 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetmaniac101
Date: 2005-06-13 06:45
Hi,
My name is Rashad and I am new, I wanted to know if anybody knows anything about the Vandoren M15 and M30, if you do can you please give me a quick and helpful reply because I am getting a new clarinet and I am thinking about getting a new set up and I was thinking something like this a M15 mouthpiece and a D.BONADE silver plated inverted ligature. So my only question is has any body played with the M15 Vandoren mouthpiece. The ligature I am realy sure about I recently played on one and It has such a nice vibration on the reed it is not as heavy as other ligatures. But thanks alot and I do appreciate your replies.
Rashad
*clarinet
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-06-13 10:48
Yes, have played using both. Although the Bonades get lots of praise I myself am not a fan of them. The M15 is OK.
Bob Draznik
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Author: pewd
Date: 2005-06-13 14:32
I have a lot of trouble with the bonades - many seem out of round - you have to mess with a pliers bending them to make the rails touch the reed like they're supposed to. I no longer recommend them to my students - seems like they have too many quality control issues lately.
I play M15's with Rovner or Luyben ligatures. I use harder reeds (#5) which seem to work well (for me) on the M15's.
Try out several different mouthpieces and brands before you selet one.
E.G., go to a music store and compare several.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-06-13 16:19
I have tried both mouthpieces and found the M30 to be a very, very nice and responsive mouthpiece. It was, IMHO, a much nicer mouthpiece than the M15. It had a richer tone. In fact, I'm using one as a backup to my Greg Smith right now. I was very surprised. It is more comparable to a high-dollar hand-made than the M15.
I am not a fan of Bonade ligatures. I prefer the BG Super Revelation or even a Rovner over the metal ligatures. Metal ligatures tend to get bent (as pewd mentioned) and also don't help as much with articulation in difficult passages. But each to his/her own.
A great set-up for you might be the Vandoren M30 with a Rovner Dark ligature and a Vandoren V-12 reed of 3 strength (unless you're ready for a harder reed).
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Author: Tyler
Date: 2005-06-13 16:44
I am currently using an M15 mouthpiece, and I got it because I used my old Gigliotti in marching band because I didn't know better (oops!) and it warped like crazy. I've never tried an M30, but my M15 has a quite flexible tone which can be dark and liquid, but can also be rich and colorful with high overtones. I preferred it over the Eddie Daniels II mouthpiece because it seemed to me to have some more 'color' and 'ring' to it. Clarinetgirl06, who posts here also uses an M15 (last time I knew, anyhow) and I'm sure she'll comment on this thread soon.
I personally do not like the Bonade inverted silver ligature, because it seems to pinch my reeds on the sides and I haven't gotten around to doing what some people do and cutting out the middle vertical strip with pliers. However, I have heard my teacher, as well as one of HER teachers, perform on this ligature and sound great! To each his own. Good luck!
-Tyler
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-06-13 16:48
Tyler wrote:
> I personally do not like the Bonade inverted silver ligature,
> because it seems to pinch my reeds on the sides
Unfortunately almost EVERY Bonade ligature needs to be readjusted due to poor quality control by LeBlanc. All need to be re-bent (use 2 needle-nosed pliers) to their properly intended shape so the original Bonade design can work correctly.
The 2 long interior rails are the only thing that should be touching the reed. At present, the metal bands touch the outer edges of the reed which totally nullifies the design properties of the ligature...GBK
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Author: Ed
Date: 2005-06-13 16:59
The M15 is a good mouthpiece, but VERY different from the M30. The only way to know what would be best for you is to try them. There are a number of mail order places that will let you get mouthpieces on trial so you could find what you like. Don't buy one because someone else likes it. Buy it because it works for you.
Post Edited (2005-06-13 17:54)
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Author: Tyler
Date: 2005-06-13 17:00
Oh, ok GBK. So I don't need to cut out the middle? Just bend it around a bit? How exactly do I bend it so that the metal bands don't touch the outer edges of the reed? Thank you for your input.
-Tyler
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-06-13 17:45
Tyler...Search the archives. Adjusting a Bonade inverted ligature has been discussed and described numerous times.
Cutting out the middle of the inverted Bonade ligature (a common modification used by many players) will still not solve the problem of metal bands touching the edges of the reed...GBK
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2005-06-13 18:03
I played M-15's until very recently, when a student gave me a Ralph Morgan RM-06 to try, and I fell in love with it. I was never disatisfied with the M-15, but was uneasy about the way the sound seemed to thin out above the staff (it was great for playing 2nd clarinet--less so for 1st). The Morgan seems to solve this problem, and as an extra bonus it makes my C clarinet sound like a Bb!
Used regular silver-plate Bonades w/both--no complaints. Morgan works well with a whole lot of reeds, but at present I'm happy with thick blank Grand Concert 3-1/2's.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-06-13 18:39
One further comment concerning the Bonade inverted ligature:
After being continually frustrated with the adjustment hassle of Bonade inverted ligatures, I lately have been recommending that my students use the Luyben ligature (yes... I know it's made of plastic).
The design principle is quite similar to the Bonade, but the surrounding bands of the Luyben are raised away from the edge of the reed. No adjustment is ever needed.
The Luyben ligature (IMO) has presence, quick tonguing response and character which rivals the Bonade inverted...GBK
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-06-13 19:55
"because I am getting a new clarinet and I am thinking about getting a new set up"
OK, this concerns me a little. You don't want to change everything at once! Get a new clarinet and maybe a month or so later buy a new mouthpiece. One of my clarinet teachers told me of a professional symphony player who changed his WHOLE SET-UP and just couldn't handle it, and so he's selling the 2 new clarinets he bought (which are excellent clarinets). I'll be buying a new clarinet really soon (a week or so) and so I'll be waiting to buy a new mp.
The M15, hmm... I'll be 100% honest with you. I've used this mouthpiece for 3 years but I don't know if it is the best. I got this mouthpiece freshman year from my private lesson teacher because I was using a horrid Yamaha 2* stock mouthpiece. I never tried any other models and knew that it was better than the 2*, and I just bought the mouthpiece from him. I've recently compared it to a handmade Clark W. Fobes mp (OM*), and the Fobes blew the M15 out of the water. The Fobes made everything even and I felt like I didn't have to adjust to every note like I did with the M15. I like my M15, but I'll probably be replacing it soon with a handmade mouthpiece. The M15 responses well with a 4 V12 in my experience.
As I've said on other threads:
RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH!!! Go to www.wwbw.com and read about all the mps. Check the BBoard search engines. Lastly, GO AND TRY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN!!!!! You'll only be able to tell which is the best for you by trying them!
Good luck! I'll get to try an M30 soon so I'll post back on how it is!
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-06-13 22:59
GBK- I just picked up my teachers Buffet R13 A for our community symphony and she had a Luyben ligature in there and so I tried it out. Man, it was great and sounded just like a good Bonade. I was thinking that my staccato was really bad, but I think it was my ligature. The Luyben really makes the tonguing a lot better and it's cheap. My teacher swears by her Bonade and that's all she uses, so I'm going to ask her if I can buy her Luyben from her for $5.
Post Edited (2005-06-13 23:07)
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Author: Ed
Date: 2005-06-14 01:29
Clarinetgirl stated:
"I've recently compared it to a handmade Clark W. Fobes mp (OM*), and the Fobes blew the M15 out of the water. The Fobes made everything even and I felt like I didn't have to adjust to every note like I did with the M15."
I have always felt that the Vandoren mouthpieces are good mass produced mouthpieces. If you search a little bit you can find some really good ones and the price is quite reasonable. That said, I don't think they can be compared to the good hancrafted mouthpiece from the top makers. Clark Fobes is one of the best out there and his pieces are exceptional.
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-06-14 02:04
Ed-
I agree with what you said. The M15 is a great mass produced mouthpiece. I've just realized it's many flaws since trying a handmade mouthpiece. But try out the M15 and M30 and ANYTHING YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON and find the best mouthpiece that you can afford. Good luck!
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-06-14 14:51
I agree with the suggestion that you go to a retailer that will allow returns and order several mouthpieces and then return the ones you don't want. They will want you to be careful not to scratch the mouthpiece or put tooth marks on it, so use some shipping tape or something of that nature around the body of the mouthpiece that the ligature touches, and a mouthpiece pad, or another piece of tape if you're a biter.
I've had good results from International Musical Suppliers, Woodwind and Brasswind---and Greg Smith and Walter Grabner. Many custom mouthpiece makers will let you try several and return what you don't like.
Of course, you have to have a good credit card.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2005-06-14 17:52
My daily mouthpiece is now the M30 with the inverted Bonade lig. It's very responsive, and for my embouchure it makes the throat tones very resonant and focused. I tried mine along with an M15 at the same time, and to me the M15 was more resistant. You may find the M30 gives you more capability to project. Both mouthpieces are definitely step-ups from the rest of the Vandoren line, so much so that I'm having trouble focusing the sound using my old M13 Lyre. The M30 is much more similar to my Greg Smith Kaspar than to anything else in my vast collection of 4 mouthpieces.
I second the need to look for a good Bonade lig and/or the need to adjust the ribs yourself. I got a decent one that required very little adjustment.
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: John Scorgie
Date: 2005-06-14 20:28
Rashad --
The M30 should work well with medium hard reeds, while the M15 and similar close / long lay mpcs are designed to be played with stronger reeds.
So when you try out the M15, make sure that your reeds are strong enough.
While several of my mpcs work best with a Vandoren #3 or #3 1/2, my M15 works best with a Vandoren #5 (or equivalent strength in other brands).
To say it another way, the reed strength that works well with the M30 will be too soft for the M15, and the reed strength that works well with the M15 will be too stiff for the M30.
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