Klarinet Archive - Posting 000257.txt from 2009/10

From: Diego Casadei <casadei.diego@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Clarinet Mouthpieces
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:28:08 -0400

Well, I'd like to comment that, _given_ that you are able to get the
sound that you like most without problems, it's better to couple a
harder reed with a closer mouthpiece than vice versa. A harder reed is
mechanically better than a weaker one, which degrades more quickly and
(on the average) tends to be richer in high harmonics (for those who
care, this means a "brighter" sound and a larger probability to squeak).

For practical reasons, I've been playing with Vandoren mouthpieces most
of my life. I like the "Profile 88" shape, which better fit to my
mouth, available for their most widely spread mouthpieces: I'm using it
since perhaps 20 years. The RV5 is an easy-emission good embochure,
even though I never played it for long time. Anyway, I would suggest
giving it a long (6 months) try, if you can. The B45 exists in several
flavours, so that it is generally possible to find some of them that is
comfortable to you: their sound is somewhat similar and I know many
people playing with it (I played different flavours for at least 15
years). If you look for a "darker" sound (=less rich in high frequency
harmonics) you may want to try the M30 or the B40. The latter is quite
open, so that you can not use the same reed strength as for B45 or M30,
which are not that much different (M30 is a bit harder to play, but not
very much). Of course, the instrument you play has a key role in the
game, and it could well be that none of them gives you a decent feeling
with it.

I hope this is useful. Best regards,
Diego

Bill Hausmann wrote:
> At 05:55 PM 10/24/2009, you wrote:
>
>> Hello. I have recently had trouble with my mouthpiece and reed setup,
>> so my clarinet tutor had me try some of his old ones(after he washed
>> them). Of those that he had me try, my favorites were the Ridenour(I
>> don't know which type) and the Vandoran B45. Unfortunately, now I am
>> rather disappointed with my own mouthpiece and hope to get a new one
>> sometime soon. I have been doing some research, and so far the ones
>> that seem the best to me(disregarding price) are the Behn, the
>> Ridenours, and the Vandorans. I would prefer a mouthpiece that is
>> rather closed, because I like to play higher level reeds. Please, I
>> would like any information available on mouthpieces.
>
> You may be thinking backwards. You like to play hard reeds BECAUSE your
> current mouthpiece is fairly closed, not the other way around. You
> should match the reed to the mouthpiece, but chose the mouthpiece to
> match the music you play. Classical performers tend to use relatively
> closed facings and hard reeds, but jazz players use open facings and
> softer reeds, with band performers usually in the middle. The B45 is
> actually relatively open, but keep in mind it is by no means the only
> model Vandoren makes, and some are much more closed.
>
> Personally (and I stress PERSONALLY) I cannot play Vandoren mouthpieces
> in tune to save my life. Every one I have ever tried goes flat as I
> approach the altissimo. Maybe it is just because I do not play a Buffet
> clarinet. I do not have the problem on Selmer, Woodwind, Hite, or
> pretty much anything EXCEPT Vandorens. Go figure.
>
>
>
> Bill Hausmann

--

Diego Casadei, PhD.
Physics Department, CERN
New York University bld. 32, S-A19
4 Washington Place 1211 Geneve 23
New York, NY 10003 Mailbox J28310
USA Switzerland
office: +1-212-998-7675 office: +41-22-767-6809
mobile: +39-347-1460488 mobile: +41-76-213-5376
http://cern.ch/casadei/ Diego.Casadei@-----.ch
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