The mouthpiece is the motor of an instrument, which gives it its overall timbre and pitch.
The mouthpiece begins with a “blank.” These blanks are molded from an extremely hard material obtained from rubber, called ebonite.
The outside shaping of the mouthpiece is done on an automatic forming lathe specially designed for Vandoren. It is crucial to locate the exact center of the mouthpiece when using the lathe. Each model is individually checked for appearance and precise dimensions following each step.
Each mouthpiece is polished to a brilliant finish. Then, the grinding of the facing begins. From this moment forward, the mouthpieces are sorted into families. Next, the clarinet mouthpieces receive their cork. Carefully selected cork is used to ensure both durability and precision.
The final adjustment of the facing is done by staged diamond cutting tools. The tolerances of 4/10,000 of an inch are so small that, to maintain precision, the table is not polished.
“Professional musicians test mouthpieces for quality, sound, and pitch.”
Each mouthpiece is hand finished
Each mouthpiece is hand finished at the baffle, walls, and tip rail. Master craftsmen finish and adjust each mouthpiece to surpass the most critical examinations of professional musicians.
The mouthpieces are polished one last time (except the facing area) to eliminate marks and imperfections. The Vandoren name is then stamped in gold on the mouthpiece along with the model number.
Professional musicians test mouthpieces for quality, sound, and pitch.
The mouthpieces are checked one last time and then packaged to be shipped worldwide.