 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sinkdraiN
Date: 2003-03-21 14:47
I have been playing on a B45 for awhile. I have no major problems with the B45, however, a friend just let me borrow a B40 and I am very impressed. I cant tell if i like it better. They are definately different. Th B40 is more resistant but has better throat tones. Have you ever compared a B45 to a B40. Which did you like and why?
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Author: jez
Date: 2003-03-21 17:39
What is the difference between them? According to Vandoren they have the same tip opening and facing length.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-03-21 18:12
jez...I have a few Vandoren mouthpiece catalogs from different years, so I checked to see if Vandoren is clear about their differences.
In the 2001 catalog they are both listed as 1.195mm tip opening with a 22mm facing length.
However, in the older 1986 catalog, the B40 is listed having a tip opening of 1.20mm and the B45 with a tip opening of 1.19mm. The facing length is still listed as 22mm
The publicity description of both mouthpieces reads identically in the older and newer catalogue with just one difference:
In the 1986 catalogue the B40 description reads as follows:
"Especially designed to use soft reads without sacrificing the sound quality of a stronger reed (centered and compact) This is the only Bb clarinet mouthpiece combining both assets" (the italics are mine to show what is different in the older catalog)
Maybe this is just an exercise in semantics, and means nothing - maybe not.
It certainly makes me glad that I play on a Chedeville...GBK
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-03-21 18:13
Rails and baffle of the B40 are completely different and therefore the B40 produces a more resonant focused tone throughout the entire compass.
David Dow
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-03-21 18:16
David...Thanks. I didn't have any B45 or B40 mouthpieces in my studio to visually compare, but that certainly would account for the tonal differences...GBK
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-03-21 18:51
Hey GBK how are things going? The B40 and B45 are both too resistant for me and I still have an old chevedille lelandis which works pretty good.
Students I generally find sound alot better on the B40 piece....
Regards
David Dow
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Author: sinkdraiN
Date: 2003-03-21 18:51
D dow, Am i correct in thinking that the B40 is for those who like the way B45s feel but want a more refined tone? I find the B45 pretty freeblowing compared to the B40. However, the B45 has a slight "shrill" factor that is absent with the B40. Speaking about vandorens only, is one of these mouthpieces more widely accepted in the professional community?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-03-21 20:05
David...I certainly agree that my Chedeville (Qualite Superieure) has that certain aspect (whether it be facing, blank material, internal design, etc..) which sets it apart from most modern mouthpieces. I also have a nice Kaspar, and a fine Greg Smith which are always carried with me.
The last time I personally purchased Vandoren mouthpieces was about 30 years ago when I was able to find 2 outstanding crystal ones. Those, I still use today.
Over the years I have selected numerous Vandoren mouthpieces for students. It usually is a long and often frustrating experience. Thus, they are not my first choice when it comes to machine made mouthpieces.
Thanks again for your additional insight into Vandoren mouthpieces, as it is very helpful...GBK
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2003-03-22 05:58
"Speaking about vandorens only, is one of these mouthpieces more widely accepted in the professional community?"
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These are just my observations and opinions based on my own experience:
Of Vandoren mthpc players, the B40 seems to be the most widely played outside of the US with the exception of Australia which also shows a strong influence from Selmer mthpcs. The newer M series seems to be gaining slightly in popularity possibly because they are a new and previously unknown alternative to a population used in general to relatively open mthpcs.
By contrast, in the US the newer less open M series seem to be the most predominant amongst professionals that play Vandoren, having presently displaced the B40 and B45. This is most likely due to the US population being traditionally aquainted with a customized or non-machine made, more medium to medium-closed facing.
Gregory Smith
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-03-22 14:40
The problem I have encountered with some of the M facings is a tendency to play quite flat on the throat notes and also a slight stuffy sound in the middle clarion....I have not particularly like any of the M13s I have owned nor did I continue using them. I just sold them to students at half price. I also found a good deal of the M13 Lyres to be inconsistent from one another in spite of the lack of projection....they also were somewhat lower than my Chedeville and other hand made American facings....hmmm.
Recently I can say I quite enjoyed the M15 and the M30 and felt they had far more thought in terms of tonal conception and are excellent. Again I think this is where the product has finally reached its ultimate conclusion. the 11.1 and M14 as far as I know are no longer available....the M14 was too much like the M13Lyre and therefore I eliminated it from my choice pieces for students. Now I tend have students work either on the B4013 or the M15 or M30 and notice they sound alot better. As far as I am concerned the M13 is a poor copy of the Chedeville with no individuality whatsoever.....
When studying in Paris I was in contact with far more players who used the B40 than any other facing. I think partly it is because of the tonal focus and ring they possess....most French players and alot Czech players are using them. A solist 2 years from the Czech republic used a B40 in a solo with our orchestra and sounded very good...I also find the B40 resistant but it also has a good deal of positive aspects for students and pros. Alot of this is the centre and ring on its sound. very few French solists use the B45 and I can say quite positively I don't know of a solist right now in France using them....
Alas, Vandoren has discontinued its Crystal mouthpiece line ... I seem to rember having a fairly nice A2 facing which did not have the stuffy small sound of the A1....I also believe that a handmade facing is far better than a factory piece as well. The trick for students is affordability....
David Dow
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