Klarinet Archive - Posting 000232.txt from 2003/11

From: "Ken Wolman" <kwolman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bass Clarinet mouthpieces
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 09:23:30 -0500

John Hansken wrote:

> I've been recently inquiring about Bass Clarinet mouthpieces and for the
> most part people have been saying I should try a Selmer C*.
> As for crossing the break, if the horn is regulated correctly just use a lot
> more air.
>
> John

The guy who sold me my bass suggested a Selmer Paris D to start me off.
It's still my preferred mouthpiece. For student/parents it might be a
bit pricey, however. I've got a Pomarico (gosh, I can't imagine why...)
that is not terribly expensive at all and works wonderfully with harder
reeds: mine, however, demands fabric or leather ligatures because metal
seems not to adhere to the crystal. Yamaha has a really nice one for
about $25 that would probably be a really nice option, and the Vandoren
B46 combines with a 1.5 Hemke tenor sax reed to allow for bending the
notes and for huge volume--its drawback (for me) is problems in the
upper registers: the bottom notes rattle windows, but you really have to
fight for high notes.

I'm not sure who mentioned this just now, but back in '99 when I first
began fooling with the bass, someone suggested you've got to "mouth"
more of the mouthpiece, and that this may even have a salutary effect on
how you transfer back to the soprano.

Ken
--
Kenneth Wolman
Proposal Development Department
Room SW334
Sarnoff Corporation
609-734-2538

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