 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2006-06-17 18:26
As a graduation gift, my uncle gave me $300 and specifically told me to get a bass clarinet mouthpiece with it. I've always played a cheap (<$600) used plastic bundy from the 70's (I think) with a hard rubber mouthpiece that I found used at Bronstein Music in South San Francisco. I don't know what brand the mouthpiece is, but I liked it more than the Vandoren pieces I tried there (I hated those). It used to say RVS on the back, but that has long since been scratched off by my inverted Bonade ligature. Although this is not a great setup, I have used it rather successfully in groups ranging from the California all-state band (first bass clarinet in the state in 2005!) to freely-improvised heavy metal jams. Frequently, however, I feel like my mouthpiece and horn are holding me back. This is not just my imagination, I have played much better setups (selmer 37 w/ selmer mouthpiece, buffet 1193 w/ custom moutpiece) and sounded and played much better on them. Since a nice new Selmer or Buffet is kind of out of the question, a mouthpiece is the way to go.
I need a mouthpiece that will give me, control of the instrument, particularly in the upper clarion. Right now, it feels like all of the delicate embouchure work I try to do is wasted because I have to force out every note between clarion G and altissimo D. Of course, it must have good intonation and tone (suitable for orchestral playing), plus something with quite a bit of projection would be wonderful.
I know, I know, it's all subjective and I have to try many out to find the right one and I know that no mouthpiece is going to do all of these for everyone, but I need a place to start looking, since I've never really bought a good bass mouthpiece before.
I'm thinking of giving Walter Grabner a call to see what he's got that would be good for my purposes. Who else?
Post Edited (2006-06-17 18:27)
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2006-06-17 19:22
I'm sure the Grabner mouthpieces are very good, even though I've never personally tried one. Just this past Thursday I had a student bring in a Roger Garrett "MO" model that she had ordered from WWBW (to replace her Vandoren B40) and it was terrific! Rich, deep sound with even response in all registers. I can't guarantee that it will make your Bundy sound like a Buffet Prestige, though.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-06-17 19:37
Yes, Walter and several of our other VG bass mp maker/refacers would be good places to start. Read our Classified ads here. I am a devotee of glass mps for both "show" and lack of wearing, for bass alto and Bb. I chanced on 2 GG glasses [made earlier by Pomarico [Italy]] which were refaced by David Spiegelthal which work beautifully with my Selmer 33 bass for both comm. band and mild jazz playing. I bot an alto cl mp from Pomarico, a #3 lay, which is plenty good on my Sel B series AC. Does your bass have the Double Register Keying [a vent/pad on the neck] ? which, to me is badly needed on most BC's to improve both the lower and upper clarion notes and their responses. We have discussed these issues at length, so I suggest an archives Search, so as to not repeat opinions and some true facts. Happy hunting, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-06-17 19:54
Max, if you're in San Fran, then aren't you just down the road from Clark Fobes, who makes some of the best bass clarinet mouthpieces on the planet?
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Author: Ryan25
Date: 2006-06-17 19:59
Clark is a good person to check with but Clark does not sell mouthpieces to individuals as far as I know. You have to order one from a company like WWBW or Muncy. I would try a Fobes or the Grabners. His new Lawrie Bloom mouthpiece is supposed to be fantastic!
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2006-06-17 20:26
Yeah, I tried to buy a clarinet mouthpiece from clark about 5 years ago back in the 7th grade (I just graduated from high school) and he was hesitant to do it. It seems that now he has stopped selling directly altogether. I might give him a call or send him an email to see if he has any way of letting me try his mouthpieces without selling me one directly, just so that I could get a feel for the different facings without having to deal with mailing mouthpieces around the country.
And that Grabner Lawrie Bloom mouthpiece seems pretty exciting.
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Author: ElBlufer
Date: 2006-06-18 01:00
I will echo others and say to try the walter grabner mouthpeces. I do not play bass clarinet, but I have found his Bb clarinet mouthpieces to be spectacular! Another thing about Mr. Grabner's mouthpieces are....you can return them and only have $5 or so charged to your card! I hope that you find a mouthpiece that truly speaks to you.
My Setup:
R13 Clarinet (Ridenour Lyrique as my backup/marching instrument)
Walter Grabner K11 mouthpiece
Rico Reserve 3.5's
Bonade ligature
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2006-06-18 08:26
I have contacted both Clark Fobes and Walter Grabner. I am going to meet up with Fobes on Friday to try a few mouthpieces out, and I'm also going to try Grabner's CXZ_LB. This is exciting!
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Author: rc_clarinetlady
Date: 2006-06-18 08:41
I'll give another two thumbs up for Walt's mouthpieces. I'm not a bass player but I just bought one of his soprano mouthpieces and it's wonderful. He'll work with you until you find what you're looking for. He's a very easy person to work with and has fair and policys for both of you.
By the way.... I heard him play his recital at the OU Clarinet Symposium this weekend and he was superb. He played the bass like I've never heard it played before. It was a delightful concert.
Best of luck to you in your search.
Rebecca
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Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2006-06-18 11:30
Anyone experience with Nagamatsu mouthpieces ? Other side of the world, but seem to be fantastic ?
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2006-09-12 17:02
Count me among Walter Grabner's fans. I just received one of his LB bass clarinet mouthpieces and I'm very impressed with it.
Here's a link to a more detailed message I posted on the SOTW Forum about the mouthpiece.
http://71.6.135.46/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45381
Roger
Post Edited (2006-09-12 17:05)
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2006-09-12 18:43
Roger Garrett and Walter Grabner both make top end bass mouthpieces from Zinner blanks.
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2006-09-12 19:25
Another vote for the Grabner!
I bought one this spring and it makes my Selmer really SING, especially down to the low C. Very nice.
I have used Selmer, Van Doren and Hawkins mouthpieces before but tis one is MUCH better.
With one of these yoiu MIGHT sound like a real Selmer or Buffet prestige!
Eefer guy
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-09-13 04:13
In case Max haven't bought a mouthpiece yet, I will also recommend Clrak Fobes. I've tried really a lot of different mouthpieces, including all the ones mentioned in this thread (except the japanese sounding one) and a lot more and I erpsonally like Fobes the best. I also spoke with him a couple of times and he was very helpful without any BS around it like some other makers.
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2006-09-13 04:22
I ended up with a Clark Fobes San Francisco model, with an RR facing. Very nice. Now I just need a new bass clarinet...
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Author: RodRubber
Date: 2006-09-13 06:30
I played a nagamatsu briefly. The inside has some sort of rail or fin that definately does something different to the air flow. Perhaps it really needed a further evalution with a softer reed strength. I really liked the tone this moutpiece produced. It was very different feeling from my Bb set- up, it was becoming a problem switching back to Bb. I went back to my vintage re-done selmer.
Best Regards,
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2006-09-16 18:26
Walter Grabner makes very fine Bass clarinet mouthpieces...a few freinds of mine in orchestras really think they are tops for orchestral work.
As with anything be sure to try a mouthpiece with a correct reed/facining resitance...don't test a mouthpiece with the reed you have been using on your old mouthpiece.
David Dow
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Author: clarinetmc
Date: 2006-09-16 23:00
Hands down...The RICHARD HAWKINS bass clarinet mouthpiece is BY FAR the best I have ever tried...Many professionals play them...they are incredible!
hope this helps
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