Clarinet Mouthpieces

I make clarinet mouthpieces using blanks (sometimes called shells) of the highest quality, from several different suppliers.

The advantage of using blanks from several sources is that I can make a clarinet mouthpiece that is tailored for what you do.

A studio musician needs a mouthpiece that is stable and able to play very softly in the high register, with no strain in the sound, yet play full when required.

Studio musicians generally work in a room that is open sounding, with not much reverberation, as the reverberation is controlled electronically. A baffle inside the mouthpiece that generally sits further from the reed, helps produce a sound that complements this situation.

A symphonic musician requires a mouthpiece that will get the sound to the back of the room and symphony halls generally have more reverberation. A mouthpiece with the baffle closer to the reed generally creates more of a compact center to the sound that can punch through the reverberating room.

A jazz musician, many times, is playing very close to a microphone and as such, the sound is being artificially amplified. The way the jazz musician plays is more personal, because of the amplification, and that musician must find a mouthpiece that complements the volume that amplification creates.

A theater musician most likely is playing in a pit with rugs on the floor and curtains all around. This dead sound environment requires a specialized mouthpiece and reed setup as well.

Clarinet Mouthpieces for Your Sound

Each musician has a sound in their head that they want to create for their particular purpose. The job of the clarinet mouthpiece maker thus becomes making it easier for the musician to attain his or her concept of sound. That is, to make clarinet mouthpieces that sing in the style desired.

Generally the length of the facing and opening at the tip of the mouthpiece contribute to comfort and the interior contributes to sound quality. That being said, it is the combination of interior dimensions, tip opening, facing length, the side rails and tip rail, the window, and a variety of other factors including material, that contribute to the total sound and comfort package of the clarinet mouthpiece.

Clarinet performers have always shunned the idea of any kind of material added to their mouthpiece. They want it like it came from the factory or custom mouthpiece maker. In many cases, molding some epoxy in a clarinet mouthpiece in the proper place can dramatically improve the mouthpiece.

Black epoxy and paint are available too. When done by a professional mouthpiece maker, it is a specialized technique that can be used to get the interior dimensions customized to work for you – not to mention save you money so you don’t have to buy a new mouthpiece, or a series of clarinet mouthpieces. While not done often, this can be effective in certain cases!

At Mike Vaccaro Sax and Clarinet Mouthpieces, I work with you and your playing needs to make a clarinet mouthpiece specific for you that will make your job easier.

Contact me TODAY to discuss your needs.