 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2006-10-10 01:40
Hello all,
Does anyone have any experience with this mouthpiece?
Local band director would like to require his students to buy this one...of course they believe that all of the clarinetist will have the same pitch after buying it.
At $45-49, it is the cheapest hard rubber mouthpiece that I have come across.
Thanks in advance to those who know!
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2006-10-10 03:37
I strongly believe that having all of the students buy the same mouthpiece is a huge mistake. They don't all have the same lips, throat, tongue, etc., so they will need different mouthpieces.
I had a local band director tell one of my students (just before she became my student) that she, as well as all of her classmates, must buy the same mouthpiece. It was not a good fit for her, so I spent about an hour refacing it, making a poor mouthpiece play fairly well. She could have had a mouthpiece that was just as good or better without the hour of work, if he had let her try several types of mouthpieces. About two weeks later, he gave her permission to use whatever I suggested, so she then spent more money on a different mouthpiece.
That said, they may play well for some of the students, so they could be on a list of mouthpieces for students to try. Some other good mouthpieces that are in the same general price range are the Gennusa, Woodwind K series, and Vandoren, which have multiple facings available.
Chris Hill
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2006-10-10 12:43
Chris, I am in complete agreement with you. The band director is an idiot.
He has also told students that there is no difference between Vandoren and Rico reeds, so don't spend the extra money. (His credibility in the clarinet world is shot!)
But does ANYONE know this specific mouthpiece?
James Tobin
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-10-10 13:49
Good advice against "uniformity" above. Among my many mps, I still have a couple with G8 facings. I gave my old "original WW" with several others to my good cl f[r]iend , a pro, who still teaches in Tulsa, plays in our comm band, and elsewhere, when his health permits. I'll ask [Thu evening] his present recommendations for new students, which include a rapidly-advancing Asian girl, to whom I've loaned my Kohlert A cl, to ease the transp./key problems she was having. As I recall [will find] a mouthpiece comparison chart, there are many makes of mps in the G8's "area", prob. quite similar in playing character, [middle of the road, IMHO] . My present fav. for Bb and A is a Dave S - refaced Selmer Clarion [glass], so perhaps if he can take the time [from his bass cl "research"] to give an opinion, we will all profit! Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: William
Date: 2006-10-10 16:13
Woodwind G8. This was a mouthpiece that was recommended to me by my clarinet professor while a clarinet major in the 1960s. Twelve years ago, he was still using them for producing his customized mpcs. He later switched to the Zinners and has since retired due to an advanced arthritic condition. I still have two of his WWG8 custom mpcs that play extremely well. Also, I read that the late Emily Bernstein--who recorded the clarinet solo for the Tom Hanks movie, Terminal ("Viktor's Tale"--John Williams) used a Woodwind G8 mouthpiece for that recording as well as for her entire professional playing career.
FWIW dept., my feeling is that a vintage G8 will perform better than a contemporary product, but as I have not played any newer models, I could be very wrong. As I said, I do like my older ones as modified by my former clarinet professor. My .02's worth--hope it helps a bit.
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2006-10-10 16:40
Some of the old G8's of Chedeville vintage were evidently of high quality. My teacher (Marcellus) played one as his primary mouthpiece while in the Washington Nat'l Symphony in the early 50's. He said that it was the "quickest" mouthpiece he had ever encountered - as he said, the expression at the time was "It went like 60." (as traveling MPH in a car).
Unfortunately during a pit job with the Washington Ballet, he came back after intermission to find that his clarinet had been knocked over and that the tip of the mouthpiece had broken off. This was just before he was to leave for his new position as principal clarinet in the Cleveland Orchestra in a couple months.
He always recalled with a great debt of gratitude that Anthony Gigliotti, newly appointed principal in Philadelphia, offered him his spare mouthpiece to start the season with something that he could jump off to. I believe he told me it was an older Frank L. Kaspar stamped Chicago - when Frank L. was still working in the loop before moving to Ann Arbor.
Later, he switched to a Bonade "Melior" mouthpiece and then a crystal mouthpiece, shortly thereafter discovering the magic of both the Kaspar's mouthpieces which he would play for the rest of his relatively short career.
Gregory Smith
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Author: Bill
Date: 2006-10-10 18:17
I've become a humble and unsuspecting devotee of "WW" mouthpieces. A WW piece, labeled "Crown," in my collection of over [do numbers really matter?] mouthpieces has taken center stage as having perfect pitch, a nice "medium" tonal and mechanical properties, and is an all-round best performer.
I just would not have ever suspected this.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-10-10 19:04
TKS, Wm and Greg, valuable "insights". Gosh and Gee Whiz, fellas [and gals], looking in my Leblanc Dyn 2 case, in a "flip top" lig [anyone remember these?] I found a "virgin-appearing" WW [NYC], Steel Ebonite [Reg US Patent Office], G8 !!! I'll give it a whirl on an old [mellow] wood Sel Signet 100 Bb, and my Winged-Selmer A and report if judged great. With only one score line above, and one below, does it qualify as a Ched or Kasp? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Bill
Date: 2006-10-10 19:30
Don -
Definately an (unmarked) Henri Chedeville blank. Can you see an "H" and then the beginnings of a "CH--"?
Look really hard! Have a glass of wine and look even harder. It will appear ... trust me.
Bill.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-10-10 20:56
Rite 'c'har, Bill, no decent vino avail., had to increase my Scottish anceestry about a dram, but still couldn't make out the fine print !! Old eyes to blame. Trying the G8 on my A, really "brightened up" the tone color, playing very easily, good [better] response [as Greg said], knowing what to look for does help ! I'll ask my Tulsa friend about his G8 thots, since Bill V wont have most of my prejudices etc. This has made a rainy PM more pleasant. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2006-10-11 00:42
Much obliged for all the help above!
Most of these comments address the G8's of the past. It wouldn't hurt to give the mouthpiece a try. (Although I don't believe that there is a trial option involved in this situation...at least, not when ordering through the band director.)
Thanks again gentlemen!
Any comments about today's G8's would be appreciated!
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: lorenmcc
Date: 2006-12-25 20:35
I have recently rediscovered the my old Woodwind G8 that I used back in my student days, before switching to the "stock" Buffet mp that came with my R-13 (1970s vintage). I like the G8 better for most work (although I still like the response from my buffet mp for heavy classical). I would like to find a modern equivalent to the old G8, or something that is a cross between them. Has anyone come across an acceptible replacement?
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Author: Burt
Date: 2006-12-25 22:33
My clarinet teacher had me buy a G7 (slightly less open than a G8) back in 1954. It was considered a good mouthpiece of average dimensions, and he considered it to be much better than the Buffet stock mouthpiece. With a few re-facings, I used it until 2002.
From what I have heard, the nomenclature has totally changed. If they have a "G" series now, it may not be anything like those from the 50s.
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Author: curlyev
Date: 2013-03-18 07:09
I have a vintage G8 that is awesome. I can't believe that the band director thinks they should all have the same mouthpiece! I had a difference mouthpiece (Vandoren 2RV) when I started, and it worked so well for me. The flatter shape was what I needed. I'm glad my band director didn't put those limitations on anyone in my class. People had tons of different brands too, mostly Yamaha, but I got to start on a Vito and loved it.
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