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 Combs & Combs
Author: ctt489 
Date:   2003-03-25 02:41

Does anyone know if Larry Combs plays his own mouthpieces produced by Leblanc? I see him with a different ligature all the time. Once it was fabric, than metal, than the recognizable inverted Bonade.

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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: CPW 
Date:   2003-03-25 02:55

It's Hannity who uses a Rovner while Combs uses a Benade.......couldnt resist.
Actually I hear that he uses a mouthpiece made by
Greg Smith.

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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: Ralph G 
Date:   2003-03-25 04:58

I heard he uses a Richard Hawkins mouthpiece.

Sometimes he stops by here. Maybe he can answer it himself.

________________

Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.

- Pope John Paul II

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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: D Dow 
Date:   2003-03-25 17:14

Whether or not Combs plays on a Combs or not a few assertions can be made:

A) Larry Combs could probably sound incredible on just about anything
B) Like any product the combs mouthpieces vary from one another and I am sure he probably owns a batch of these that one would give their eye teeth to try or own!
C) The facing is more of a determinant of tone and playing quality than brand--if the rails and baffle are ub cirrect alignment then most players usually stick to a formaula within only fractions of than...and for myself never play anything beyond 1.06mm closed beyond 1.10 mm in terms of tip. I prefer a facing that is quite long....these things could be said of most pros....I doubt one would ever hear Combs on a B45 ...once again however he would probably sound fantastic on this too!!!!

David Dow

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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: BobD 
Date:   2003-03-25 23:04

Viewed the Chgo.Symp. at Carnegie Hall concert the other night.....the Ravel program that they tell me was done last year. Nice shots of Combs and the other two clarinetists and , in my opinion, superb renditions of the Ravel pieces. I even enjoyed Barenboim.

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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: DAVE 
Date:   2003-03-26 00:04

When I studied with Mr. Combs, he along with almost everybody else played Larry Combs mps. He played a LC1 with V12 4s and sometimes 31/2s. During my last year with him he switched to a Richard Hawkins. I think he sometimes played with the Greg Smith mp.
People often sent him equipment to try, so that is why you might see him with different ligatures etc.
If I am not mistaken, Larry played LC1s that were just like the ones you and I might try-straight from the box and not fixed up like you might imagine. He simply sounds amazing on anything he plays.
BTW-if you want to hear him at his best, then check out the Chicago Chamber Musicians website where you can get some nice recorings including one of the Brahms Quintet that will make you cry like a baby! He definitely was playing a LC1 on that performance--I was there!

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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: William 
Date:   2003-03-26 03:25

One more time: Larry combs stated in a clinic given three years ago at IMS in DesPlaines, IL., that he uses a Richard Hawkins "custom" mouthpiece. When asked about the LeBlanc LC mpcs bearing his name, he said hat he became dissatisfied with the quality control of their product and stopped using them, opting for the Hawkins. He also asserted that "it doesn't make any difference whose mpc you play, eventually you will play the sound in your own head."

He was also "sporting" a Legere reed and an Optimum lig. on his Leblanc Opus instrument. He also had his set of Oehlers with him that he uses (as well as the other members of the CSO) when playing German music.

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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: Bradley 
Date:   2003-03-26 04:28

the Oehlers- I heard that he switched to Uebels, but Wurlitzer still has him as a player on their website-so I was just wondering if anyone knew which brand he used.

Bradley

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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: Stéphane 
Date:   2003-03-26 08:48

Dave,

Can you give us the link to the Chicago Chamber Musicians website?

Thanks,
Stéphane.

After you've heard a work by Mozart, the silence that follows, this is still by Mozart.



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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: William 
Date:   2003-03-26 14:14

http://www.chicagochambermusic.org/the_performers_ens.html

Chicago Chamber Musicians website--enjoy!!!!!

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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: jim S. 
Date:   2003-03-26 15:54

The French Reed Trios is truly marvelous...difficult stuff that you don't often hear, played incredibly well.

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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: cyso_clarinetist 
Date:   2003-03-27 05:12

For the love god! Just ask larry directly if you have the nerve to. I can't believe someone would spend so much time discussing what another uses equipment wise.

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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: William 
Date:   2003-03-27 15:23

I agree that it would be most accurately prudent to ask Larry directly about his personal equipement, but as he is a busy person--having a steady gig and all that--it may be difficult to get in touch. In any case, a forum such as this (thank's as always to Mr. Charett), that can provide and disperse information from knowledgable individuals to a world-wide audience, can save him answering a million phone calls, emails, letters or causal street encounters, each one with the same information. Lets give the poor "overworked" clarinetman a break!!!! :>)

I also agree that we clarinetists spend too much time worrying about what the makes the "other guy" sound good, but once again and for the record, the last time I heard him talk three years ago, he was then using a Richard Hawkins "customized" model made specifically for his playing needs.

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 Re: Combs & Combs
Author: Ralph G 
Date:   2003-03-27 16:17

What's wrong with wanting to know what someone uses? As long as we don't blindly believe we'll sound as good as him if we use exactly what he does, there's no harm in being curious.t

________________

Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.

- Pope John Paul II

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