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 Eb Mp's and Reed question
Author: clarchick 
Date:   2011-08-25 05:09

New to the Eb world-suggestions for picking out a great mp/reed combo appreciated. Yes, I know personal preference, etc. however I do also know that some are better to start with than others. On Bb I am used to playing on a V12 3.5, medium opening mp. The eefer I will be playing on is a nice Buffet, but I have to provide my own mp. I have no idea what to buy. Vandoren B44 seems to be standard. Thoughts? Cheaper, great opportunities? Thanks!

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 Re: Eb Mp's and Reed question
Author: saxlite 
Date:   2011-08-25 05:44

Fred Rast and Walter Grabner make good Eefer mouthpieces.

Jerry

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 Re: Eb Mp's and Reed question
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2011-08-25 07:45

I'd used a wonderful Borbeck and he is still around to contact.



..................Paul Aviles



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 Re: Eb Mp's and Reed question
Author: srattle 
Date:   2011-08-25 16:35

I use a Richard Hawkins Eb mouthpiece, which is great!

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 Re: Eb Mp's and Reed question
Author: Ed 
Date:   2011-08-25 17:09

Clark Fobes makes a very good Eb mouthpiece which is very reed friendly and comfortable to play. If you want to go a little cheaper than some mentioned, the Hite is also very good.

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 Re: Eb Mp's and Reed question
Author: Clarimeister 
Date:   2011-08-25 17:54

I play on a Gregory Smith Eb mouthpiece and have never looked back. Fantastic mouthpiece. Now, if you don't have the money, then I agree with Ed in that the David Hite mouthpieces are very good for the price. I have one as a backup Eb mouthpiece. Also, if you can find a good one, the B44's aren't bad either, but just make sure you go through a bunch to find the best one for you. Reeds, I used to use the Vandoren White Masters German reeds cut off, but I've really started to like the V12 Eb reeds. I'm waiting desperately for Rico to make Rico Reserve Classics for Eb!!

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 Re: Eb Mp's and Reed question
Author: Ed 
Date:   2011-08-25 22:02

I solved that problem. A year or so ago I had a gig coming up on Eb so I started doing some practicing. I wanted to get a few new reeds going.

In a fit of laziness I slapped one of my Reserve classics on that I had already broken in on Bb. It worked great. I played the gig with those. Because of the contour of the top of my barrel, I didn't even need to cut it down!

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 Re: Eb Mp's and Reed question
Author: djphay 
Date:   2011-08-26 15:58

Lomax Nick Carpenter model is what I chose for my Selmer Paris, although the standard Zinner mouthpieces that I tried were also very good and a cheaper option (I tried Vandoren B40, Zinner (2 facings), Lomax NC and the MoBa). I'm experimenting with reeds and currently using cut down Vandoren blue box Bb reeds strength 3.5, which seem to respond well, although as I say I might try some V12s and 56 Lepics that I've got lying around. Don't know if that's any help for a Buffet...

David
Rank amateur

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 Re: Eb Mp's and Reed question
Author: Ebclarinet1 
Date:   2011-08-26 16:41

Right now I'm finding the best combination is a Greg Smith and cut down Gonzalez For our friends (FoF) Bb reeds, 3.5 strength. He does send barrel and mouthpiece combos and one of these worked beautifully for my Buffet Prestige.

Other fine mouthpieces are the Fobes and Grabner. The Hawkins did less well on my horn but I just gave it to a friend for a LeBlanc and it sounded great. So as many others have said "try several". I know this seems cointer-intuitive about one brand not working universally, but it really is amazing how a change of horn changes the mouthpiece thing so much. Right now I'm using Fobes on all my other clarinets with the exception of the alto. It really did not like my Buffet Prestige alto but the Lomax mouthpieces worked beautifully. Go figure!

Eefer guy

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 Re: Eb Mp's and Reed question
Author: John J. Moses 
Date:   2011-08-27 20:59

Simple:

Go for a FOBES Eb mouthpiece with a Legere Synthetic reed! You can't miss!!!
Works great for me in NYC and at WICKED on Broadway.
BTW: Check my disclaimer...

Cheers,

JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist

Post Edited (2011-08-27 21:02)

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 Re: Eb Mp's and Reed question
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2011-08-27 21:34

Well, what did you expect, everyone tells you the best MP is what they use. If you're starting to play Eb I'd suggest to get one of each facing of the Vandoren facings from a mail order store, most will send you 3-4 on a trial basis. Choose the one you like the best because you can't beat the price. That way you can learn to play the Eb well before making a larger investment in the future. Someday you can move up, but only if necessary. Vandoren makes a good quality MP at a very reasonable price and are available. I use an old Selmer C**, don't think they even make that facings any more and my second is a Vandoren. I've tried a students Clark Forbes last year and I loved it. You have to find what's best for you not for someone else.
Reeds, our Eb player in the BSO uses Vandoren Black Masters on Eb. I've always used my Bb reeds and cut the backs off with a small hand branch trimmer so they would fit. Some people that do that sand down the sides a bit but I never have done that, works fine for me being a little wide. You just have to experiment a bit, that's a fact of life to see what's best for you. ESP eddiesclarinet.com

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 Re: Eb Mp's and Reed question
Author: GBK 
Date:   2011-08-27 21:50

The late Ralph Morgan personally made me an Eb mouthpiece which is the best I've ever found. I'm very careful with it knowing I'll never get another one.

Robert Borbeck's Eb mouthpiece is also amazing and since he's still around he continues to make them if you tell him exactly what you are looking for.

The Vandoren B44 is a solid middle of the road, fairly consistent choice for most new players.

...GBK

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