Klarinet Archive - Posting 000457.txt from 1997/03

From: Neil Leupold <nleupold@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Vandoren american series mouthpieces.
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 11:20:28 -0500

On Fri, 14 Mar 1997, Jerry Korten wrote:

> Does anybody know what the "13" stands for in the american series mouthpieces
> by Vandoren? (eg B45-13, M13).

I have no authoritative information on this, but I seem to remember
something about this designation indicating a special compatibility
with the Buffet R-13 clarinet, as if the specifications of these
mouthpieces were somehow uniquely designed to produce especially
good results when used on an R-13 clarinet. My opinion? It's more
just a clever marketing ploy, where prospective buyers are sub-
consciously aware of the name connection between mouthpieces with
"13" in their name and their own R-13 clarinets, thus predisposing
them to buying one over a non-13 mouthpiece.

As an addendum to Jerry's question, perhaps somebody could
elaborate on the significance of the "lyre" desigation on
Vandoren's line of mouthpieces, i.e.; 5RV Lyre, M13 Lyre, etc.
Is it a closer facing?

Neil