Notes from Brad Behn:
Sumner mouthpieces were not well known, however their prowess as a true-Vintage ideal is formidable. This beautiful mouthpiece was manufactured from Sumner's exquisite in-house rubber formulation. Its resonance represents the ideal full body, rich overtone series, and wonderful ringing tone of the best mouthpieces of the post-war era. Vintage Kaspar buyers need not look any further as this mouthpiece is better—guaranteed!
This is a beautiful representation of a Sumner Acousticut 3 mouthpiece, and I restored it to a level better than the original. Its medium facing measures 1.07mm at the tip, and its length is 18mm. It is perfectly balanced, and it plays beautifully.
It is in nearly perfect condition—save for the slight scratch on the table. But not to worry as I fully restored this mouthpiece, and its facing is crisp, brand new, and highly responsive. The blemish on the table will not effect its performance in any way—guaranteed. In addition to its new facing, I removed some oxidation and replaced its tenon cork for a fresh start in its musical performance.
This beautiful Sumner was never used. It was found in mouthpiece maker Robert Miller's collection. He used it as a benchmark for his evaluations of what he should do in his craft. Miller never actually ended up making mouthpieces from scratch (he used Chedeville blanks to form his product line), whereas Sumner did. Sumner took mouthpieces to a true art form—from baking his own rubber formulation to hand finishing each of his mouthpieces to his ideal. This is a true work of art.
If you have been searching for a vintage Kaspar mouthpiece, you will save a lot of money, and you'll experience a better level of performance with this Sumner. It is made from rubber which is at least as good, its facing is meticulously applied and wonderfully responsive, and its sound is glorious. This mouthpiece is too good to sit in a box. It beckons to be played. It needs a companion in its artistry. It wants to be played!
Sumner Acousticut 3 Bb Clarinet Mouthpiece
Try it—if you like it, you can keep it. If not, send it back for a refund. Returned merchandise will only be accepted if postmarked within 7 days of the delivery date. All returned mouthpieces must be in original condition and packaging. Upon completion of inspection, your refund will be processed within one week of receipt. Any merchandise returned late or damaged will be considered sold and will be returned at your expense. Please contact us if you have special concerns.
If you qualify for free shipping but then return item(s) for a refund, your refund amount may be reduced by the amount of the original shipping cost.
