 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: michaelpiader
Date: 2008-09-12 13:37
Hello,
This is the first time that I've posted on this board, and I have a question that I'm hoping a clarinetist might be able to answer.
I've found that the Vandoren M15 really suits me. I like the tone, and the length of the facing allows me to play strong reeds without putting much strain on my embouchure.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's what it was designed to do.
I've also found that when I use this mouthpiece I can play for hours and hours before my chops get tired. If I use a slightly larger mouthpiece facing, the Vandoren M30 for instance, my chops are gone for the day after an hour or so.
I'm also a saxophonist... actually, saxophone is my primary instrument. For years I've tried to find a saxophone mouthpiece that has the same feel as my M15. Over the past 15 years I've used a Rousseau NC4, Selmer C*, and a Vandoren AL3, and with each mouthpiece I've found that while I like the tone, my chops tire out fairly quickly. The facings of these mouthpieces feel similar to the Vandoren M30 and B45 facings on clarinet. Using these, my chops generally give out before I want to stop playing.
Do any of you have a suggestion of how to go about finding the specs for what makes a M15 unique, and how I could compare the tip opening and facing to mouthpieces of other brands? (and even mouthpieces for other instruments?)
I realize that this post might fit better in the doubler's board, but I really want to ask the opinion of a few good clarinetists before I look elsewhere.
Best,
Michael Piader
MM: Multiple Woodwinds, Florida State University
BM: Saxophone Performance, Indiana University
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-09-12 18:01
In short, the same thing that makes any good mouthpiece unique. It's all about how it plays for you. I could not sooner play on a M15 as my regular mouthpiece as I could on a Bundy but I know many people that sound very good on them. It's unique to the player because of the way it's cut, the tip opening, baffle, length of the lay, thickness of the rails, bore opening and probably a dozen other things as well as the material of course. ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
Listen to a little Mozart, not on a M15
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Author: marshall
Date: 2008-09-13 17:28
I've been playing on this wonderfully crafted (would that be the proper term for a mass-produced mouthpiece?) M15 for almost a year now. I actually found it out of the blue at clarinet day at Michigan State. The tip and rails are amazingly even for a vandoren mouthpiece, it's a real diamond in the rough.
The thing about the M15 is it's a close tip with a long facing. This means you can play stronger reeds with much less effort. I've found that with my M15 (and the M13 lyre I played before it), I'm able to get a very focused sound with a lot of overtones and I'm able to project very easily. Also, since it is so close, it is very intolerant to biting. This really helps you to learn not to bite off the reed and to use a lot of strength in the embechoure instead of the jaw, which will also help you to get a lot of overtones if you're doing it right. In short, it helps me get the sound that I really want to have as an aspiring orchestral clarinetist.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2008-09-16 21:54
The design of the M15 is very close to and old Chedeville..the A frame throat plus the dimple in the baffle. Its all there...maybe someone out there can compare with some pics.
David Dow
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