Mouthpieces Explanation of Mouthpiece Chamber vs. Bore

arya44 · Dec 21, 2012

Hi there,
I really didn't realize the impact of bore difference so much. I was more focusing on the chamber impact. I must admit I don't quite know the impact of either of them.
I bought a Dukoff LD7 recently and I got a comment about it:
" it is quite unique; full sized chamber with a very open baffle in a medium bore piece. Bob Carpenter said it was a great Dukoff."
So if the baffle is low (does it mean open based on above comment?) does it mean the chamber is big. For instance the mouthpieces like Dukoff D that the baffle is high and long, it takes away from the chamber so the chamber is small, right?
Now, how the bore could be different. I thought it has to come out to match the neck. Does the large bore mean they find a tool to carve the inside of the mouthpiece, or they drill or cast large and then they choke it at the end to match the neck?
What are the sound differences between large bore and medium / small bore?
Can you give me examples of the mouthpieces that have large bore and medium or small chamber, or all large? How about small bore and large chamber? What are the sound quality differences in different combinations of bore and chamber sizes? I brought up the issue of role over baffle vs. long high baffle with the sudden drop to the chamber. How could that play a role in the sound in combination with the chamber and bore?
I know it sounds a lot of issues are raised about the mouthpiece design. I just want to have my head wraped around the subject properly so I have a better idea for my future approach.
The other comment I got was also highlighting the impact of mouthpiece on a large bore horn. So I guess that's another variable to be added to the combination.
Please help.
Thanks.
A

sushidushi · Dec 21, 2012

I don't know if this helps...?

http://theowanne.com/knowledge/mouthpiece-glossary

sushidushi · Dec 21, 2012

The bore size can vary a bit between mouthpieces. They're not going to be hugely different to the naked eye, but some are certainly looser on the neck cork than others. There are threads on the forum about people having to sand the neck cork to accommodate a mouthpiece. This could potentially cause difficulties if you have two mouthpieces that you wish to use on one saxophone (separately, of course 😉 ).

I'll let the clever people here answer your main questions...

Pete Thomas · Dec 21, 2012

People seem to use the term "bore" to mean either the diameter of the shank or the diameter of the chamber. I always thought the bore of the shank was defined by the need to fit the neck.

Sometimes it is filled completely by the neck, if not then the bore between neck and chamber is like an extension of the chamber I suppose, but you don't get very much difference in dimension due to the need to fit the neck, as mentioned.

It is the chamber, baffle and rail curve that will have affect sound and intonation. I haven't before heard the term "open baffle" but your assumption it means low makes sense.

thomsax · Dec 21, 2012

The Dukoff LD chamber metal mouthpieces are shorter and thicker compared to the D chamber. Not much but ... .When I changed from LD to D/X chamber I had to replace the neckcork so maybe the bore is bigger on LD mouthpieces.

A Dukoff D chamber soprano mouthpiece has a diameter of 14 mm and the length of the bore is 37,5 mm.
A Selmer metall soprano mouthpiece has a diameetr of 13,5 mm and the length of the bore is 42 mm.

The Selmer mouthpiece is what we call a classic mouthpiece and gives a darker sound. The Dukoff is a highbaffle with more edge sound. The Selmer is longer than the Dukoff !!!!!

Thomas

sushidushi · Dec 21, 2012

I was referring to the bore of the shank, given that the original poster seemed to be drawing a distinction between bore and chamber. The bore does of course have to be appropriate to the instrument outt is being affixed to, but some mouthpieces are certainly a bit looser on the cork than others.

My guess would be that the length of the bore could make a bit of difference, depending on how much was left after it was pushed on to the neck cork, or how far the neck protuded in to the main baffle, but to what extent or how I couldn't even begin to guess.