The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2000-12-15 06:45
My mouthpieces arrived today! I tested a Pomerico #2, a Roger Garrett MO, and a Selmer C*. The Pomerico and the Roger Garrett were very similar. The C* was quite different, and I liked it a lot better. The C* played a lot like the nameless mouthpiece that came with my horn, but it plays more evenly and has a nicer tone. I wonder if I liked it better because it is better, or if I liked it better because it is more like what I'm used to? A good question. Dave Spiegenthal likes the Pomerico and the Garrett, and interestingly, they play almost the same. Many people have commented in the Bulletin that Matson is routinely refacing Selmer C* mouthpieces. I'm a beginner on the bass, and don't have much basis for comparison, but my impression is that the C* is playing so well that I'd be reluctant to mess with it. I'd almost be inclined to buy a 2nd one to let Matson play with rather than risk screwing up a good mouthpiece. I'd be interested to hear from any of you who have had Matson work on a mouthpiece, and what differences you observed after refacing. Also, what reeds are you using on your C* mouthpieces, and is your mouthpiece stock or modified?
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-12-15 10:39
When I play bass I use a stock C* and have for many years. I don't play bass very often so I really don't need to spend a lot of money or time looking for anything better. I use a 3 reed on mine.
John
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-12-15 13:52
I now play more bass than soprano , and have been well satisfied with my C* with my Selmer 31-2-3, now that I have the horn quite tight [non-squeeking] particularly on mid-staff D [inadequate venting? in spite of the doubled F/C pads, and the "change-over" between register vents, {IMHO} ] . The table of mine appears to have been "flattened" but tip and rails are "quite virgin"! I recall that one of my Bundy 3's seemed very similar, will try to refind, since we are nearly snowed in, with more on the way , northen Oklahoma!! Will post any further "research" . Don
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Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 2000-12-15 14:30
Partly the result may be the "one likes what one is used to" phenomenon, part of it may be due to the significant variances between mouthpieces (even of the same brand and facing), and part of it may be simply that Selmer C's and C*'s are generally good mouthpieces. Although my personal preferences recently have run to the Pomarico crystal and the hard rubber Roger Garrett, I have also tried a Selmer C* that came with the school horn of a co-worker's son, and the Selmer mouthpiece was good enough that I recommended keeping the Selmer mouthpiece in lieu of buying another one. As with instruments, the key is to try as many mouthpieces as you can find, and varying the reeds and the practice space (room) with each mouthpiece, to find the one that most suitable. Everyone's tastes are different, so what works well for Joe Blow isn't necessarily the optimum mouthpiece for anyone else.
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