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Re: Mouthpieces!!!

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-07-29 06:31

Mouthpieces are for the most part much more consistent than they used to be "back in the day." However, I have run into one brand that is just plain scary in consistency. That would be the CNC machined acrylic mouthpieces of ESM (the ones I love are the MCK-1 facings). However Vandoren has gotten to the point where you have to try out a bunch to find one that might not work (the others of a particular facing playing as you'd expect).

I have admitted on this Board that I tend to "move along" pretty regularly from one piece of equipment to another, but I do not endorse this behavior. I've heard far better results from players that develop the sort of familiarity that with their set up that can only come from years of "locking in." So, I wish I didn't tend that way.

I don't know about "voicing and tuning" per se, but there are some fine mouthpiece folks such as Greg Smith (also a fine player of course) who will refine the facing to the point where the response becomes amazing at any point where the reed vibrates (even at the hardest point to get right which is at the very tip that is engaged mostly in the altissimo). If there is any voicing or tuning that can be done for you, it must be done with you sitting down with the mouthpiece guy and working out the kinks in real time. No one can play the mouthpiece for you.

................Paul Aviles

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Mouthpieces!!! new

bbillings

2015-07-28 21:51