 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: moose6589
Date: 2003-10-03 09:35
I think either I've gone crazy or my embouchure has gone crazy. Recently, I've been dissatisfied with my pomarico diamond because of its huge resistance for me, and so I tried my previous mouthpieces, which all played like I expexted. The B45, B45 dot, and pomarico emerald all played as I remembered them. Then, just because I was bored, I pulled out the mouthpiece(presumably Buffet? it's unmarked) that came free when I bought a B12 from Weiner's Music six years ago. Visibly, it looks quite terrible, and the table of the mouthpiece isn't even flat, instead having these tiny weird vertical ridges. Obviously, I didn't expect much, but was I wrong! When I first blew in, the resistance was about average, a lot less than the diamond, but more than my Vandorens. Then, I started playing a few scales and such, and it was quite good! I got a pretty nice tone throughout the range of the instrument, and it tuned nicely, too. It was pretty much better than the other mouthpieces, and Im using it full-time now. I have now concluded that I've gone crazy since I cannot accept the fact that a free mouthpiece would be better than the $250 I've already spent on mouthpieces. So, what do you think?
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-10-03 10:40
If it sounds good to an audience, plays well for you and comes from an obscure or lowly mouthpiece manufacturer...
Better dump it quick and spend more money, you'll never learn the secret handshake unless you play the expensive stuff!
****
Who cares what WE think? It's your mouthpiece, innit?
Anyway you slice it, these things are still a piece of rubber with a hole down the middle...
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-10-03 14:06
I agree with SyBo's "piece of rubber..." comment. My favorite tenor sax mouthpiece is a ~50 year old piece of hard rubber with no brand markings. It plays better than big name pieces I have tried. Don't lose sleep over it.
Hans
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-10-03 14:14
I just intercepted a secret communique from the Expensive Mouthpiece Cartel:
"moose6589 is getting good results with some cheapo freebie mouthpiece. Terminate with extreme prejudice."e
________________
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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Author: donald
Date: 2003-10-03 14:32
well, the "cheap vrs expensive" comparison isn't really that suitable here as your other mouthpieces aren't exactly roll royce material, and we don't know what shape they're in.
the real test would be, will you still think the Buffet mouthpiece is better AFTER you've spent a couple more years improving (asuming you're studying seriously with a good teacher and setting high standards for yourself). THEN i'll be interested (and digging up the 3 or 4 odd Buffet plastic mouthpieces i've got lying around and giving them a 2nd chance!!!).
incidentally, the "lines" on the Buffet plastic facing (just leftover from the milling process) reduce the resistance and quicken the response of the mouthpiece as the reed doesn't seal completely. Theoretically they also have a negative effect on the tone, but these pros/cons are impossible to measure and exist only in the minds of experienced and professional players, and so of course will be pooh-hah-ed by various posters (as per usual).
glad you're happy, though i suggest instead of getting one of your crystals refaced (re your former post), you get someone to put a good facing on the B45, and then just learn to live with it for a year or so.
donald
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Author: cujo
Date: 2003-10-03 23:04
I also have a B12 but it came with a MP with a usual Buffet logo. I am quite sure the one you are playing on is not even a Buffet MP. I have also a Conn clarinet that came with a no name MP but i know conn uses thier own MPs And it actually sounds a bit better than others much more expensive.
My second best MP was $5 a selmer newyork #3. Sounds great through all scales better a few new vandorens i bought.
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Author: moose6589
Date: 2003-10-04 02:01
Hmm I wonder what the mouthpiece is then. Weiner's Music gave it to me. I think I'll go ask them about this.
Donald- You say that the vertical lines reduce resistance because it doesn't seal completely. But isn't that against common mouthpiece logic that says the reed should be sealed against the table so that no air leaks out? Isn't that why you should wet the whole reed before you play, not just the vamp? And you say that I ought to get the B45 refaced. What about my generic plastic one? If it plays better now, shouldn't I just stick with it?
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Author: cujo
Date: 2003-10-04 03:33
For the price of refacing, keep your b45 and get a new MP(or used). My best sounding MPs are very old and quite used.
All your mouthpiece info about tables and facings and such can be found in great quantities in online websearches. Notice i say quantity and not quality although there are many good sites out there.
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Author: ClaRiNeT_CaNdY
Date: 2003-10-04 16:22
expensive doesn't mean good
cheap doesn't mean lousy..
i bought a cheap yamaha 5c mouthpiece and somehow its better than my current vandoren B45 for the lower notes. *shrugs* don't know
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