 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ctt489
Date: 2003-04-09 03:27
I just got 2 Charles Bay mouthpieces
OL Ml227 (with just Bay printed) and Artist Model H2(Chedivile copy) MO-L facing mouthpiece (Charles Bay printed).
I gave the OL Ml227 (which I think is the Rubber-Plus model 'intermediate' or 'equalizer') a try today with a vandoren regular 3 reed. I had no tunning problems and it covers the ranges with great blowing ease. I tried a V12 3-1/2 and got nothing but a stuffy sound.
My question is of these 2 which is better or will require a stronger reed?
Anyone know for sure what model the one printed "Bay" is ? I know the "Charles Bay" model is professional grade! Is it supposed to NOT have ligature guide line marks on it? The "Bay" one does.
Also how would know if a mouthpiece has been refaced? The seller claims it has but I have no way of telling.
Thanks as always.
I'll give the H2 a try tomorrow.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-04-09 04:26
I never really cared for ligature guide marks. Don't judge a mouthpiece by that. My mouthpiece has ligature marks, but they were printed on there incorrectly and they slant downwards so if I line up the left side, the right is horribly off. Just play around till you find a comfortable spot.
OL M1227 I belive is "Open" tip and "Long" facing. See if that matches up what was said for the equalizer or the intermediate. The H2 is MO-L which is "Medium Open" tip (more closed than the first) and "Long" lay or facing. Both of this I would assume would need a reed made for a long lay. Vandoren V12, Gigliotti Plus (I think the advantage may work) the ever popular gonzalez FOF. Just make sure that the reed doesn't seem too short for the mouthpiece. When you look at the mouthpiece sideways with a reed on it, you can see where the mouthpiece curves and eventually "meets" the reed. I would try to find a reed in which the filed part just about begins at this "meeting" point. I would think this would give optimum vibration of the reed.
The MO-L will (by definitions of mouthpieces) require a stronger reed. How much stronger? Probably not too much. a half or one size stronger I'd think.
As to tell if it's been refaced or not, all charles bay (someone correct me if I'm wrong) mouthpieces ARE refaced by the master himself before he sells them. At least the professional grades are. So it better have been. Look at the tip of the mouthpiece. Look inside the chamber of the mouthpiece at the tip. Do you see very fine lines or does it look a little "scuffed" or like it's been a little "flattened out"? This is a mark of refacing. I don't know what other signs there might be.
My guess is that the pro grade will sound better. Listen for "tone" not "how easy it is to play". Choose the one with the better tone, and practice on that one and your embouchre will naturally change and in time it'll be easy to play anyway. As for the "stuffiness" of the first with the V12, maybe it's just that you're mouth wasn't ready for the thick reed. With me it's the opposite. A regular vanderon reed seems to give me an undesireable tone whereas the V12 thickness sings beautifully.
GL on the other mouthpiece. Give us the update on this thread as to how THAT one played.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: PJ
Date: 2003-04-09 04:34
Generally, the MO-L means Medium-Open tip with a Long facing. I've found that on a longer facing a slightly stonger reed works best (i.e. V12 3.5 to 4.5). However, seeing that it is medium open, one might want to try a slightly softer reed on it based on the assumption that the more open the tip, the softer the reed and the more closed, the harder the reed.
Now, if this thing has been refaced you might throw all of this to the wind as you say there are no markings as to what kind of facing is no on it. (BTW, which one was refaced?) Just try a few different things and see what works best.
There are many professionals who use equipment of a lesser professional grade and get wonderful results. I once knew a professional bass clarinetist who played on...now get this...RICOS!!! Can you believe it??? For her, Rico reeds produced the best sound and that was what she stuck with. What you should go on is what feels, sounds and tunes best for you. No two people are going to get the exact same results on the same mouthpiece, barrel, clarinet, ligature, reed, etc..
Good luck, and don't obsess over it. Wait a minute! Aren't all Clarinetists OCD? Isn't that a requirement? ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
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Author: ctt489
Date: 2003-04-09 22:24
Getting back to you on the mouthpiece trials
Both play better on brand new V12 3 and my worked on V12 3 nothing higher.
The results are in:
The setup - Buffet R13 Bb & A
Deg-Accubore 66mm(Bb) , 65mm(A)
Vand.Optimum silver ligature, plate |||
Vand.V12 3 (brand new out of the box), one worked on.
"CharlesBay" ARTISTE MODELE de TRIOMPHE H2- reed has to be over tip, buzzes & air escapes from cornor of mouth if its below tip or at tip level. Ligature right at the cane break where the hardwood meets. Heavier tone due to its Chedeville copy. No churping or cracking
"Bay" (still dont know what model) - reed can be above, at tip. Ligature same as above (I find it to be the 'sweet spot' on most mouthpieces). Easier blowing, a little bright, easy staccato and altissimo is clearer & brilliant. Overall more brilliant and focused but can chirp when sluring. At FF-FFF chrping and 1 crack occured. Could be I'm not used to it.
Conclussion - Coming from a Vandoren B45 I see a difference in tone with the "Bay" not the Artiste H2 model. I'm going to work with the "Bay" model and put aside the ARTISTE MODELE de TRIOMPHE H2 (MO-L). I don't like the heaviness of the H2 and can control the brightness on the other one by placing the reed in various positions.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-04-10 13:53
The Bay model is the one to go for, in terms of tonal quality, playability, and timbre.
If it is in good shape and tunes well stick to a higher level pro piece and you will learn far quicker and play with greater ease.
David Dow
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Author: ctt489
Date: 2003-04-11 13:35
David - Do you mean stick with the ARTISTE MODELE de TRIOMPHE H2 (MO-L/ Chedeville style with charles bay printed) or the OL Ml227 (with just Bay printed)?
I'd like to experiment again with the both using a Legere reed I hear they are 'just as good as wood cane' and no work is needed on them...good to use right out of the box.
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Author: nickma
Date: 2004-12-23 19:11
For what it's worth, just having bought a Bay Artiste Modele de Triomphe (M-M) I think it's totally fantastic. Wonderful.
A chacun son soi, or as they say in the more rural parts of France, 'a chacun son merde'. This is the good stuff though!!
Nick
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