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Re: Variation in mouthpiece designs

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-02-03 03:02

The basic concepts of facing length and opening as it relates to reed strength really helps to cut down on the gobbledy gook (maybe). If you take a given facing and increase the tip opening, you would increase the resistance on a given reed OR need to use increasingly weaker reeds to compensate. If you take a given opening and DECREASE the length of the facing (or lay), you increase the resistance, or need to use increasingly softer reeds to compensate.

You can see where you can get the same resistance with a larger opening and a longer lay. One reason to prefer a larger tip opening is that with a larger tip opening it is easier to alter pitch with your lip/jaw. This is handy for jazz and vibrato. The reason to go the other way (smaller opening and shorter facing) is that the control you cede to the mouthpiece, the easier it is the obtain consistent pitch and timbre throughout the horn. There is a tendency for classical players to tend in that direction.

I prefer to know at least those two basic parameters and think of it as sliding scales of control. That way you can think of the dimensions as more of something or less of something rather than just a distinct measurement.

Should make it easier.

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

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