Klarinet Archive - Posting 000805.txt from 2003/08

From: BEresman@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] the age old quest of finding the right mouthpiece.
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 12:50:37 -0400

Brooke Wilso Wrote:

>At the momment I am on the seemingly never ending quest to find a new
>mouthpiece. I've previously had a Vandoren b45 and am not happy with it.

>I've tried the Viotto and Charles Bay mouthpieces and I don't think either

>have really grabbed my attention. I've had the Pomerico crystal
mouthpieces
>suggested to me and am looking for some advise anyone might have, and
>perhaps some other suggestions regarding these or any other mouthpieces
>anyone knows something about.
>
and a couple suggestions have been made. I'm not going to add another
suggestion, as we've all discussed many suggestions before. However, i
would like to relate an experience from this past weekend.

I went to the Chicago area to visit relatives, and while i was there i
visited Walter Grabner. Last year he provided me with a couple of
wonderful soprano clarinet mouthpieces. This year i was on a quest for a
bass mouthpiece and also one for the Eb. Working with Walter is a great
deal of fun. He sat me down with three mouthpieces and he watched as i
tried each one. He guessed which one i liked best, and proceeded to make
it just a little better. After a couple of iterations, we both would agree
that it was time to stop. With both of the mouthpieces i brought home (as
with the soprano mouthpieces) i feel that i can more easily get the sound i
want, as well as more easily moving around the instrument, crossing
registers, and feeling secure that what i ask the instrument to do, it will
do. That is to say, the limitations i now face are probably all due to me
and not the equipment (brand of clarinet notwithstanding).

For me, these are the best mouthpieces i have found. I've not had the
opportunity to sit down with another maker in the recent past, nor, i
think, would i at this point. Not because i have found the "holy grail" of
mouthpieces and refuse to go on, but because i like so much what i have
that i fear i would be wasting someone else's time if i did so. I'd hate
to take up a couple of hours of Greg Smith's time, for example, if i ended
up not buying something, and i don't want to buy something just to ease my
conscience.

Of course, it *may* be better yet...

Brent Eresman
YSI Precision Temperature

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