 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SusieQ
Date: 1999-11-08 21:29
I am looking for a new mouthpiece and ligature for my bass clarinet. I am playing an old plastic Bundy, in great working condition and can't afford to replace it anytime soon, so a new mouthpiece is what I will have to settle on for now. I am also curious as to what type of reeds other bass clarinetist are using. I am using Rico Plasticover right now, because I like the durability and I usually can get 2 to 3 good ones out of a box of 5. Tried synthetic reeds and I didn't like them and regular cane reeds don't hold up. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Author: Alec Thigpen
Date: 1999-11-08 21:47
I use a Bay MO-M and Vandoren 2 1/2 or 3 on my Buffet 1193 and that works for me.
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Author: Kurt
Date: 1999-11-09 02:29
Well I haven't been playing a bass very long. So far I've tried Vand. 2 1/2. I'm not sure if I should stay with them though. Maybe a harder reed is in order since I'm having trouble with the upper octave. Originally the guy at the store suggested I try something even softer.
Do you thing a harder reed is better? Also, you say the cane ones don't last. How long can I expect to get from a good cane reed?
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Author: bigcage
Date: 1999-11-09 10:20
I too play an old plastic Bundy. Retirees can't afford the big bucks. Selmer C* with Fibercell medium reed. I have a Legree 2.5 on order. For cane, try tenor sax reeds. Your mpce should play well low, but thin on top. Rep told me that mpce was made so beginners would play bass parts with good tone. There are so many mpces, but you can try 3 at a time you know. Good luck.
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Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 1999-11-09 17:05
I use a Pomarico #2 (slightly refaced) crystal mouthpiece and Vandoren, Zonda, or Rico Grand Concert #4 reeds, on a plastic Vito bass clarinet.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-11-09 19:28
I prefer the older of 2 Bundy 3 mp's to a Sel C* and a B45, playing tenor sax 2 1/2 reeds, great chal. fair clarion, no alt.! on my Selmer 33! Keep trying to find the best. Don
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Author: Heidi
Date: 1999-11-10 02:07
Dave,
Where did you purchase your Rico Grand Concert reeds? I've been trying to find them and haven't had any luck yet. In your opinion what is the difference between Grand Concert and regular Rico reeds ?
Heidi
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Author: Joanne
Date: 1999-11-10 15:35
I just recieved my new mouthpiece made by Roger Garrett, which I highly reccommend. They are available mail order from International Musical Supplies at a very reasonable price. I use this on a Selmer 1430 with a Bonade inverted ligature and Vandoren 3.5s.
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Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 1999-11-10 18:26
Heidi,
I ordered the Rico Grand Concert reeds from Frederic Weiner in NYC. The only similarity between these reeds and the regular Ricos is the company that makes them. Regular Ricos are so bad they're not even fit for beginners; Grand Concerts seem to be some of the very best professional reeds around. Perhaps analogous to a Cadillac STS and a Geo Metro -- both are GM products.
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Author: SusieQ
Date: 1999-11-10 21:07
Thanks for all the great input. It gives me somewhere to start, with all the choices out there. To Kurt: I find it easier to reach high notes with a harder reed,I use a #3. As for cane reeds, I have been using the Plasicover reeds for a long time, but when I was using cane reeds it seemed like I was always buying them and now I buy one box of 5 per year. I play my BC about 2-3 hours a week, so I am sure if I was playing more I would use more reeds. However I think you can get a more mellow tone with cane reeds, so I would like to find a good cane reed also. This sight is a great source of information, it is nice to hear from other bass clarinet lovers out there.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-11-12 19:23
Sorry for my delayed reply... my internet provider was down for a few days and i just now had time to check the board after weeding through 300+ messages from Klarinet and Flute listserves.
The best bass clarinet mouthpieces i've played have been Rick Sayre's custom model. His Selmer C* refaces are okay but his personal models are the closest thing i can find to Kaspar bass mouthpieces. And his bass mouthpieces are alot more affordable than makers like Bay, i think they around $135 last i heard. Plus, Charlie Bay's mouthpieces have always been too bright for my tastes. The crystal Pomaricos are okay except they don't tend to give enough projection if you're in a large ensemble situation (band/orchestra/pit).
Clark Fobes' bass mouthpieces are nice, but even more than Bay's. The three i've played haven't had enough bulk in the sound. Nice response though, clear articulation. But there were a few tuning problems that i didn't have with the three Sayre's i've played.
I have not had a chance to try the Pyne, Lomax, Morgan or Ridenour mouthpieces either. A doubler friend of mine tried the Pynes and said they didn't let him get edgie enough, in other words, they were too sweet sounding.
As for reeds, i always prett much use Vandoren 3's. I can sometimes use a 3.5" if it's not on the hard side of the spectrum. Haven't had the money to try the Rico Royals or the Legeres yet. But i've heard good things about the RR's and if the Legere bass reeds are as good as their Bb reeds, they're probably pretty good too.
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