 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: brudy
Date: 2010-03-26 03:23
Hi all, I've just started learning the clarinet (I've been playing a few months) and was wondering about how much the mouthpiece brand would affect learning? I have a goldentone 3 that came with my clarinet (a Ridenour) but have been reading that they're not that great. I was looking at the Vandoren 5RV (which people seem to love). Is it worth upgrading? Would I even be able to tell the difference at this point? I seem to be progressing ok (and most of my issues are around fingering, not necessarily embouchure) but just wondering if it's worth it at this point to buy a new mouthpiece. Thanks.
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Author: glin
Date: 2010-03-26 03:32
Try a Clark Fobes Debut or a David Hite Premier mouthpiece. They are approx. $30 and available at most internet music instrument stores.
More info and other recommendations can be found using the Search function.
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Author: reddog4063
Date: 2010-03-26 05:31
I have had a clark fobes debut for a bit over a month and i really really enjoy it. You should do some research but nice mouthpieces can be had for between 30-60 bucks, treat yourself!!
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Author: Debussyin
Date: 2010-03-26 05:56
I too am just now beginning, although I play sax.
It depends on if you are going to play it seriously; I didn't say professionally - I said "seriously". I am going to play for the rest of my life - so - I did it right the first time. This is what I went out and got:
I bought a new Buffet Festival Bb soprano clarinet.
I bought a handmade hard rubber Vintage Model A mouthpiece in .097 tip from Brad Behn
I bought Vandoren Rue Lepic #3; Blue box #3's and #3.5's.
I bought an FL gold-plated Brass Ultimate Ligature.
I got a Doctor top-o-the-line silk swab; LaVoz stuff it; etc...
I intend to play everyday until my last day on Earth - and take my clarinet over with me "into The Light".
That's why I bought a $650 mouthpiece to begin - AND end with. I've played with $15 Rico Royal and $2000+ 1940's NY Meyer Bros pieces and everything in between on sax.
IF I KNOW ONE (1) THING AFTER ENDLESS RESEARCH AND WAAAAY TOO MUCH MONEY:
A good top-of-the-line mouthpiece is soooo wonderful. It eliminates a lot of frustration and and wasted time.
Try Walter Grabner: $195 or Fred Rast $175 or Brad Behn $195-$650
All three are great, have great reputations, are nice people and, like I said, I v'e done my homework - make great mouthpieces.
I'm going to buy a Grabner and Rast next week.
Mouthpiece+reed+lig=A very big part of the instrument.
Have fun! I am!
I 've done my homework - do yours - talk to all three.
Post Edited (2010-03-26 05:59)
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Author: brudy
Date: 2010-03-26 11:13
Thanks for the replies so far! I am planning on playing seriously. I've been playing guitar for close to 25 years I'd say at the semi-pro level, so I understand how good gear can impact playing, performance, and tone. At this point in my clarinet life though, I want to start out with a decent mouthpiece (I can't jump to a $695 mouthpiece yet), I'm just not sure what to get. I don't even necessarily dislike the goldentone, I don't have anything to compare it to. Perhaps I should just dive in and try a few a different mouthpieces...
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Author: BobD
Date: 2010-03-26 12:29
"Perhaps I should just dive in and try a few a different mouthpieces..."
Yes, jump in, the water's fine....and we're all here. Until you own at least a dozen mouthpieces you're not a serious player.
Bob Draznik
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-03-26 13:13
>>I got a Doctor top-o-the-line silk swab; LaVoz stuff it; etc...
If that "Stuff-it" thing is one of those evil devices you stick into the instrument bore (or even worse...the mouthpiece!) and leave it in the clarinet when it's stored, you should take it out of your case immediately and set it on fire! Those are useless and can actually be bad for the instrument.
The Doctor's Black Legend swab, on the other hand, is wonderful.
Jeff
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2010-03-26 13:30
The first thing I would get is.......a good teacher.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2010-03-26 13:45
Ditto Allan Segal's comment. Get a good teacher. Have the teacher evaluate your embouchure and your air support, among other things.
You can try and buy all the mouthpieces you want, but armed with an expert's guidance you'll save time and money. Most important, you may end up with a mouthpiece that's just right for you at this point in your playing.
Best of luck!
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Author: brudy
Date: 2010-03-26 16:36
I've just recently started lessons with a guy who I think is a good teacher - he teaches at Berklee here in Boston - after a few months of trying to teach myself. It's made a huge difference. I'm just pretty excited about the whole thing. I play guitar in a sort of beach boys/indie rock/folk anything goes band and last night I broke out the clarinet to try to come up with a part on a new song and it sounded great (it's a very simple part, obviously). So I'm trying to accelerate the process a bit and if a new mouthpiece will help then I want to pick one out and order it. I just didn't want to wait till my next lesson to ask him :-)
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2010-03-26 16:58
I have a VAndoren M30 which plays very well and soundds great. The VAndoren mouthieces are around $0 and really good buys. There are a variety of them, so you'll have to see which one you like.
Leonard
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Author: bekahs77
Date: 2010-03-26 17:26
To add another possibility to the list of inexpensive starter mouthpieces, I recently had to replace a mouthpiece due to a child + dog mishap (thanking my lucky stars it was only the mouthpiece), I decided that with 6 kids and a dog, plus a tight budget, it was not the time to invest in a high-end hard rubber model. The local shop didn't have the Debut or the Premier, but he recommended a handmade piece by Roger Garrett, who teaches at Illinois Wesleyan. I got it for about $30 and have been very pleased with the tone and projection compared to the old hard rubber Woodwind Co. that came with my used Leblanc. I am just an amateur community band player, not a professional by a long-shot.
http://www.garrettmusicproducts.com/Clarinet%20Mouthpieces.html
--
Bekah
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Author: brudy
Date: 2010-03-26 17:27
Based on the chart on the Vandoren site, I'm leaning towards a B45 series 13, although the m30 and 5RV are still in the running. I picked the B45 mostly because the site says I can use a 2.5 with it, which is where I'm at right now. Would this be an decent choice to experiment with given where I'm at? I have a coupon for an online site so I might as well make use of that...
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2010-03-26 18:08
IMO, if you want to save yourself a lot of mouthpiece grief, just do what a couple of other posters have suggested, and get the Fobes Debut or Hite Premiere. Really, they are great mouthpieces, and will get you totally on the right track, plus give you the instant gratification of sounding good and playing easily!
Susan
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Author: Debussyin
Date: 2010-03-26 20:41
Wow...thanks for that! I didn't know that, for sax it's great after swabbing because, of course, they're metal.
I'll cancel it. That's the swab I bought.
Thanks
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Author: Debussyin
Date: 2010-03-26 20:46
"The first thing I would get is.......a good teacher."
Yep - that's what I did. Primary rule.
Post Edited (2010-03-28 06:19)
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