 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: William
Date: 2005-05-25 15:29
Yikes!! I just went through the entire listings on eBay clarinet mouthpieces, bid on one--but then realized, WHAT AM I THINKING??? I currently play on three different mouthpieces--80% on my Chicago Kaspar--and sound pretty much the same on all. I also have a drawerfull of other assorted models and brands, as well as a Kaspar "backup" mpc in the event that my Chicago suffers an unthinkable fate. And given the right reed for any of these assorted mpcs, I would produce the same quality of sound and be the same clarinetist that I already am--at least on my A & Bb sopranos.
Why am I wastng my time and money bidding on another clarinet mouthpiece, potentially just to add to my already full "stuff" drawer??
Do any of you share this observation..........(?) just wondering.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2005-05-25 15:47
William,
I have the same equipment lust. I told my wife that I needed no more MPs (except for the right alto sax MP that I am still searching for - classical ones I have but a better jazz MP has eluded me for years).
I play a SWS 2 and a Portnoy BP02 as my primaries and have backups. Other usuable MPs that are in the drawer include a couple of very nice playing Buffet C and C Crowns. Notice, no VDs.
Maybe you and I should send each other a Care package of MPs as there may be some new directions that we can take this quest (my rejects might be your treasures - or was that about junk).
HRL
PS Why? Because we are sick, twisted, frustrated, and brooding woodwind players that hope to find the proverbial “diamond in the rough” at a bargain price and can't wait to smugly tell our less-fortunate musical friends all about our skill and cunning!
Post Edited (2005-05-25 16:53)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-05-25 16:09
Jerry Seinfeld has an airplane hangar which houses his collection of more than 50 Porsches.
One of my adult students owns 35+ different cameras.
I currently have 13 different R-13 clarinets, and if a very nice #14 suddenly showed up on my doorstep at a reasonable price, I'd probably buy it as well.
Why?? Why not?
Welcome to America, the land of excess.
Isn't disposable income great?. ...GBK
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-05-25 16:48
With mouthpieces you really have only two options: You buy a single mouthpiece and then buy clarinets until you find one that plays well with it. Or...you buy one clarinet and then keep buying mouthpieces until you find "the right one". The latter option is less expensive.....usually. Oh, once you find the right mouthpiece then you think that maybe there is a better one.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Llewsrac
Date: 2005-05-25 17:06
The grass is always greener thus another mouthpiece, another clarinet, and on and on. Nothing wrong with this, nothing sick about it either as long as you can afford it, or not.
The nature of Humans, pure and simple.
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Author: nickma
Date: 2005-05-25 17:59
You're all very sad, and clearly need to de-mpc. I, on the other hand, only have a Morgan RM10 and RM6, vintage Bay and Bay Modele de Triomphe. I restrict myself to 2 Bb clarinets for my own use, hence I'm always selling something or other...
Nick
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-05-25 18:07
Why not use ClarinetFest, OU, or something else like that to find a mouthpiece? It's free to try them, they are there usually in excess, and you won't have to have a drawer full of wasted money. That's what I'll be doing, because I don't have enough money to have a drawer full of mp's, ligatures, or clarinets. I own 2 mps (marching and symphonic), 2 ligatures, 4 barrels (2 stock and 2 that I'm borrowing from my teacher), and 4 clarinets (my dad's old Bundy, my marching Vito which I bought used, a Yamaha 52, and a Yamaha Allegro which I got for free). All of my equipment cost me about $1,190. I will be purchasing a professional line clarinet this summer because I'll be majoring in Music Education and Performance.
I guess if I had money in excess, I would be buying more too. Oh well. As long as I have what I need, then I'm ok.
Maybe we should all host a mass mp/ligature swap? We could all probably find the right equipment for us without spending a penny. I'd be up to it!
I realize that Ebay has some vintage/rare mouthpieces, but if it was rare I would be afraid to use it because I wouldn't be able to or it would be hard to replace it. No use=a waste of money in my book. Who knows what you're after or what your motives are? Have you examined your motives when you buy new equipment? I have to check myself A LOT to make sure that I'm not just wasting money and to make sure I have a very specific and important reason for my purchases.
I dunno... if you have plenty of money to do this, then go for it! Have a blast!
It makes me sad that we, as Americans, can spend in excess when across the world people are starving. We are truly blessed.
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Author: CPW
Date: 2005-05-25 19:19
"Why do you climb mountains?"
"Because they are there."
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-05-25 20:53
"It makes me sad that we, as Americans, can spend in excess when across the world people are starving."
That is so true. I also starved during the Depression here in the USA. I wonder if you have ever gone to bed hungry or what you are doing about your sadness.
Bob Draznik
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Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2005-05-25 21:06
You know what's interesting about mouthpieces - you never know whether there is one around the corner that could enable you to sound a little better...improve your upper register...help your staccato. How can you know without trying them all? And don't even start with ligatures...The potential combinations are endless.
Sue Tansey
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Author: CPW
Date: 2005-05-25 22:52
Mouthpieces there are plenty
And good ones perhaps a few
Which of them is perfect?
I dont know
Do you?
Will they make me sound good?
Just like Marcellus or Wright
Doubt that this can happen
But there just could be one that might.
The quest is neverending
The magic is perverse
That Holy Grail eludes us
and makes us jump and curse
Where is it hiding?
I really want to know.
Wait....I see an auction
To my wallet I must go.
Shoot...another one is a dud.
Now I am in a rut.
Guess I will just go practice
This game sure makes us nuts.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-05-26 10:31
Mouthpieces are probably the most mysterious part of the clarinet. Few people understand them but when you find one that makes you sound better and is easier to play on you realize they are not all alike.....each one is unique. Those of us who seek them are musical prospectors and are crazed by our lust.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-05-26 13:37
You really must spend your money on something - why not these?
I don't see any reason why you can't surround yourself with beautiful objects.
It's a problem when another facet of your life suffers from neglect.
(Your rent in the mobile home park is paid, right?)
I don't see why you should apologize for being rich.
It's only problematic when your stuff runs you...
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Author: CPW
Date: 2005-05-26 13:44
I am running for the US Senate
My Platform.... A National Assistance Law for Mouthpiece Purchases.
aka A.N.A.L. -MP
![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
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Author: Kel
Date: 2005-05-26 14:39
The posters to the Sax on the Web forum refer to this as GAS--Gear Acquisition Syndrome. It's pervasive and contagious.
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2005-05-26 15:13
I have a solution. "The Mouthpiece of the Month Club." Members draw, by lot, one name from the'subscribers' list and send him/her three mpcs the first of each month. Names are not repeated. The recepient trys the mpc's, keeps one or more if desired and adds three more to the package shipping it to the next name chosen at random. etc. etc.etc.
In three years you will get your same junk back.
Bob A
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Author: CPW
Date: 2005-05-26 16:04
That is like having a boat, then a bigger boat, usually in increments of two feet in length longer.
It is called "two footitis"
Yes the MMOTMC...mouthpiece of the month club...can sponsor trips
to Holy sites:
Ann Arbor Mich to the shrine of St. Kaspar
South Philly (Henri Ched) with side visit for cheesesteak at Pat's
A defunct barn in France (Ched and Lelandais)
Chicago for a Smithfest, and of course...a Friars roast of Walt Grabner.
Red-Wine tasting cruise in Maryland --a toast to Iggy
The annual (Chris) Hill climb
Pyne forrest hiking
Cross the bridge to Fobe-o-philia
your turn..........
oops...forgot.....Barrel of the Month Club for an additional fee
Clarinetconcepts giving free hernia exam (turn and cough with a chronometer)
Backun giving Canadian Backun...er, Bacon
Chadash...Hey it's New Yawkk
Against the windmills of my mind
The jousting pole splinters
Post Edited (2005-05-26 16:07)
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Author: Bill
Date: 2005-05-27 03:28
It's part of the joy of playing clarinet well. Greatly diminishing results, but multiple purchases offer the chance to hear how we sound at our best .... again and again, in different ways. Clarinetistry can be an form of employment (I bow deeply to the professionals) or a very personal pleasure. Mine has always been the latter, and every sound of every piece of equipment has been a joy ... and I remember each one.
Bill.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-05-27 11:10
"PS Why? Because we are sick, twisted, frustrated, and brooding woodwind players that hope to find the proverbial “diamond in the rough” at a bargain price and can't wait to smugly tell our less-fortunate musical friends all about our skill and cunning!"
In other words, because we are clarinetists 
I have the same obsession, mostly with bass clarinet mouthpieces. I have a Ridenour, a few Pomaricos, two Fobes, and a Vandoren. I've always had problems with the upper clarion. Just when I thought the problem is either my clarinet (a Buffet low C, so no...) or myself (I was pretty sure that was the problem) I found two Selmer mouthpieces that made the clarion register almost as easy as on a Bb clarinet! I couldn't believe it. After all those reputable mouthpieces, the ones that were the easiest to play were a few stock Selmers!
I am sure that it got to do with my mouth or the way I play, because another bass clarinet player preferred my Fobes over that Selmer. He said there is no comparison, and that the Fobes is much better.
Looks like my mouthpiece search is just beginning... Selmer it is this time...
Post Edited (2005-05-29 10:05)
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-05-29 00:07
You don't suppose professional golfers only have the set of clubs with which they first learned, do you now?
The problem is in trial periods and their brevity... if you could turn most of these gizmos back to the makers for a full refund, they would go bust!
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-05-29 00:08
PS - I think that HEAVY devices are often perceived as more effective, and valuable, the lightweight designs that sell well need hefty packaging to compensate...
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Author: Markael
Date: 2005-05-29 03:07
One day I was walking down the street in this artsy college town. I heard the sounds of a street person playing harmonica. He was pretty dadgum good. I put a couple bucks into his bucket.
As I walked away, I wondered aloud about how much of his intake comes from other musicians, most of whom don’t have a lot of money—at least not from playing music.
Go to any music store and most of the people working there are musicians.
The point is that a relatively small percentage of musicians actually make a living performing music. Some make part of their living selling mouthpieces, or sheet music, or whatever, to other musicians.
That’s a good thing insofar as it keeps the music playing.
Yes, sometimes it is a form of excess when people spend too much money on gear. You could say the same thing about the people who party too hard but in so doing make it profitable to hire a band.
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