 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: inspiring musician
Date: 2005-12-19 21:08
I am a serious advanced high school player. Recently, I've been searching for a good professional "zinner" blank mouthpiece. My private teacher has recommended me trying some Greg Smith or Lee Livengood Mouthpieces, to go along with my R-13 and Buffet Chadash Barrel. I've already been to Greg Smith's Homepage and got a few details about his mouthpieces. The sound that I'm interested in is a dark, compact, round, ringing tone quality that also projects. In May, of 2006 I will be auditioning for two different youth orchestras in Michigan (Oakland Youth Orchestra, Metropolitan Youth Orchestra), so a compact projected sound will help me for those two orchestras. I would really appreciate if people from this board could give me their opinions on the Gregory Smith and Lee Livengood professional mouthpieces and maybe some other top mouthpiece makers.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-12-19 21:15
Greg is one of the best craftsman of custom clarinet mouthpieces. His mouthpieces are used world wide by pros, amateurs and students.
There are many past threads on Greg's mouthpieces.
He is very accessable and works hard to meet each player's specific needs.
Contact him directly - I'm certain he would be happy to help you find what you need...GBK
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Author: Shorthand
Date: 2005-12-19 21:31
Most of the custom mouthpiece makers are using Zinner blanks for at least some of their offerings. However herr Zinner will make blanks to spec for different craftsmen, so not all Zinner blanks are alike.
Start with the board's sponsors:
http://test.woodwind.org/Sponsors/Mouthpieces/
It is far more valuable to make a well-informed decision by trying several instances of several models than plunking down major cash on a particular mouthpiece. If you coordinate with your teacher and section so that several of you are taking this project on at the same time, you can probably get some help dispelling the cost and the up front capital it takes to do something like this.
Your teacher will have formed a strong opinion based on his own experience over the years. It would probably be a good idea to discuss what range of mouthpieces you should try and what kind of tradeoffs different designs & facings have with him.
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Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2005-12-19 21:46
Look around and try some different stuff, you may fand that a VD M13 is Ideal for you, or maybe it's a Greg Smith K or a Fobes Cicero ect.
I think Chris Hill is making the best blanks of anyone, certainly darker and better projecting than Zinner. Walter Grabner is currently facing one for me (although Chris sells finished mouthpieces that are top notch, a bit pricey though). The tone on it is super dark and smooth, really good projection to. Walter's Zinner based mouthpieces are exellent as well. Check out the mouthpiece sponsor on the bboard here, they're good makers.
Ben
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2005-12-19 22:18
Shorthand said:
"...you can probably get some help dispelling....the up front capital it takes to do something like this."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a point of clarification:
Although not mentioned at the website, I seldom if ever require up front capital especially if ordering via MC/Visa (or not). The clarinet community as a whole has been very trustworthy and responsible. I try my best to reciprocate with that trust and have had very little if any cause to believe it need be otherwise.
Gregory Smith
http://www.gregory-smith.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-12-19 23:10
All in all, zinner based mouthpieces seem to be working VERY well for me. Most of my preferred mouthpieces (aka: most of the ones that I've tried that I've also liked) were on zinner blanks. I have a greg smith chedeville on a zinner blank, a walter grabner kaspar on a zinner blank, and a ted lane on a zinner blank as three of my top four mouthpieces. The other, is not a zinner blank.
As per craftsmanship, all three of the above are awesome for me play/articulate/project/etc. etc. very well. I do have my order preference, but I can comfortably play on any one of them and they are ALL pretty comparable to one another.
As per dealing with the people. All the three aforementioned people were very professional and courteous.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2005-12-20 23:36)
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2005-12-20 00:30
I purchased a Greg Smith mouthpiece last year after my teacher suggested it and it is INCREDIBLE. Altough it had a hefty price tag (I believe I payed $270 CAN) every penny was well spent! It makes playing sooo much more enjoyable when you are using a great mouthpiece, instead of just a good one.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-12-20 00:46
I absolutely recommend Greg Smith with the highest ratings as a mouthpiece artisan and supurb clarinetist. He's also a first class human being and is so nice to work with. Send him an email and tell him what you're playing (the equipment) and what you're wanting. I've played his Kaspar mouthpieces for about 8 or 9 years now and before that I played one of his Chedevilles. I prefer the Kaspar Cicero 13 style one because it has a darker tone. He'll send you out several to try and he also sells the Chadash barrels to match if you get it at the same time as the mouthpiece.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-12-20 15:22
Inspiring musician, the best money you will ever spend if you are a serious player is on a mouthpiece. Give Greg Smith a chance to send you some and try them and you'll be so glad you did. A good mouthpiece can help you with intonation problems, articulation, projection and overall tone. The first time I tried a good mouthpiece I was shocked.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2005-12-20 15:53
I agree with Brenda . . . don't be afraid to invest in a great mouthpiece. However, don't be afraid to say No to one either.
When I bought my Greg Smith Ched 1+, I selected it out of 4 different models he sent me to try. I THOUGHT I wanted a Kaspar. After all, aren't the original Kaspars the most sought after Holy Grails out there? But for me, the Ched 1+ excelled where the others did not. Not that the Ched 1+ was a better mouthpiece than his others; it was just better for me.
My point is that you can read all the web sites and catalogs you want, and then spend $200-300 for a mouthpiece that isn't the best choice for you. So consider the counsel you receive, decide who you might like to deal with, and then see if you can't try several different models that they offer.
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Author: Stewie Griffin
Date: 2005-12-20 21:25
I highly recommend Lee Livengood. He is highly sought after and is one of the world's top mouthpiece artists.
He faces Chadash-Hill blanks for his Ched model. His specs ARE different from Chris Hill's (also recommended). See what you like.
He also makes Kaspar models from Zinner blanks.
Greg is another good maker.
So is Clark Fobes.
And Richard Hawkins. And Brad Behn. And Charles Bay. And Jim Pyne. And Roger Garrett. And Dan Johnston. The list is endless. Again, try out what you like.
Disclaimer: I have no finacial ties with any of them
Post Edited (2005-12-20 22:00)
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