[Trombone-l] Assessing mouthpieces

[Ray Horton]

I used to mark mouthpieces like this.  I never clocked them, I would 
just mark them after a session in which I felt I had played unusually 
well, then stick to that location.  Dumb guys way, I guess. 


Once, when I had a hard, loud, low part on a recording session, during 
the break before that piece, I rotated the mouthpiece until I found a 
spot that worked the best for the low part.  (That was back when I was 
using a smaller mouthpiece, anyway.  Give that part to me now with my 
Laskey!)


I haven't done any of this stuff with my Laskey.  Hmm...


Raymond Horton


Wayne Dyess wrote:
> On Jan 7, 2008, at 5:23 PM, Daniel Pliskin wrote:
>
>   
>> I've said this before and I'll say it again.  Try an experiment.   
>> Try clocking your mouthpiece.  Set it in the receiver with the logo  
>> facing out, as a reference point.  Play it for a while.  Then turn  
>> the mouthpiece about 45 degrees and try it again.  Most mouthpieces  
>> are out of round, to the point where there is a preferred rotation  
>> of the mouthpiece, where you like the tone the best.  You might  
>> want to mark your mouthpiece, so that you always insert it with  
>> that best rotation.
>>
>> But also, this points out how the tiniest change in a mouthpiece  
>> makes a world of difference.  So if you take the next size lettered  
>> drill and take out some of the back-bore, you may well have gone  
>> past that sweet spot, you were looking for.  Numbered drills are a  
>> better bet, because there are more sizes.
>>     
>
>
> This is a good idea, I agree.  We all strive to get the best  
> mouthpiece, the best instrument, even the best slide lubricant.  By  
> "clocking" your mouthpiece, you have just added that much more  
> stability to your playing.  It'll be the same every time.  I've been  
> doing this since talking to a friend of mine about what I saw him  
> doing in his warm-up... he was turning the mouthpiece just so.   
> Dennis Dotson (formerly with Woody Herman), who had "stolen" the idea  
> from the principal player of the Houston Symphony.  I've been  
> "clocking" myself ever since.
>
> Or maybe I've been clogging.
>
> Whatever it is... I'm more consistent.
>
> :-)
> Wayne
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Trombone-l mailing list
> Trombone-l at samford.edu
> http://maillists.samford.edu/mailman/listinfo/trombone-l
>
>
>