Klarinet Archive - Posting 000009.txt from 2004/09

From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Stock mouthpieces (was re: selecting a Clarinet)
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 16:08:55 -0400

I can add that I have played on a B45 for about 10 years now and I
absolutely love it. When I got it, I ordered 3 of them from the =
Woodwind
and the one I have was very clearly the best one of the bunch at that =
time.
The other 2 were very disappointing and others who helped me choose the
mouthpiece and listened to me play on a variety of mouthpieces agreed =
with
me hands down that this B45 was very different from the other 2 B45s I
tried, as well as the other brands.
I suppose it's a bit like trying on 5 pairs of pants in the same =
size
and finding that only one of them fits well. I worked my way through
college with summer factory jobs and one thing I know is that the mass
manufacturing process is often a very inexact one and there are often =
many
variables in the finished product. Those tiny variables just happen to =
make
a big difference in the response and sound from a clarinet mouthpiece.
At the moment I'm in the process of choosing a new mouthpiece, since
that old B45 is getting a little worn. I may consider having it refaced =
but
I do need to have more than one or two mouthpieces that work well for =
me.
All it takes is one drop to the floor and you're left with nothing. I =
also
have a Larry Combs mouthpiece I acquired somewhere along the line but =
it's
not as responsive for me as my trusty B45. I also have a few =
mouthpieces
that are good for nothing except perhaps to feed the garbage can but I =
keep
them in my dead mouthpiece/reed "grave." =20
I have a Nova mouthpiece on my eefer from Clark Fobes that I love! =
Even
after overhauling that instrument, the Nova mouthpiece made all the
difference in the world. I've ordered several of Walter Grabner's new
Kaspar style mouthpieces and I'm anxious to try those out too.
This summer I got myself a saxophone with a Selmer C* mouthpiece =
and so
far, I'm happy with it. However, I'm certain that if I started
experimenting with various reed/mouthpiece combinations I may find =
something
that works better, even though I've been told that there isn't quite so =
much
variation with saxophone mouthpieces. =20

Christy

>=20
> FWIW, I've been playing a Vandoren B40 for the better part of a decade
> now... I bought it in college and I've loved it ever since. I've =
tried
> going to other mouthpieces many times over the past years and every =
time I
> find something I think I like I end up ditching it for the Vandoren =
again.
> Some of these mouthpieces are quite good, but in the end, the one I
> currently play is the one that has worked for me for a long time now.
>=20
> -Ben
>=20
>=20
> Benjamin Maas
> Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
> Los Angeles, CA
> http://www.fifthcircle.com

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