 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: PolyphonicKat
Date: 2003-05-06 09:52
Hey, I'm new to the board...
I played elementary thru junior high in the school bands, then for pleasure on my own through high school, just recently I've rediscovered my love of my instrument and have been trying to learn more about my instrument and improve my playing.
About 9 years ago my dad bought me a Noblet 27 serial # A28118 for 50 dollars at a pawn shop it was made playable for only 100, Only work it's needed is to be repadded or recorked a few times. It is still in excellent condition though the keys are wearing down. Seems like a good deal to me
My problem is my mouthpiece, it's a Selmer HS* with a metal lig. that has no identification. It's cork has fallen apart recently so I need that done, but I'd really rather upgrade to something else in a moderate price range.
I'm not sure if I should just get a new lig and try that (the vandoren optimum i think is one i've heard a lot about) or if I should save up for a mouthpiece but as far as they go I haven't even figured out how the facings affect playing , what material is best etc
Any suggestions or information would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance...
Kat Valentine
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2003-05-06 11:53
Hi Kat,
You'll get a lot of advice on mouthpieces here on the BB but one mouthpiece that seems to keep coming up is the Hite Premier (around $20) which is not too expensive. I'd stay with the no-name ligature for right now since IMHO, the mouthpiece makes the most difference.
The HS* is too close a lay for me but there are others that seem to be able to use it. However, in the situation you describe, a more open mouthpiece is probably not a bad way to go. The Noblet should give you many years of service.
Good luck and welcome to the board.
HRL
Post Edited (2003-05-06 12:54)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-05-06 13:13
The Hite Premier is indeed a good mouthpiece that won't do you wrong.
I also played on an HS* for many years until I got tired of how it made me work too hard; the entire bite area is very small and you feel as though you're blowing through a flattened soda straw after awhile. One mouthpiece that worked for me after the HS* was the Vandoren M13 Lyre. It has a small tip opening similar to the HS* but has a larger bite that give you more flexibility in your sound. It's supposed to be optimized for the Buffet R-13 but it works just fine with my Signet 100. You can get it for about $60-$70 at the online stores or for a bit more at a local retailer.
In the end, mouthpieces are very personal things, and what works for me may not work for you. Try as many mouthpieces as you can.
________________
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
Post Edited (2003-05-06 14:16)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2003-05-06 14:20
The mouthpieces that Gregory Smith fashion from the Zinner blanks represent the "best there is" available on the custom market. His Chedeville and Kaspar models are very credable copies of the originals used by professional clarinetists from around the world and, while they are a bit pricey, they are worth every dollar in performance. Greggory Smith is a Sneezy Sponser and info is available in the Classifieds.
Speaking from personal experiance, he will go "out of his way" to help you select a particular mouthpiece that will work for you, and is always just a phone call or email away for any concern that may pop up.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-05-06 14:34
As a new owner of one of his Kaspar Ciceros, I'll second the Greg Smith mouthpiece comments, but they are outside the "moderate price range" Kat specified.
But if you get one, you'll never need to upgrade again.›
________________
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
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: PolyphonicKat
Date: 2003-05-07 04:36
Thanks for the suggestions , keep them coming. I'm trying to find stores in my area that I can go and try out different kinds with my clarinet.
I found on ebay a mouthpiece for 6 bucks, it was manufactured for Mars music and was sold for $30 in stores that's all the info they give
<< http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2529131127&category=10182 >>
Any one know if its decent at all?, sounds cheap enough to grab and maybe just have around.....
Kat
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-05-07 04:51
Follow the other suggestions and go with a good name mouthpiece. They mentioned the Hite Premier, which I've never played but it's so well known and very respected, that I'd rather go with that than take a stab in the dark with another mouthpiece.
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2003-05-07 05:12
Many of my students are using the Fobes Debut with great success. It is very reasonably priced and has a carefully applied facing which younger students find comfortable to play.
The Hite Premier is also a quality mouthpiece which I have recommended for my beginning and intermediate students ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-05-07 13:55
"Once upon a time" I had a LeBlanc 27 [?similar??]. I neglected to measure its bore size [prob. cyl. tho], it may have been a 15.0 mm "big bore". If so, you might wish to measure and explore mps useable for jazz [for intonation reasons}. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-05-07 15:41
B40 is quite popular for both legit and jazz. some players in jazz like the b45Lyre as well.
David Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
