important.
Brad Behn
http://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com
Post Edited (2014-08-17 16:41)
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