Klarinet Archive - Posting 000268.txt from 1997/08

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: mouthpiece and reed freaks
Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 15:12:53 -0400

In regard to the comments by GT and others, I would like to express my
personal beliefs and experience.

I regularly play my Bb, A, Eb soprano, and bass clarinets in local amateur
groups. I now make my living in the computer industry, but I played
professionally for 10 years out of college.

It's true, the Vandoren B45 is a good, solid, basic mouthpiece. I own several
of them. However, to get the flexibility AND depth of tone I wanted/required,
it was absolutely necessary to go to an established mouthpiece maker. I chose
Robert Borbeck, of Nevada. He made me my three mouthpieces Bb/A, Eb soprano,
and Bass, with an eye for uniformity of feel, resistence etc.

After a few days of practise, my playing inproved greatly in uniformity of
sound, flexibilty of dynamics and range, and speed of articulation. These
mouthpieces took me to a new level of playing which no matter how much I
practised on the B45 mouthpieces I just could not reach!

Recent adoption of Rovner ligatures and Vandoren V-12 reeds have also had a
very salutary effect.

In my opinon, a fine clarinet is a joy.....but the sound....the tone.....is
made by the embouchure/mouthpiece/reed/ligature combination. I couldn't
disagree more with Mr. GT.

I make no claim that my current set-up is the "one" for anyone but myself.
But to say everyone should just stop their search and all play on one
mouthpiece is as ridiculous as saying we should all wear the same size shoes!