 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: curious
Date: 2003-08-07 11:39
Hite describes its Artist Model J as "preferred" by clarinet players who also double on sax. Not sure why that is, but
Can anyone give their their experience with this mouthpiece, particularly --but not only--- those of you who may also double on sax.
Any other good clarinet mouthpiece suggestions by those of you who may double on sax?
P.S. 1) I am a relative beginner and 2) am interested mainly in playing Jazz on both instruments.
Thanks
Post Edited (2003-08-11 05:16)
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-08-07 11:54
Like any other mouthpiece, find a place that will let you try it before purchase. Most any medium facing, medium tip opening should allow you to 'double' without too much accomodation between instruments.
What mouthpiece do you currently play? Try mouthpieces that aren't too wildly different from your current rig... something that will accept the same brand of reed within 1/2 strength of your current reed.
Big changes can make it difficult to sort out what works for you over time.
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Author: John Scorgie
Date: 2003-08-07 21:51
curious --
The explanatory test on the Hite website is probably the best general introduction to mouthpieces available on the www.
On their website, the Hites distinguish between a) clarinet players who double on sax and b) sax players who double on clarinet.
Most classically trained clarinet players prefer a mpce with a tip opening of ~.039" to ~.041", such as the Hite model D, whereas sax players who double on clarinet generally prefer a clarinet mpce slightly more open -- at least .043", such as the Hite model J, or even more open -- .047", such as the Vandoren B45.
No mystery here -- sax mpces, even for soprano, tend to be more open than clarinet mpces, so that sax players have less trouble adjusting to an "open" clarinet mpce than to a "close" one.
The low priced equivalent of the Hite model J is the Hite Premiere, which at about $30 is a true bargain and a great mpce for a sax player doubling on clarinet. They are designed for a medium strength reed.
BTW, although this fact is not widely acknowledged, Hite also makes excellent saxophone mpces.
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2003-08-08 03:34
I play a Hite "J" model with #3 Grand Concert Select reeds and am very pleased with it. Out of curiosity one day I bought a B45 but didn't think it played as well as my Hite so I gave it away. I haven't tried too many mouthpieces so It's not like I'm an expert, but I am pleased with the Hite.
For what it's worth, I ordered a Pomarico Sapphire crystal mouthpiece earlier this week just because I was curious about crystal. Something about the idea of a mouthpiece being crystal intrigued me enough to cough up $80. I've heard good things about it so I figured what the heck. I'm still waiting for it to arrive. It's not as though I were displeased with the Hite though.
Did I mention that I liked the Hite?
Bob Schwab
"The judgment of God has always come upon a nation when it is no longer acceptable to be a righteous man in that society." Ray Hughes
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2003-08-08 04:05
I am a sax player who only recently started on clarinet. I have a Hite Premier clarinet mouthpiece and I like it a lot. Very comfortable to play and a very nice sound. It is a medium opening. A 3 reed is recommended. I'm only up to a 2.5 and it does very well.
Leonard
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Author: curious
Date: 2003-08-09 07:17
Thanks for the tips. Glad to hear the good report on the Model J, as I do like Hite MPs. I started on a Premier and its been very good to me, but have given it lots of wear and tear and thought I'd "upgrade" to hard rubber and something more open to make transition to sax easier.
I wouldn't consider the Permier to be a very open.
When I do get a more open one, If not Jite J, then maybe a VD or a more open morgan... on VDs some folks seem not as impressed with B45 as others...but many on this board seem to have good things to say about B40 .... but that's even more open and am not sure if I would be ready for that. Are the more open mouthpieces a lot harder to play?
I bought a Vandoren 5RVL profile 88 and its very good but sounds/feels about the same as Premier (at more cost) and has similar opening anyway. Guess I could've saved my money. I did, however, find that switching to a BG super rev lig sounded very impressive on my jazz pieces (but too bright on more classical stuff my prof assigns.. where rovner dark sounds just right)
A bit hard to jodge the MPs, at the moment, because this HEAT WAVE in Europe's doing strange things. EITHER I'M GETTING WORSE FROM DAILY PRACTICING over the summer, or the heat is affecting responsiveness in some way. The air seems tight and squeaks abound... and thought I was long past that ...
By the way, I especially appreciate the advice 'cause trying and returning MPs (or anything else) here in Europe is not as easily done as in the US. And if I order some from the US to "try out", returning in them in the time alloted can be touch and go.
On that crystal mouthpiece, look forward to hearing how it went. Does seem an intriquing idea.
Post Edited (2003-08-11 04:44)
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2003-08-09 17:05
Curious
I do believe that the Hite "J" model is exaclty the same as the Premier except that the "J" model is made of hard rubber while the Premier is made of plastic. If you visit the Hite web site you'll see that the specs are exactly the same. So if you're already familiar with the Premier you already know what the "J" is like.
Bob Schwab
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-08-09 18:22
Bob Schwab wrote:
> I do believe that the Hite "J" model is exaclty the same as the
> Premier except that the "J" model is made of hard rubber while
> the Premier is made of plastic. If you visit the Hite web site
> you'll see that the specs are exactly the same.
I don't believe the chamber and baffle are identical. Tip opening and lay length are only 2 of the many parameters in mouthpiece design. See http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/MBL/Mouthpiece.html for a description of most of the parameters.
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Author: curious
Date: 2003-08-09 19:01
Funny, wwbw cataloge chart shows J as somewhat more open than the premier. I'll take another look at Hite's website.
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Author: skye
Date: 2003-08-11 00:21
I recently changed from a Vandoren 11.1 to a hite J, and I love it, loads of squeaks to start with, but I think it makes a really full and deep sound. I use it mainly for classical playing. I also play sax.
I noticed that the blurb mentioned using it for jazz, but I tried the D and thought it made a much thinner sound.
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Author: curious
Date: 2003-08-11 05:14
Skye,
Your not the first person that I've heard had trouble adapting to the Hite J at the beginning.... but who also said it was worth the effort. At this point, I'm leaning toward giving the the B40 a try, as well, though it could be quite an adjustment at first, too.
Maybe I'm being obsessive about this, but a couple of teachers have cautioned me that doubling is a tough road (i.e. tried to discourage me), so I'd like to make any useful adjustments, to the extent that equipment can help, to facilitate the task.
As I mentioned, while I tend to jazz, I the darker sound appeals to me and seems that using the BG s. rev ligature seems to brighten the tone giving the best of both.
Also, while the Hite J is not as well known as others, those of you who use it do give good reports.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-08-11 13:20
No professional player that I know uses either. Why do you have to have mouthpieces that are good for doubling. Doubling means playing 2 different instruments. You play a mouthpiece which works well on each horn and then YOU learn to double. There is no way that any specific mouthpiece, despite any manufacturers claim, is easier to use when doubling. If you believe that then the moon is made of cheese and santa claus is real.
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Author: skye
Date: 2003-08-11 23:15
I don't use it on sax, I use a Selmer C Star, and I do know professionals who use the Hite J model
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Author: curious
Date: 2003-08-12 03:22
Sure, professionals, by definition, have presumably reached a level of control that makes most of these issues irrelevant. If they can play an 8 MP on a sax, or clarinet, they just do it... regardless of that they play on the other instrument. For the rest of us souls somewhere on the first inch or two of the road to perfection, lots of practice and sharing advice on how to make that path a little smoother is useful.
And, I've definitely read about professionals who set up with the Hite premier (on clarinet, at least) , which is surprising since its advertised and priced as a student MP. Maybe they have learned from experience what the rest of us may eventually find out... that a good MP doesn't have to cost a lot.
Skye,
maybe a Sel C* or similar is a good idea for the Sax 'til I improve enough to better negotiate more open Jazz oriented MPs. I hadn't considered going much lower than a C**. C* is quite a bit less open than the MP that comes with my Yani, so maybe I should just put that one away for a while.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-08-12 18:04
I always liked what Larry Combs says about these issues, and that is you will tend to sound like yourself no matter the mouthpiece. Its rather an issue of being able to have control over the parameter and design of a mouthpiece...not whether or not some pro uses it or not.
Players used to laugh at anyone on a Kaspar in the 50s and yet it became the industry standard....the same goes with any design that is not the approved norm by the classical elite.
David Dow
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