I started making my own mouthpieces out of necessity when I started performing on original instruments from the late 19th century, and gradually branched out into making mouthpieces for all types of historical clarinets, basset horns, and bass clarinets. My mouthpieces are based on careful measurements of German, Viennese, and French surviving originals. I typically make my mouthpieces out of grenadilla, ebony, and occasionally rosewood, though baroque clarinet mouthpiece-barrels are made in boxwood. All mouthpieces are hand-finished with specific attention paid to baffle concavity, chamber and bore dimensions, and facing curve, resulting in an extremely responsive playing experience. While I generally suggest my own “personal” facing for most players, I can customize facing lengths and tip openings to suit any player’s needs.

My mouthpieces are turned from billets of wood on the lathe, then initial windows are milled before the rest of the internal dimensions are finished by hand. I use a variety of commercially available and custom made hand tools to achieve a smooth baffle and transition into the throat and main bore of the mouthpiece which is critical to allowing forked and cross fingerings to speak clearly and openly. Once the final facing is applied and the desired voicing is achieved, I apply multiple coats of a very thin food-grade shellac using a “French Polish” technique to seal the bore and exterior of the mouthpiece after the facing is applied to “freeze” the facing in place to prevent warping after repeated changes in moisture due to playing.

My mouthpieces are compatible with a variety of German and Viennese reeds (and French Eb reeds as well) that are most typically used by 21st century performers on historical clarinet including Vandoren, Rico/D’Addario, Steuer, Pilgerstorfer, Peter Leuthner, and Foglietta. I typically recommend using a very light reed (1.5-2.0) strength for best results and intonation, particularly for forked notes and the half-hole low B-Natural.

For players requiring refacing or adjustment after several years, I provide free refacing of my own mouthpieces and offer adjustment of mouthpieces by other makers for a nominal fee.