 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Paul Green
Date: 2009-07-07 18:09
I am interested in trying the Pyne bel canto mouthpiece. Does anyone have an opinion on what they sound like, and how they respond? I am now using a Vandoren M30 mouthpiece, which I like, but I think I would prefer something with a more full sound, and maybe more resonance.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-07-07 18:29
Paul, the only way you will know if it's what you're looking for is to order a few on a trial basis. What someone else says about it for them will probably not be the same for you. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-07-07 18:38
I didn't like it. But I'm not really a fan (anymore) of very closed mouthpieces. To me, it's getting up there with $$$ that really isn't necessary to spend on a mouthpiece.
And for comparison purposes, I switch between an M30 and a Tom Ridenour mouthpiece depending on how the reed is acting. So I'm comfortable with an M30.
Not worth the 400!!! or so bucks IMO if you are comfortable and like the M30.
If you don't mind spending that much money, you'd be better served getting a customized mouthpiece from many of the makers on this board. Maybe there's one that you can drive to. If they're not within driving distance, I've dealt with Walter Grabner, Richard Hawkins, and most recently, Chris Hill and all have been positive. Unfortunately, I wasn't comfortable with their mouthpieces (despite playing a Hawkins for a VERY long time I found something a little more comfortable), but they were great to work with and worked with me nicely through emails/phone calls.
My next goal is to wait till I get back to the states, maybe get stationed on the East Coast somewhere, and take a trip to Ben Redwine and see what he can do for me, and maybe (if I can convince the woman) swing by WWBW on the way there or back and try out some horns....
Alexi
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-07-07 18:56
Alexi, all those names you mentioned are all very well respected and of course there are so many more as well. My experience with finding the best mouthpiece is simply to try as many makes and models as you can. Once you find the one you like best you should try several of those because each and every one is slightly different. Making an appointment with one of the fine MP makers is always a good idea if you can't find the "perfect" one but you should at least have an idea of whose product you like. It can get awfully expensive traveling from maker to maker and spending time with them. I'm not sure how many of them will spend a few hours with you and not charge anything. Trying them on a trial basis if you can't go to a store that stocks many types, only costs you postage and "restocking" fees. In a few months one can probably try dozens for less than a hundred dollars.
I've always stocked ten to twenty different mouthpieces and facings for my students to try to save them the time and expense. I was also being selfish because I wanted them to have the best MP for them, something I learned from Leon Russianoff. Once we choose what we both thought was the best I usually had them, or me, order several to pick the best of the lot. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-07-07 19:31
I've been doing some mouthpiece searching (my personal never-ending quest I'm sure) mostly via mail. But I'm going to be driving through the east coast to drive home when I get back anyway. So I figured I'd contact Mr. Redwine and see if he can accomodate me during the time I'll be traveling (whenever that may be).
Otherwise, the other makers, I've ordered and used through mail and they have all been very helpful and understanding. I've since found that I just don't really like Kaspar style mouthpieces (none of the 10 - 20 that I've tried have really made me feel extremely at ease playing them) and I seem to prefer zinner blanks over babbit. So still more searching, including, but not limited to crystal mouthpieces (had a great one, refaced Fred Rast), but I was stupid and it the beak shattered. The next one I had refaced from him just wasn't the same (the original MP probably wasn't as good).
But as stated above, try a bunch. You'll find one that you feel very comfortable with, and order a few more of THAT make and model.
For me, that was the M30. It's not perfect, but it's cheap and plenty available everywhere. And for a sub-$100 mouthpiece, I think it's great. If mine chips or warps or anything, I can easily find and buy another and have confidence it'll be pretty comfortable.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2009-07-07 19:32)
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2009-07-07 21:44
I had a Bel Canto....sold it. It was sluggish in response...I think I returned it for a touch up but it didn't help.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-07-07 23:00
Arnoldstang wrote:
> I had a Bel Canto....sold it. It was sluggish in
> response...I think I returned it for a touch up but it didn't
> help.
>
That's what I found about it too. Coming from an M30, you may find the same. If you can find one for trial through some music store, go ahead. Won't cost much like stated above. If anything, you can say that, "Yeah. I've tried out a four hundred dollar mouthpiece"
Alexi <- dying to get to a clarinetfest so he can at least say he tried out some more expensive, exotic clarinets/mouthpieces.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-07-08 00:02
Though I don't play on it the M30 is a very good mouthpiece. I've had several students that sounded very good on them. ESP
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2009-07-08 00:19
Arnoldstang said
"I had a Bel Canto....sold it. It was sluggish in response...I think I returned it for a touch up but it didn't help".
As you might not know there was a person here on the board who got a custom mouthpiece from Pyne and she found it awful and blamed it on the maker. Got another one and was still very unsatisfied with it. In the end Pyne gave up and told her if I remember not to order his mouthpieces.
What came out that thread is that Pyne makes his mouthpieces asymmetrical faced so the sides have a different opening. To be able to play on that kind of a facing(I don't know the advances of this kind of facing) you need to have a very good skill in reed balancing.
So the mouthpiece might not have been sluggish in response but the reed might have and it lacked being balanced to the facing.
I would personally think that balancing the reed to a balanced facing to be easier than balancing a reed to unbalanced facing.
Tom Ridenour has talked a lot about it both on his website and I think also in his book the Educators Guide to the Clarinet.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2009-07-08 02:00
I've played both symmetrical and asymmetrical facings....I could tongue fast on both....the Pyne Bel Canto however was a different matter. I have another Pyne MS and it was stuffy in a good way...It wasn't sluggish in articulation. I don't know whether my Bel Canto was characteristic of all Bel Cantos.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: redwine
Date: 2009-07-08 18:13
Hello,
All of the mouthpieces mentioned are great, if they play for you! The reason there are 200 (or so) mouthpieces on the market is because one product does not work for everyone. If that were the case, there would only be one on the market!
Sfalexi, I'll be more than happy to have you over when you're in this area. I don't charge for sitting down and testing, nor for tweaking, unless you decide you want what I've made. I honestly would prefer you play a Pyne (or insert any other brand) to my mouthpiece, if it works better for you!
I do think most mouthpieces are ridiculously expensive nowadays!
(Disclaimer: I have been known to sell mouthpieces on occasion)
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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