 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mikecbonner
Date: 2005-03-08 01:08
I have a bit of an usually story, in that I began playing clarinet at age 27 after a friend of mine gave me his little sister's old high school clarinet. I expressed to him interest in studing music, and perhaps even playing an instrument if it was within my limited finances. Well, he gave it to me, so now I am a clarinetist. Actually, it worked out well since I narrowed my choices down with clarinet being on the top (I am an early jazz fan). Anyway, I have been playing, messing around rather, for almost a year now without any professional instruction. I don't come close to being able to afford instruction, or top of the line eqiuptment, for I am a poor graduate student and would rather spend my meager pay checks on food or rent. But, I do enjoy playing, although I play poorly, I have fun trying to sight read old favorites or playing along with my favorite albums. But, I have been considering lately the possibility of buying a new mouthpiece. The stick that I have is a Selmer 1400 with the Selmer HS*. I use mostly V12s in a size 3. Like I said, I have fun with this set up, but I'm wondering if my playing could be improved. Of course the more I play, which tends to be off and on, the easier it is, but it seems that most of the time it can be unpredictable mostly with squeaking. No doubt that most of the problem is my technique, but would a different mp make playing more fun? I was looking at the B45, and that would be the top of my price range. Or, would this quest not be worth it for me, and should I stick with the HS*? Any feedback would be appreciated. Mike.
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Author: avincel
Date: 2005-03-08 01:34
I returned to playing the clarinet after a 40 year hiatus and can share my experiences. First I would have the clarinet checked by a repair technician for playability. There might be faulty pads, springs, leaks, etc. that could be contributing to your difficulty. Replacement of a few pads and key adjustment shouldn't run over $30-40. I started out with with B45 but did not find it very beginner friendly. I now play with a Morgan Protone ($30) that I really like (fewer squeaks and easier to play). Other mouthpieces recommended for ease of play by the experts on this board are the Hite Premier and the Charles Fobes Debut. They're also in the $30 range--- the Hite Premier as low as $23. Also I find the VanDoren regular reeds to run a little hard. You might find a softer reed--- a 2 1/2 or even a 2 -- to be easier to play. You'll have problems hitting the high notes, but the middle and lower tones will be a lot easier to play. And as a relative beginner, this is where most of the music you'll be playing will be written. As you gain experience and toughen your embouchure you can move to a harder reed. The point is to enjoy your clarinet experience so that you'll continue to play.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-03-08 02:05
avincel wrote:
> the Hite Premier and the Charles
> Fobes Debut.
Clark Fobes ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif) ...GBK
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-03-08 02:16
Mike --
Don't know if you noticed, but this board has a search function. Click on it, put "HS*" in the window (without the quotes), and you will gain a great deal of information about that mouthpiece and others.
Here are two relevant threads to start you on your way:
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=113495&t=113489
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=4339&t=4310
I do not, myself, care much for the HS* mouthpiece. It is pretty demanding. I have not used the Hite Premiere, but have used the Fobes Debut, as well as its pricier siblings the Nova and San Francisco, and liked all three very, very much. My husband, who is a "re-beginner", also loves them.
Susan
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-03-08 02:33
I have a fobes debut. It plays VERY well (I found out that that for me personally a size 4 or 4.25 reed matches up well with it, and I got a great sound out of it, as well as articulation, control, etc) Not to mention it's only around 25 dollars, so it won't break the bank.
Another thing you might want to do is try to find a local community band. Some bands reportoire can be very demanding (I was in one, but unfortunately, as fun as it was, can't continue), but there are also community bands around who maybe have more beginner members like yourself and you would be able to claw your way through the music with them. This helps with sightreading and blending, as well as just having some fun.
Also, you can try to get there earlier or stay there a little later and sometimes ask some questions and pick up some good tips from the other members of the band. We can only do so much over an internet newsboard, but someone who can see what you're doing might be able to point out a few things. I help out one of the members in one of the bands I'm in (a returning player after a ten year hiatus). I tell her to feel free to ask me any questions and I'll help her if I can. And sometimes, I can. So look around for local community bands.
This link should help you find one if you're interested . . .
http://www.boerger.org/c-m/groups.shtml
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: jArius
Date: 2005-03-08 06:09
Some people might disagree with me (big surprise ), but IMHO maybe you shouldn't play around with mouthpieces until you're a little more familiar with the instrument (like maybe 1 or 2 years more familiar). That is, as long as your current mouthpiece isn't broken or chipped or anything, in which case you should definitely get a replacement. My opinion is that in a couple of years you'll be much more attuned to your particular instrument's quirks, and (dare I say it) YOUR quirks, and then maybe you'd have a better idea of what to look for in a mpc.
(Dont everybody flame me at once, now :D )
Jeremy Bruins
Proud member of the too-much-time-on-my-hands club.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-03-08 06:35
Jeremy,
I agree with you, but the fobes debut and other student mouthpieces are designed to allow you to get familiar with the instrument. Many mouthpieces blatantly suck. So a student sometimes gets frustrated playing, when in reality, it's just REALLY poor equipment. These mouthpieces are designed to work, and give the person the chance to get to know the instrument, instead of having to fight a mouthpiece the entire way.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-03-08 13:11
Here's a second to what Alexi says.
At present, Mike has been playing with a mouthpiece (Selmer HS*) that, in the experience of many, is difficult to play without all sorts of squeaks and squawks. In addition, that particular mouthpiece is not well-suited to the kind of playing he says he wants to do (early jazz).
Sure, we wouldn't advise him to start playing mouthpiece roulette. But my feeling is that a switch to the Debut might give him a new lease on his playing life.
Susan
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Author: mikecbonner
Date: 2005-03-08 15:40
Thanks a lot guys. This is what I was looking for. I've been searching the net for opinions like this for a while without any luck. And, until last night I hadn't even heard of a Hite Premier or a Charles Fobes Debut. Also, I am thankful that experts like yourselves didn't recommend to this beginner an expensive top of the line piece. So, with such a high opinion on such inexpensive mps, I can't see why I wouldn't try one out. If only just to by a new toy; I need to do that sometimes.
However, a followup question: How do the tip openings compare to my HS*, and other mps, and what will that mean for reed selection? Also, whould I expect to find them in a local store, or is this an internet purchace? If so, what would be a good site?
Thanks.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-03-08 15:43
A new mouthpiece will absolutely cure every problem you've ever had, in your clarinet life, and will also improve your love life. I should know. I've accumulated a drawerfull trying.
Ken Shaw
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-03-08 16:00
I'm not completely conversant about tip openings/facing length comparisons. I believe the HS* is relatively closed, but there are other considerations that make it more challenging.
The CLARK (not Charles) Fobes Debut is very closed, and very easy to play. It will make a 2.5 reed seem soft -- depending, of course, on your embouchure development. With a well-developed embouchure, many players use V12 4's or higher. For you, you might want to start out with a 3 and see where you are. Or just start with the reeds you have been using, to get a real comparison of the differences in the mouthpieces. Don't change too many variables at once!!
I don't know if local music shops stock the Debut, but it is easily available online from any number of sources -- Google it.
Susan
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-03-08 22:32
The fobes debut is VERY reed friendly. I find I get the best sound out of mine with a softer 4.5 or a standard V12/FOF 4, but that's overkill for you at this point (build up to it).
It'll sound just fine with a 3, or 3.5. (I've tried these on it as well). But I only know about the debut. I can't compare it to the other ones as I haven't tried them.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: mikecbonner
Date: 2005-03-17 02:13
Well, I followed some of the advice given here and purchaced a Hite Premier. I actually found one for 16 dollars. Well, as you might expect it was worth it. Much easier to play, less squeeking, especially when changing registers, and the notes start cleaner. Thanks Guys, I might have made a big mistake without the advice!
Also, I purchaced along with it a Bonade ligature, but I am having problems with it. First of all, it took a lot of bending to get to a workable condition. But, the biggest problem is with the screws. They are bent. Therefore, when you tighten the lig, it tightens in a jerky manner in stead of smoothly, and you don't really know how much you're tightening it. I did manage to steal the screws off my old lig, and it sounds pretty good now, but I'm pretty annoyed anyway. Anyone else deal with this problem?
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Author: pewd
Date: 2005-03-17 02:23
there was a thread recently about the bonades having quality control issues. i deal with it by avoiding bonade ligs.
try a luyben or rovner. luybens are only $7.
hite mouthpieces are excellent.
paul
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-03-17 03:03
Ricardo Morales uses a "soft #4" reed or a 3 3/4 for the Grand Concert reed - I do the same.
Ya don't have to use a 4 1/2 to get a great sound, and if you are, possibly you are bitting too hard to play.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-03-17 03:07
Bonade ligatures are a mere shadow of the way they used to be made.
Crooked parallel plates which touch the reed, bands which need bending and reshaping, metal (seemingly) softer than in previous years, screws which bind, sharp edges which dig into the back of the mouthpiece, etc...
It is almost becoming too much of a bother to deal with.
A good design gone bad in production...GBK
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-03-17 15:47
GBK doesn't play a Bonade
since the fine salmon turned into scrod.
One can only but wish
that this Ligature Fish
would be once again quality-shod!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-03-17 22:36
Never had much luck with Selmers myself.
Bob Draznik
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