 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-02-06 21:21
I have to get a bass clar. mouthpiece in the near future, since I cant take the one I have with me to college (belongs to the school :( ). I'm playing on a *groans* Bundy 3. A lovely little $40 mouthpiece. It actually plays really well for me, and I get a good sound. I'm toying w/ the idea of a crystal bass clarinet mouthpiece.... For some reason I'm facinated w/ crystal mouthpieces (i know, i'm weird) and I'm going to look at one for soprano sometime too (when i get $$$). But the bass mouthpiece is priority now, I need to get my own and get used to it in the next few months... any suggestions? (the Bay is out of the question, theres no WAY i can afford $250.) I've heard good things about the selmer C* also... comments?
~Ashley~
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-02-06 21:29
I have two mouthpieces. I started with a Vandoren B-45 and switched to a Hite mouthpiece when I started lessons. I don't know if I've ever heard of a crystal bass clarinet mp. I would seem a bit large in my opinion.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-02-06 21:37
I'd highly recommend the bass clarinet mouthpieces of two Sneezy sponsors: Roger Garrett (hard rubber) and Pomarico (crystal). Excellent and inexpensive ---either should be available for under $100.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-02-06 22:34
Ashley -
The Selmer C* can be made into a fine bass clarinet mouthpiece, but if you buy one, there's little chance that it will be excellent. The quality of commercial mouthpieces for anything other than the Bb has gone down, I think because the manufacturing equipment has gotten worn, and so few are sold (compared to Bb mouthpieces) that the manufacturers couldn't recover the investment necessary to fix it.
I have bought Selmer C* bass, contra-alto and contrabass mouthpieces in the past year, and none of them played worth a damn out of the box. The reason I got them was because two exceptional refacing artists -- Kalmen Opperman and Everett Matson -- have told me that they're made of good rubber and can be turned into something that plays well. They certainly were able to do that on the ones I bought, but they both said it took a lot of work.
A Selmer C* bass clarinet mouthpieces goes for $98.95 at Woodwind and Brasswind, which is about the lowest price you'll find. By the time you ship it to Matson and he finishes it, the total will probably be up to $150. WW&BW also lists hand-finished mouthpieces by several makers, including Fobes, Hite and Garrett for $70-80, and others for over $200. I love my Matson, but if you can't afford one, any of the other three would be better than anything you are likely to find in a commercial model such as Selmer, Vandoren or Yamaha.
I'd avoid crystal. They're just to fragile.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2001-02-07 05:06
I recently ordered a Roger Garrett MO, a Pomerico #2, and a Selmer C*. The C* played the best for me, and I kept it. The other two played similarly, but I didn't care for them. The C* plays so well that I don't think I'd have it reworked. If I was going to get a C* reworked I'd buy another one, rather than risk having this one screwed up. Better a bird in the hand. . . . as they say.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Stephen Froehlich
Date: 2001-02-07 13:16
I do have to make a plug that I love my Bay (MO-M) for band work but also like the refaced R. Garrett that Dave S. sold me for smaller ensembles. This is all specific to the horn, though. I'm not so sure I'd buy a Bay at today's prices, though. I picked mine up new for $75 several years back.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2001-02-07 13:32
I gave up my brand new C* for the greened Geo. Bundy 3 that came with my used bass. It sounds better!
Whatever you get, try before you buy....
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-02-07 14:41
Ms. Hogue is exactly right. Just as otherwise identical-looking puppy dogs from the same litter can have entirely different temperaments, one should treat each mouthpiece, regardless of brand or model, as an 'individual'. Nonetheless, just as a good pedigree improves the odds that any given puppy will be a 'good' dog, similarly a mouthpiece from a 'good' manufacturer or refacer is more likely (not guaranteed, but more likely) to make the player happy.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-02-07 17:24
I agree with C H and D S, I think maybe what we are seeing are variabilities in all of the mentioned mp's [maybe compatability with neck and bass itself] . Suggest trials! I had previously looked down on my Bundy 3, favoring my C* [both beyond my B45, a Noblet and earlier Bay ! ] until I improved the tightness of my Selmer bass UJ, tried the Bundy again and liked it best, now #1 ! am always tempted to experiment further , but am saving up for a low C and/or basset horn, ouch! Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Culbreth
Date: 2001-02-09 02:22
My wife plays our C* Selmer mpc. I play on a Dave Knox"Jewel" mpc. For me, the Knox seems to have a larger sound without the loss of projection( which is always an issue). The facing is pretty close to the C*. I've heard others recommend the Selmer D facing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mike
Date: 2001-02-09 04:13
I played a crystal Selmer HS** for many years on my Bb and thought the high notes spoke easier and clearer but even it that was true, that wouldn't be much of a consideration on Bass. The problem with crystal is that it dosn't take much of a bump to break one. Also, I often had a problem with the cork and often used paper as a shim for a tight fit.
When I got my Bass MP there wasn't much of a choice at the local music store so I got a portnoy 2, with which I have been very happy. (I had been playing a Portnoy on my Bb).
Good Luck on your search.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mw
Date: 2001-02-10 20:26
There was a crystal bass mouthpiece for sale on the Bass Clarinet Thread. mw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Daniel
Date: 2001-02-13 04:08
My personal favorite mouthpiece for bass clarinet is the old Kaspar mouthpieces. But sincei can't afford $700+ for one yet, the next best thing is Rick Sayre's K13 model mouthpiece. His refaced Selmer C*'s are nice, but they aren't the same. I think they're only about $130 (or were last time i checked).
Rick was Kaspar's student and inheritted his tools. So it's no wonder his mouthpieces are the closest match to an old Kaspar that i can find.
I've also played on some Charlie Bays, Clark Fobes, Jim Pynes, Selmers and Pomaricos, and just wasn't really impressed with any of them. I have a few students playing on Clark's "Basso Nova" bass mouthpieces though. Slightly more expensive than a Selmer, but they play alot better.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
