 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Matt.75
Date: 2013-05-20 07:52
I'm looking at upgrading my Clarinet mouthpiece (at the moment I'm still using the plastic one that came with my clarinet when I bought it). I'm having some difficulty choosing, so it would really help to get your opinions.
I've considered the Vandoren Masters CL4 & CL5, but heard that it might be better to get one that isn't made purely by machines. So I've been looking at the Clark W Fobes mouthpieces, which seem pretty impressive. The music store where we buy everything only stocks the CF San Francisco, and the Cicero also looks pretty good. But with more looking around I came across "Morrie Backun" and "Chedeville" mouthpieces, which were far more expensive, but aren't sold in Australia.
If you've had experience or know about these mouthpieces could you let me know what they're like ?
I'm aiming for a slightly darker, warmer sound as well.
Cheers.
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2013-05-20 08:02
I use the Fobes cwf and i didn't know my intermediate clarinet could sound so good. the tone is great, every thing is smooth and in tune. ( I also use the Fobes barrel ) Clark does great work. Just so you know the cwf is a close mouthpiece (.96) so won't be for everyone. Good luck in your search.
AAAClarinet
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Author: Matt.75
Date: 2013-05-20 08:26
Thanks it sounds pretty good
How is the articulation with the mouthpiece? Do you find it easier or slightly harder to play staccatos?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-05-20 10:48
Um....
The advice on "machined" mouthpieces was good about 20-30 years ago, however, these days we are talking computer driven machines that yield very consistent product (at least as far as Vandoren is concerned).
The Masters CL4 is a remarkable animal and not to far off the path of the standard opening/lay size such as a 5RV Lyre or M13. Any of these would be a really professional grade mouthpieces that will give you as much flexibility of sound as you could get anywhere else. This isn't to say a $600 mouthpieces may not be a little better, just perhaps not necessary as first step.
Oh, and for a dark sound what you really need to concentrate on is a good, steady, focused stream of air!!!!
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: Alexis
Date: 2013-05-20 13:25
Some makers may send you their product to try - if you like it, you buy and then send the others back. If not, you send them all back.
Just a comment though - everything seems impressive on paper. It may be worth taking an intermediate step to a Vandoren (or the new Rico) mouthpiece, which isn't very expensive compared to the hand-made pieces. There are still a lot of pro clarinettists using these successfully, and you may find something that works well for you.
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Author: Joe Bloke
Date: 2013-05-20 14:31
There is good info on choosing a mouthpiece contained herein:
http://www.whyvandoren.com/instructional/images/vandomag2us.pdf
In my opinion, good quality, precision made, mass produced mouthpieces, are one of the gifts of the technological age we live in.
I have both both handmade and machine made mouthpieces.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-05-20 15:21
My advice, until you have a clearer idea of what you want a mouthpiece to do (or allow *you* to do - the mouthpiece is inanimate), would be to go with whatever feels best to you among the mouthpieces that are available to you locally. Try the ones the local store has in stock. Fobes mouthpieces are well made and very responsive and easy to play. Vandoren mouthpieces in general are also very serviceable and any of them will be a step up in responsiveness from your original equipment mouthpiece. You probably won't be able to get Backun mouthpieces without special-ordering them. I don't know if modern Chedevilles can be bought locally in your stores.
As was discussed in another thread recently, shipping from the U.S. - and I assume also from Europe - to Australia is very expensive, so ordering mouthpieces on approval from the makers or major online distributors may be prohibitive just because of the shipping alone (remember, you'll also pay for the return shipping for anything you send back). Later, if you want something different when you have more of a basis for narrowing down to one or two possibilities, the cost of having samples shipped to you may be more worthwhile.
Karl
Post Edited (2013-05-20 15:24)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2013-05-20 18:05
My daughter begn using a Vandoren M13, which took her through her first two years of music school in college. Not until then was she needing anything "better." She and her teacher spent several weeks trying out different pieces until they agreed on the M13. Her teacher plays professionally in the Detroit Symphony, and has an entire drawer of different mouthpieces at different price points for students to try, and then it is up to the student (or his/her parents) to procure one in the market. He doesn't sell any of them and makes no money from any of the sales of pieces to his students.
Try what your local shop has, first. Bring in good reeds of varying strengths to see what works best with a given mouthpiece. If you are uncertain, bring a teacher to listen to you playing them.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2013-05-20 18:05
sorry it took a while to get back to you. the articulation on the cwf is fast and clear. staccato, at least for me, is very easy on this piece. a word of causion about the rico, a friend got one (x5)and it plays flat even on a buffet 64.5mm barrel. wont necessarily be that way for everyone but thought i'd let you know.
AAAClarinet
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Author: Taras12
Date: 2013-05-20 18:29
Did you check out Tom Ridenour (ridenourclarinetproducts.com)? I play both the Chedeville Prime and Ridenour RZ-MT36. I like the Ridenour better although it is a bit more expensive. The Chedeville playse about 10 cents flat in general.
Tristan
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-05-20 20:01
I played for several months on a Rico X0, which is a little closer-tipped than the X5. I had no problem with flatness on it. It does have a different feel in terms of resistance, though, from the feel of a Fobes, which is much freer. Taken on their own terms, each has real attractions.
Karl
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Author: Matt.75
Date: 2013-05-25 10:08
Just thought I'd say...
After going to the shop and trying several different mouthpieces, I ended up deciding the Vandoren Masters CL4 was the best for me, as I found the articulation easy and got a very nice tone.
Thanks for all your replies and ideas
Matt.
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