The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: davedmg
Date: 2005-12-08 02:23
I am a 68 year old clarinet novice.
I recently bought a Fobes Debut clarinet mouthpiece to add to my collection of gizmos acquired in my search for Better Tones. I just noticed that its tip edge is bigger on one side than the other. Its rails are also of different widths. Is this as it should be? -- Old Dave, Still Trying After All These Years
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Author: Merlin
Date: 2005-12-08 02:36
How does it play?
If the answer is "Good", don't worry about it. If you want something approaching perfection, buy one of Fobe's pro pieces. Visual symmetry is nice, but you can't see it with a reed in place.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-12-08 02:40
I have/had many students using Clark Fobes' Debut mouthpiece and actually have a few new ones on the shelf in my studio.
I just rechecked the few that I have and both rails are the same width and the tip is shaped evenly.
If it is new, the mouthpiece you have is different than all the ones I have ever seen.
If it doesn't play correctly for you, I would contact Clark. It's something I'm sure he would like to know about.
I'm guessing he'll make it right for you ...GBK
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Author: KellyA
Date: 2005-12-08 03:26
I recently purchased a Fobes CF+ mouthpiece. It is almost symetrically perfect, but not quite. The important thing is how it plays. This mouthpiece is the best all around mouthpiece I have ever played. It is amazing. The response to dynamic control is wonderful. I can play pp in the upper clarion and altissimo without air and fuzz, and the tone is pure throughout the ranges. You can also use harder reeds without cramping your lips after 2 minutes of playing! I play a Buffet Tosca with a chadash barrel, eddie daniels rovner ligature, and I use a 3.5 gonzalez FOF reed. I recently aquired a 1937 buffet (pre-R13) off ebay and stuck the fobes mouthpiece on it, the mouthpiece made the clarinet resonate really well with more warmth and character than the "old style" bore was designed for. I'm anxious to try Clark's barrels next.
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Author: davedmg
Date: 2005-12-08 15:54
Guys (Girls, too):
Thanks for the advice. I have just sent an email to Clark Fobes because I don't know if the mouthpiece plays well: I am a novice. -- Dave
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2005-12-08 16:03
Do you know any clarinetists that can check this out for you? If not, you might consider cultivating a relationship with an instructor or the local community band. I can't think of a faster and (usually) more enjoyable way to learn how to play an instrument.
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
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