 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2005-06-26 04:26
Just a few questions:
1) What type of mouthpiece do you play?
2) Do you play a simmilar type of mouthpiece on Bb? for instance, are both pieces open? or closed? or a combination??
The reasom that I ask this is that I have been playing bass on an "as needed" basis professionally for the past few years. I used a Richard Hawkins for a while because that was my Bb mouthpiece. Later I switched to a mouthpiece that Walter Grabner made and tweeked for me. I like the Grabner quite a bit, but have never completely enjoyed the tone; it never seemed to have enough mass. I tried a Hite the other day and I really love the sound of it. Anyway, all this got me wondering if people who tend to favor closed Bb mouthpieces, like myself, choose the same in bass mouthpieces. I haven't measured the Hite, but I think it might be a little more open than my Grabner.
Also, for those of you who play bass regularly, do you try to focus the sound in the same way that you might on soprano clarinets? I have noticed that it is very easy to get a kind of flabby sound on the bass. I wonder if I should go for that Marcellus type of purity on the bass?
And while I'm at it......What makes a good bass clarinet player? Describe, if you would, the sound you would like to hear. Also, describe what sounds you most hate to hear from bass clarinet players.
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-06-26 05:29
I play bass for a community orchestra and sometimes for school orchestra or contest. I use a Selmer C* which is a medium open mouthpiece I believe. On Bb, I use an Vandoran M15 profile 88 which is a closed tip. So yes, mine do contrast. But, I think my Bb clarinet is very free blowing so it needs a more resistant mp setup. On bass I think the opposite has happen-the bass is more resistant and I need a freer mp setup.
The sounds I hate to hear from bass: Squaking. Gross. And-when I play up over thumb and register key C, the intonation doesn't sound too grand.
Hopefully some more experienced players will able to comment too. Hope I maybe answered your question a little.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2005-06-26 06:18
same as carrie - i use a Selmer C* on bass, with Vandoren #3 reeds, and a M15 on soprano with Vandoren #5's.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-06-26 07:11
I use a pretty open mouthpieces on both Bb and bass. Eaton mouthpiece on Bb and Fobes on bass.
The Eaton is the best Bb mouthpieces I've played and I've tried many like Pomaricos, Vandorens, Selmers, Pynes, Grabners, Bays, and more.
On bass The Fobes is the best mouthpiece I have (and I have have Pomaricos, Ridenour, Vandoren, and another Fobes) and I have tried Grabner, Garret, Bay, Pyne and a few more.
I actually found two mouthpieces I liked much better than any other mouthpiece I've played on bass, and both were Selmers.
One was from the C85 series, and belong to a bass clarinet owned by my university.
The absolutely best bass clarinet mouthpiece I've played was a Selmer C* that came with a Selmer 37 bass clarinet I tried. The clarinet was bad so I bought a different one but I probably could buy the mouthpiece.... Too bad I didn't think of that....
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-06-26 13:34
Dave, We have discussed bass cl mps numerous times here on WW and on Yahoo bass-clarinetgroup. I suggest a search of their archives, as most of our comments will be "reruns".. Many of us seem to have had our competent mp refacers, Grabner, Spiegelthal et al do a "custom" reface on an already fairly-good mp [blank?], mine are 2 Pomaricos, a C*and several good Bundy 3's for bass, and several glasses of differing dimensions for sop. I tend to prefer "quite" open tips, medium long lays. For my comm. band etc playing, I use soft reeds 1 1/2 -2 1/2, back-sanded and clipped if too soft as I seldom need to be above the staff. Enjoyable playing ! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: lowclarinetman
Date: 2005-06-26 16:39
I play bass clarinet professionally in an orchestra and have gone through a number of mouthpieces and we have discussed this several times here.
On bass i play a pomarico crystal HB facing(made for Henri Bok) with marca excel jazz tenor sax reeds #3 and a winslow ligature. For me it is the perfect set-up, i have played on Selmer C**'s, a Robert Scott, and Kal Opperman and this setting works wonderfully. it givces me the ablility to change tone colours while having enough power to be able to cut through a large string section. My bass is a Selmer 37 low C, I played this set-up on a Buffet Prestige for a while but was never happy with the fact i could only sound 1 way on a buffet.
my clarinet mouthpiece is a M15 with v12 #4's with the vandoran leeather ligature, sorry i forgot the name.
As far as bass clarinet playing, it would take me longer than i have to type this to answer your question fully. but the short answer is yes. You of course have to focus the sound just as much if not more on bass. I am squarely in the Marcellus school of playing and I apply the same principals from my soprano clarinet playing to bass and Eb.
I am a bass clarinet specialist and the sound i go for is very different depending on what i am playing and where. When playing in the orchestra I like to have a bit of edge when I play loud but be able to move to a sensitive darker sound for lryical stuff. The easist answer for tone is listen to good bass clarinet players. I recommend any of the discs from my teacher Henri Bok... (especially the bass clarinet & piano CD)
well that's all i have time for.. and its not very helpful... what you need if you are really interested in bass clarinet playing is lessons from a professional bass clarient player... well good luck
bob
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Author: William
Date: 2005-06-26 16:46
I concur with DB that you should do a search as this is a frequent subject and a lot of great info is avialable. However, to address your question (and for 'one more time'), I play a Chicago Kaspar mpc on my sopranos and a Grabner, CXSB model (customized Selmer C*) mpc on my Buffet Prestige low C clarinet. I do not try to match tip openings on any of my clarinets or saxophones, but rather play what sounds good and rely on selecting the specific reed that will allow for good response and quality of sound. Open verses close--never give it a thought. If it plays good for me, I use it. For me, the reed is the key issue--and currently, on bass clarinet, that reed has been a Legere #3. I really think that a cane reed delivers the best range of sound, but I do a lot of out-of-doors concerts and other venues where I must switch quickly from soprano to bass, and I find that the Legere works best for these situations. Good sound throughout the bass range--"subsonic" C up to (written) G6 and beyond--and it is always ready to play.
FWIT, I gave Legere reeds (regular and Quebec cut) a ten month trial period on my soprano clarinets with a variety of different mpcs--Kaspar (Chicago and Ann Arbor), Bay, Hawkins, Stowell, Greg Smith (Ched and Cicero models), etc--and could not make them work for me. So, I am back to V12s, 3.5 and all of the adjustment "fun" that goes with them. But the resulting sound and response is worth it.
But don't just take "my word" for it--do a search, get all the information your mind can take....and then, make up your own mind. That's what it is all about (and not the Hokey Pokey).
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2005-06-27 03:26
Thanks a lot for the responses so far. I am aware of the archives here, but most specifically I was interested if you guys play simmilar mouthpieces on each horn. Also. I was interested in the approach that you guys might have regarding the bass clarinet embouchure, etc.
My reasoning is that since bass clarinet is still a clarinet, then I "should" focus the sound in the same way I do on Bb clarinet. Thanks in particular to lowclarinetman for your thoughts regarding this.
Now I need to go practice!!
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Author: graham
Date: 2005-06-27 08:17
The Pillinger GH Bass Clarinet mouthpiece has a 1.75mm tip opening and a smaller than average tone chamber and this focuses the sound quite a bit. It is based around a 1930s design.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2005-06-28 15:39
For what it's worth, I'm an amateur who uses a Vandoren B45 and is quite satisfied with it. Medium or 2 1/2 reeds.
Yes, the bass clarinet sound should be focused in my opinion, if by focused you mean clear and beautiful. I think that a good instrument with undercut toneholes contributes to this. I may not be the greatest technician around, but I pride myself on getting a great sound on my instrument. I haven't picked up a soprano in years, so I can't make a good comparison about playing the two.
One type of sound that I don't like from a bass clarinet, other than obvious bad ones, are when the instrument is made to sound too much like a saxophone. (If you want to sound like a saxophone, play a saxophone.)
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