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"Step" from throat to chamber

Author: Bill
Date: 2022-02-07 04:02
Attachment: s-l1600 (1).jpg (111k)

Any thoughts on the "step" between the throat and chamber of some old and fine mouthpieces? Attached is an example. In my experience, this tends to be the sign of a promising old mouthpiece. They are good rather than bad.

Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)

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Re: "Step" from throat to chamber

Author: Max S-D
Date: 2022-02-09 20:50

I've noticed that in the Selmer Concept bass and soprano clarinet mouthpieces that I've got. I also have a Fobes 10K bass clarinet mouthpiece that has a similar step from the throat to the chamber. It's impossible for me to isolate exactly the difference it makes based on playing these mouthpieces, but I quite like all of them.

Of course, I also like a lot of mouthpieces that don't do this. I suppose everything has to add up, regardless of any specific design trait.

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Re: "Step" from throat to chamber

Author: Chris P
Date: 2022-02-09 21:30

That's also seen on many sax mouthpieces (especially Selmer S80 mouthpieces) where there's a step between the tonechamber and the bore when most clarinet mouthpieces have a smooth transition with no step from the tonechamber to the mouthpiece bore at the top side. I haven't seen any clarinet mouthpieces like that.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Re: "Step" from throat to chamber

Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2022-02-09 22:18

The Selmer Echo Bb mouthpiece has a similar step from the throat to the chamber (perhaps 1-2mm?) that matches the curve of the chamber wall.

I don’t know what effect this has, but the Echo has become my favorite mouthpiece!

Bob Barnhart

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