Klarinet Archive - Posting 000115.txt from 2001/08

From: EbKlarinet@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: Vandoren B45/46 mouthpieces
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 12:01:18 -0400

Robert asked the list:

<< I would like to receive your advise on the B-45 and B-46 Vandoren
>mouthpieces. Which of the two has more
>tip opening? Does this means that the more the tip opens the easier it is
>to play? I know that the B-45
>is one of the most famous mouthpieces around but I want to make sure wich
>of the two is more open and
>easier to play.

I would like to add to what others have said about these mouthpieces. They
really are too open for regular band or orchestral playing, assuming you want
to make a good legit sound. If you want to play in jazz band, or a dixieland
combo, they are fine. I have one, and that's what I use mine for. Also, I
think sax players who are doubling would be more comfortable, since the
opening feels more like what they are used to on sax.

The worse thing about these mouthpieces, however, is their inconsistency.
There is a huge range of openings on any 10 B45's that you might measure, and
that just shouldn't be! Maybe I would let my hs students play on them for
marching band (not really!) if they had an opening of 1.15, like they are
supposed to, but they can be as open as 1.20! DUDE----that is a jazz
opening! And you just don't know what opening you are getting unless you walk
into the store with some gauges and measure them!

Think of all the kids out there who run out and buy them because that's all
they know about, because that's what their band director learned in their
methods class 10, 15, or 20 years ago, when there were far fewer choices of
mass-produced professional-level mouthpieces available. Nowadays, we have
many more choices. I personally prefer, for mass-produced mouthpieces, the
Woodwind K series from Leblanc. They are more consistent and have more
finishing work done on them than Vandorens. Most of my students can play the
K10M, which is a nice medium mouthpiece, and then some of them move up to a
K5M or even a professional hand-made mouthpiece after that.

So Robert, you have lots of choices out there. Please try more than 2
mouthpieces made by one company and see what is good for you!

musically yours,
Elise Curran
Orlando, FL

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