The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David
Date: 2003-01-04 17:08
About mouthpieces (...entire audience groans, and rushes for the exits...)
I decided to look for something a little more assertive than the bog-standard 926 (2) on the Imperials.
Morgan RM10s worked very nicely indeed. I was very pleasantly surprised,what with it being American, and not (to me at any rate) an obvious first choice.
They kept the same "English" sound, but provided a ton more of it and the tuning was fine everywhere. Very nice and easy to blow.
This is just in advance of B & Hs becoming fashionable again. I can wait. Lionels came back, didn't they?
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-01-04 18:44
David,
Imperials are my favorite clarinets and, while I'm not the world's greatest authority on them, I have enough of them to be able to say that I collect them, but I've yet to keep any original mouthpiece that came with one, except just because it's the original, for resale value. Never played them.
In my opinion, almost any mouthpiece that comes with a clarinet, with very few exceptions, is a trasher.
I'd like to try Ralph Morgan mouthpieces, but his trade policies concerning trial periods have kept me from doing so. In fact, I think I'll initiate a post about that.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2003-01-04 19:28
I never had a Lionel, but if I'd have saved my American Flyer, I'd be rolling in money (or at least in $1 bills) today.
Anyone interested in an original "Pluto Platter" Frisbee, in thoroughly used condition?
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Author: David
Date: 2003-01-04 22:14
As a matter of fact, the 926 mouthpiece was bought deliberately.
Just after started learning at school c. 1975, my teacher chucked the (school instrument's) 593 into a corner and got me a 926, which was a huge improvement, and was used until this morning.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-01-04 22:16
My Boosey pair are 1931 Barrett Action Clinton Systems with solid German silver keys and tuning barrel sleeves. I have the original mouthpiece which has a serial number matching the A. The tenon receiver is smaller than normal so any other mouthpiece needs to be machined down to size. I have done this with a couple of mouthpieces but none plays well in tune. The original mouthpiece plays quite well but is a lot smaller than a modern equivalent. All Selmer's play incredibly sharp. I know somebody with an identical pair where the barrel was adapted instead and the same problems, ie. blowing sharp, occur. The original Boosey mouthpiece facing is better suited to German reeds although V12's work for some reason. Interestingly though for what is ostensibly a German sized mouthpiece it is not grooved. I have a BG lig that fits and it plays in tune. I have heard of tuning problems with 926 and 1010 clarinets when using French mouthpieces especially the C85 Selmer's, again very sharp. I suspect the facing length of many mouthpieces influences the sharpness. The 1931 Boosey mouthpiece has a very long facing and is reasonably open. It is interesting to experience what pre WWII players were using. The sound is lighter with more tops and less woody. I am led to believe by talking to older clarinettists that prior to WWII the majority of orchestral players in Britain actually used the Clinton system and only really started using Boehm owing to wartime availability. My grat uncle was a professional player prior to and after WWII in England and in Europe and he used a Clinton clarinet, non Barrett, but converted to Boehm during the war because American and French instruments were the only ones available. Likewise with mouthpieces and reeds. The pro players of this era could only get open hole in line flutes and they used to half three penny pieces soldered over the holes to make playing easier. Irrelevant to the thread I know but an interesting anecdote.
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Author: charlene
Date: 2003-01-05 15:09
Hi fellow boosey fans, I'm quite happy when you put in an appearance! I'm curious to know what mps you all have had success with. I recently purchased a 1010 on ebay for which the seller had described the mp as an "unmentionable". It turned out to be a Morgan RM10 and although I was very happy to find I now owned this mp, I wasn't especially happy with it's tone for this instrument (I like it better with my '30 Edgware). I happened to have a good-condition 1010 mp that seemed more satisfactory in every aspect but for the incredible resistance (I'd read that 1010s are notorious for this). I tried MANY different reed strengths/makes and finally put on a Rico Grand Concent Evolution 3-31/2 that I received as a sample - WOW! what a difference. I'd love to know if any one else has this experience. I also have a 926 for which I'm still seeking the ideal set-up. So far the 926 mp gives the best results but any other ideas for mps or reeds with the 926? I've read about the Pillinger and Eaton options, but right now I'd like to know if there are some less expensive solutions.
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Author: Keith Ferguson
Date: 2003-01-05 17:19
I play on a 1010, and although I am a fan of the Pillinger mouthpieces, my instructor thought the one I was using (1.15mm x 20mm facing) was too resistant and suggested I try a Vandoren M13. The Vandoren is much easier to play and, surprisingly, does not adversely affect intonation. This might be true of anything in Vandoren's 13 series, given their slightly different bore size.
KF
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Author: David
Date: 2003-01-05 17:23
The word seems to be that 926s like to be matched with 926 instruments (which was why I was surprised to find the Morgan worked at all, let alone so well...)
Pillinger and Eaton are the Boosiest designs, I think, with Eaton being a bit more 1010-ish.
I'm afraid I hardly ever change mouthpieces, so I haven't developed an obsession / box of non-working ones. Yet.
My approach is locking yourself in a room with a load of moutpieces, and seeing what you like. (The disadvantage being the availability of a shop with a good range.)
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