 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: chogue
Date: 2000-02-21 14:36
So just after I bought a new used Bb on e-Bay and put it in the shop for an overhaul, my community band president finds a bass clarinet for me to borrow. (We desparately need the lower parts since our tuba player departed.) The catch is -- I need to furnish my own mouthpiece. I haven't a clue where to start on brands & models. Any suggestions? I am very much an intermediate player -- I don't want to buy a high-end professional mp. Any suggestions? And can one find bass clarinet reeds other than Ricos?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-02-21 15:16
Hi Chogue: I have several B C mp's, my preferred is an old hard rubber [green-brown tinted] Bundy 3. I also have a newer Bundy 3, the [original?] Selmer C* for my Selmer 33, a newer VanDoren B45 and a Noblet [which I have tinkered with the facing!]. I previously had a Bay, cant remember its facing. All of the latter play reasonably well for me on my Sel and a 50's [low E] Conn, so I do switch at times! My suggestion is to try out all you can. I usually use good tenor sax reeds [needed to cover some mp rails] 2 1/2 - 3, and sand the reed's back at least lightly, since I prefer the softer, clear low-register playing. Luck, Don
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Author: caro
Date: 2000-02-21 15:47
I have an old Woodwind that I play on, bought that at an auction.
However, there are a lot of brands that are reasonably priced and play fairly freely. The Vandoren M-13 (or 14?), B-45s come to mind, and also Portnoys play well.
Caro
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Author: SusieQ
Date: 2000-02-21 15:52
Woodwind/Brasswind has several different bass clarinet reeds. I have been playing bass clarinet for over 15 years and I prefer Rico Plasicover #3 strength. I like the Plasticover because of their durability as I am hard on my reeds. They are a cane reed with a plastic coating. I don't use Rico reeds on my Bb though. If you use a reed that is too soft you won't be able to reach your high notes. As Don said in the above post, tenor sax reeds also work well, however they are slightly narrower than a bass clarinet reed. Hope this helps a little.
SusieQ
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Author: Dave Ruger
Date: 2000-02-21 19:23
I have just started soprano and bass Bb clarinets from scratch - having only played sax previously. I have borrowed a Buffet wood bass clarinet and fought middle register squawking. A complete repad on the high stack has helped. I have found the #2 RICO reeds that came with unusable in the middle register! The MP is a Vandoren B44. The repair tech got me on a tenor sax Rico 2.5 Plasticote which at least got me some 3rd octave Gs As ,etc. Even better is a straight Van Doren 2.5. The horn produces gorgeous tonality throat Bb and below to low Eb. I lose that clarity with a Van Doren 3, but am still experimenting.
So the horn is now "perfect" with a good MP and reed, but its still not "fun" playing mid register above an F. I can very carefully get a high D, but Eb and above are impossible. There seems to be delay in tongueing a G, and I still squawk occasionally. Any suggestions for embouchure, breathing, horn position, etc?
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Author: James Marioneaux
Date: 2000-02-21 21:04
I have found (through advice of others) that a baritone saxophone reed works well on bass clarinet, especially with a Selmer C* mouthpiece. It is slightly wider and it does not seem to squeek as much. High notes seem to speak better and the low register is good. You must cut off some of the butt of the reed so it will lay flat on the mouthpiece. I use a coping saw to make the cut.
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Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 2000-02-23 14:23
My two cents' worth --- I have in the past used Charles Bay mouthpieces, and they're very good, but currently overpriced IMHO. Lately I've been using a Pomarico crystal mouthpiece (they're a Sneezy sponsor, by the way) with #4 reeds of various brands (Vandoren, Marca, Zonda, Olivieri, Rico Grand Concert, Glotin). Works for me!
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2000-02-26 16:20
I am using a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, which is fairly popular; so at least include it among those you try out. And yes there are other, better reeds than Ricos. Recently, I have been using Rico Royal and LaVoz brand reeds. You should be able to find them at a decent music store in a large city. However, if you live in a small town, you may have to go elsewhere to get decent reeds.
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