 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: KellyA
Date: 2005-10-07 16:29
Hi there, this is my first time on this forum. I need help with selecting a good mouthpiece. I am purchasing a Buffet Tosca Bb greenline clarinet and will be playing it in the wind ensemble here at college. Previously I played an r-13 with a vandoren b45. Any ideas?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-10-07 16:37
Not enough information from your initial question.
How does the B45 currently feel/play/respond/project etc... for you?
Perhaps you currently have a mismatch as to the reed strength/brand for your particular mouthpiece?
The B45 has a tip opening of approx. 119.5 mm. (although after trying dozens of them for students - some were ok, some were awful, but no two were identical)
Use that as your starting point to try other mouthpieces (and reed) combinations...GBK
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2005-10-07 17:05
As a recent convert to a new mouthpiece of similar ilk to the B45, I highly recommend the Eddie Daniels 1. Solid sound, easy articulation, good dynamics.
I still can't get it to do the dishes.
.......Paul Aviles
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-10-07 17:33
Gosh Sakes, GBK, that B45 has an awfully wide tip, how about 1.--- mm? Ive never played even one of them I liked. Other VDs may be better but the choices are enormous in number, makers and require individual trial/error picking, IMHO. Everyone has at least several mps he/she considers to be good, but not perfect!!, read about Brad Behn's goodies. I recently went thru my collection for my close pro friend who is on a hunt-kick, selecting 7 that I like, prob. only a few will be even satisfactory to him tho. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-10-07 21:12
Individual likes in mouthpieces is such a subjective thing that it's hard to make any suggestion. Sorta like cars.
Bob Draznik
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-10-07 22:41
If you still have your R-13, I'd say make sure to get a good mouthpiece before you start to look for a new clarinet. Make sure that you have a good mouthpiece that you're comfortable with on your old clarinet, and then start looking at a new clarinet. And don't fall into the trap that just because the marketer SAYS it's a better clarinet, that whichever one you buy WILL be better than your old one. Make sure to test them out side-by-side to make sure that if you're spending the money, it's DEFINITELY an improvement.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Connor
Date: 2005-10-08 05:21
True, there are just to many mouthpieces on the market.
Im a performance major at the University of Northern Colorado, and all of the students here play either a Vandoren M-15 or M-13. I personaly have a M-13 Lyer that has had a little coustom work done to it. I perfer very stiff reeds, Vandoren Traditional #4's or V-12 #4 1/2. You must be aware that if you switch to a different mouthpiece form your B-45, you will probably have to do some sort of reed switch, ie, you probably play #3 on your current set up, but if you switch to a M-15, you may need #4 or #4 1/2.
Good luck and happy hunting
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Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2005-10-08 09:43
When finally repacling my Leblanc mp, I wanted to go for B45 because it is somewhat similar, but ...
I had the change to try the B40 (standard advised by many pro's here), and guess what . I discovered that my sound on the Leblanc/B45 is to 'hard/aggressive', and the B40 is much nicer.
So at least try some of them, (they all are different)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-10-08 12:38
The B45 seems to be the general upgrade mouthpiece in the UK (as well as the R13 being the general instrument that appeals to the masses without them even trying the competition).
I found the B45 way too open for me, and didn't like the sound, but the 11.1, 11.6 and B46 were good, but I find the 5RV Lyre to be the one that suits me best.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2005-10-08 14:10
I have always found the B45 to be too open. In the Vandoren line, I have found the M13lyre to be the best for my tastes. Vandorens can be somewhat inconsistent, so it is sometimes necessary to try a few to find one that works the best for you. That said, I would rather spend a few more dollars and go to one of the hand made mouthpieces out there. I highly recommend Clark Fobes CF+ as a great choice. There are other fine ones by some of the sponsors of this site. You can contact one of these guys and tell them what you are looking for and they can point you in the right direction.
Good luck
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-10-08 21:28
Whooaa.
I've found that taking the mpc off of a working combo and planting it on another instrument seldom/never works very well.
I suggest that you:
Contact a good retailer and ask them to recommend several mouthpiece candidates. Let him/er build on your description of how you get along on your current mpc.
Have the retailer ship you a batch (3 or 4) of mouthpieces to try out.
Get a second ligature --just like the one you are currently using.
Get two each of every strength of reed from like 2 to 5.
Get a whole bunch of mouthpiece pads.
When the trial mouthpieces arrive, put a pad on each --so that you don't scratch them while trying them out.
Pick one of the mouthpieces and set up a reed that works well with it. Try playing on the new mouthpiece. Find a reed that makes it play comfortably.
Swap your current mouthpiece for the trial, play, compare.
You might want to consider
-intonation
-responsiveness (jump from one note to one far away, try fast tonguing while playing scales and arpeggios, ...)
-eveness (do some notes stick out when you play arpeggios and scales)
Choose the best of your two mouthpieces; set the other aside and set up another of the trial mouthpieces.
Continue through the whole quiver --give the best ones a fair trial.
If you fall in love with one of the mouthpieces, keep it and send the rest back to your friendly retailer. Be sure to clean them up and package them carefully.
If you find a mpc that's close, call the retailer and discuss your findings. S/he should now have a better idea what sort of set-up works for you. Repeat the trial.
Keep (at least) the two best mouthpieces. Don't be cheap, here; the mpc is your point of contact with the sound of your music.
Good luck, and keep hunting.
Bob Phillips
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Author: KellyA
Date: 2005-10-09 05:33
Thank all of you for the responses. In high school I played a selmer signet soloist clarinet with a selmer C-85 and found that to be harder blowing, more quite, but with a sweeter tone. I've also tried some of the german cut mouthpieces that are narrow, those are scary in the low register (I get resistance and a weaker hissy sound). I'm learning as I go here, so thank you so much!
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