Klarinet Archive - Posting 000235.txt from 2006/08

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] $650 mouthpieces???
Date: Sat, 19 Aug 2006 16:08:19 -0400


On Aug 19, 2006, at 2:32 PM, Bryan Crumpler wrote:

> So I'm just curious if anyone has ever actually tried the things, and
> if so, what their honest opinion is.
>
I haven't tried them, but if you search the BBoard, there are threads
about Brad Behn's mouthpieces and Backun's as well, along with a lot of
discussion of pricing structure.

My personal opinion is that if you have a professional playing job,
you'll try all kinds of equipment and buy what works best for you,
almost without regard for cost. For example, I bought a Backun bell at
ClarinetFest 2004 at U of Maryland. From a general point of view, I
thought the price for a bell (compared to what Yamaha might have
charged me, for instance) was a bit high. But it made my clarinet play
significantly better. I felt it when I played, and several sets of ears
that I trusted said they could hear the difference in a blind test. So
I swallowed hard, plunked down the money, and bought it (and kept the
credit card receipt from my wife!!). With the current price of that
bell, it's looking like a good investment! I'm not sorry I bought it. I
say that from the perspective of a performer, BTW, not as in
"investor"!

On Aug 19, 2006, at 3:20 PM, dnleeson wrote:

> At the bottom of Bryan's message is a link to his website, and
> which contains some clips of his playing. I listened to the
> Mozart quintet and the Copland Concerto. Very nice stuff even if
> it is played on a mouthpiece that doesn't cost $650.

Aw come on Dan - how good can it be if the mouthpiece didn't cost
$650?!?! ;-) The clarinet is probably blown out, too!!! ;-)

David

David B. Niethamer
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/index.html

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