Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-05-21 06:57
I like rdc's explanation posted on 2012-09-15 under the topic "Feeler and tip measurements Vandoren 5RV":
"Mouthpiece facings are measured using a system developed by Erick Brand, consisting of a glass plate marked off in half millimeters placed on the mouthpiece table. Four (for clarinet) feeler gauges of varying thicknesses are then placed one at a time between the plate and the mouthpiece and the measurements taken where each comes to a stop. The four feeler gauges, in thousandths of an inch, are .0015, .010, .024, and .034. Typical measurements might be 34, 22, 12, and 6 using these gauges. The numbers represent half millimeters, so the actual measurements are 17mm, 11mm, 6mm, and 3mm."
However, in the same thread, Vytas disagreed by writing:
"The system was developed in France long time before Erick Brand.
Mouthpiece facings are measured using a system ADAPTED by Erick Brand."
Now, whoever is correct isn't pertinent to this discussion. The Brand measuring system is pretty much embedded in just about all literature I've read about measuring mouthpiece facings.
So, what does a Brand 23 measurement mean? This is the point on the glass measuring gauge where the 0.0015" feeler gauge stops. (This point is actually 23/2=11.5mm from the tip.) This would be considered an ultra short facing length.
Per Vytas Krass on 2008-11-22 in the "British Mouthpiece Facing" thread:
AMERICAN STYLE LENGTH OF LAY (in millimeters)
15 - short
16 - medium short
17 - medium
18 - medium long
19 – long
20&up – very long
So if the author of the Pete Fountain article is correct, 11.5mm or Brand 23 would be an extremely short facing which coupled with a 0.047" tip opening would absolutely require a very soft reed to be playable.
I'm also quite sure that it is very well established that the shorter the facing...the easier it is to play the altissimo notes.
I hope this helps.
Post Edited (2022-05-21 07:48)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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