Klarinet Archive - Posting 000099.txt from 2003/08

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Mouthpiece selection - from a B45 to ??
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2003 22:43:58 -0400

At 04:25 PM 8/5/2003 -0400, Jeremy A Schiffer wrote:
>Klarinet folks,
>
>I can no longer tolerate the bad intonation on my primary mouthpiece, so I
>think the time has come to replace it.
>
>The mouthpiece I play on now is a modified Vandoren B45. Let's leave out
>the modified part though, and concentrate on the B45 aspect.
>
>For those who play on or have played on B45s, but couldn't tolerate the
>sharpness (or the flatness in the throat tones to compensate...), where
>did you look from there?
>
>The primary thing I'm looking for is a 'big' easy sound. I like the
>free-blowing nature of the B45, especially for klezmer, which is much of
>what I play now. I don't like to have to struggle against my equipment to
>produce a good volume.
>
>So, for those who did play on (and liked) the B45, what plays similarly,
>but with better intonation?
>
>This is an important enough issue for me that I will not spare any expense
>to find the right mouthpiece. Though I don't want to spend a fortune, I
>need to play in tune more than I need to save money.

I used to play a B45, and liked the tone, but also had intonation issues
with it, mostly in the altissimo. I currently play a (Leblanc) Woodwind
K10M, which is a medium-facing mouthpiece, on which I use a Mitchell Lurie
3 1/2 reed (and a Selmer clear mouthpiece patch!). It is not quite as
free-blowing perhaps, but intonation is excellent. I also use a Selmer C85
115 as my jazz mouthpiece (currently with a too-soft 2 1/2 Legere and
Selmer patch). Its 1.15mm facing is a little more open than the K10M
(1.0mm), so it is a bit freer-blowing and stronger-toned, and intonation is
still quite good. The K10M is a relative bargain at $82 list vs. the $115
or so for the Selmer.

Hope this helps.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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