Klarinet Archive - Posting 000130.txt from 2010/01

From: "Dan Leeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Open mouth and get into trouble
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:01:43 -0500

Michelle writes: "How's a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece for the alto? Any good?"

I am always puzzled by such questions, this one by Michelle Guajardo. There
is simply no known answer to that question in terms of consistency of
mouthpiece, coupled with the fact that a mouthpiece is highly dependent on
the player's mouth, teeth, lips, etc.

If the answer to the question was, "Yes. The Vandoren B45 mouthpiece is
good" and Michelle got one, it could be very unsatisfying for her. Perhaps
the blank was warped. Perhaps the player who praised it was trying to
demonstrate that he or she knows something about mouthpieces, when, in fact
that person a high school freshman who was showing off.

In the matter of mouthpieces, no one in the world is as expert in telling
you what might be good for you other than yourself. By asking this kind of
question, you demonstrate your insecurities about mouthpieces. There is
nothing wrong with saying, "I need help in getting a good alto clarinet
mouthpiece. Would some kind person who really knows something help me?"

So what you should do is to write to a mouthpiece maker such as Clark Fobes
in San Francisco, and see if he would allow you to try one or two of his
mouthpieces. It has been too long since I got a mouthpiece from him to say
that his products are reliable, but I can say that he is a reliable person.
You pay him, get the mouthpieces, and if you don't like them, you send them
back and get your money back. If you like them both, keep them. And if
your are split in your appreciation of them, send back the one that you are
uncertain about. Of course, I don't know if Clark does this, but it doesn't
hurt to ask.

And Clark may even go to the trouble of personally picking out two
mouthpiece out for you, trying them, and being comfortable with his product.
But that does not mean that YOU will like them. Your head, jaw, mouth
interior, teeth, gums, etc. are very different from Clark's.

Bottom line: stop asking if this or that mouthpiece or clarinet or reed or
music stand is good. Either get yourself to the point where you can trust
your own judgment, or give up clarinet and take up accordion. Insofar as
mouthpieces go, being rich doesn't hurt.

Dan Leeson

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michelle Guajardo" <michel470@-----.com>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 6:19 PM
Subject: RE: [kl] alto clarinet reeds

How's a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece for the alto? Any good?

Michelle Guajardo
God Bless You!

'All music is folk music, I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.' - Louis
Armstrong

-----Original Message-----
From: kurtheisig@-----.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 2:35 PM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: Re: [kl] alto clarinet reeds

It depends on if your mouthpiece is cut for real alto clarinet reeds or for
alto sax reeds.

The best results are with a real alto clarinet set-up.
Of course a bad mthpc is a bad mthpc whichever style it was made for, so
that is critical.

What do you have for a mthpc?

We specialize in alto clarinet, and do custom rebuilds, make mouthpieces and
have over 1,000 real alto clarinet reeds in stock. Good aged cane.

Contact me off-list, or better, call me, and I will be glad to go over alto
clarinet foibles and fine points.

Alto clarinet, set up right with good reeds and mthpc is a fantastic
instrument. It can really make a clarinet section in a band sound great. One
good alto clarinet can make a 12 clarinet section sound wonderful.

Kurt

Kurt Heisig Music
Home of the Heisig-Hastings Band
856 Lighthouse Av
Monterey, California
93940

(831) 920 - 1883

-----Original Message-----
>From: Bob and Deborah Shaw <theshaws10@-----.net>
>Sent: Jan 19, 2010 4:26 PM
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: [kl] alto clarinet reeds
>
>What reeds do you all use for alto clarinet?
>Deborah
>
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