 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: haberc
Date: 2007-02-24 22:51
I have been playing a Woodwind "Larry Combs 3" mouthpiece and have always been happy with it. Just interested in feedback from players who have tried the Larry Combs model. thanks
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Author: CEC
Date: 2007-02-24 23:16
A very nice mouthpiece. Lovely, dark, covered sound. Sadly (several samples) played flat with my R-13 (or me ) I'll bet it sounds great with your Signet!
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-02-25 12:58
The Larry Combs model is a better than average machine-made mouthpiece. I've tried a couple and have liked them. That said, I prefer my hand-made mouthpiece, which the maker (Kalmen Opperman) finished for me in his studio, where I could try each adjustment.
Ken Shaw
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Author: William
Date: 2007-02-25 14:43
From a Larry Combs master class at the old IMS--when I asked, "what kind of mouthpiece are you using?", his reply, "I am using a mouthpiece that Richard Hawkins made for me." When asked about the Larry Combs model mouthpiece, he replied that he "had ended his endorsement because of production inconsistancies." (FYI--for his class demos, he was playing a Legere reed with a Vandy Optimum lig and an Opus clarinet)
My own experiance was when I purchased fourteen LC #3's for my middle school band back in the late 80's. Although they all played "OK", none were exceptional. In fact, they were very inconsistant and not at all reed friendly. Only two came close to my own Kaspar faced Bay "Ithica" custom mouthpiece--and they were clearly made from different blanks. Also, FYI, the best LC #3 that I ever played was one that had been customized by my old clarinet professor, Dr. Glenn Bowen, for John Winslow--but (grrrr) it was not for sale.
The current UW-Madison saxophone, jazz and composition professor (who went to school with Larry Combs) plays on a stock LC #3 and recently used it when doing a long term second clarinet sub gig with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra with (then) Principal clarinetist, Russel Dagon. He likes his mouthpiece, but I suspect that Glenn Bowen may have also done some work on it.
Bottom line, like all other mpcs, the Larry Combs models are good but qutie inconsistant and you have find the right one for you. If worked on, they can be excellant--but "off the shelf", you are taking your chances.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2007-02-25 19:21
Does anyone know if Larry Combs has started using a Walter Grabner Chicago mouthpiece in his performances?
http://www.clarinetxpress.com/chicago.html
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2007-02-26 00:10
i must have got lucky because i got a very good one. its the best legit mpc i have owned
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2007-02-26 11:04
Gregory,
I had read at Walter Grabner's website that Larry Combs (and Julie DeRoche) made a suggestion to him about a mouthpiece design -- that became the Chicago model -- and participated in its testing. No, I had not seen the discussion you provided in the link. Given what appears to be some level of involvement with the mouthpiece, I was curious if Larry Combs is actually using the Grabner Chicago mouthpiece or not. You're the best person to know.
Roger
Post Edited (2007-02-26 11:05)
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-02-26 14:05
Here's the deal as I see it. The Larry Combs mouthpiece made by Leblanc is a Larry Combs "sponsored" mouthpiece--not made by Larry Combs. It was designed with his endorsement, not his hands on involvement. I have played several of them and have not liked any of them. They are supplied (or were before the Backun arrangement) with Leblanc's top of the line models (Opus, Opus II, and old Concerto model). Although they are much better than standard stock mouthpieces they are not a custom, hand-made mouthpiece such as the fine work of Mr. Gregory Smith or Walter Grabner, Brad Behn and others we've mentioned on this board.
We need to make a distinction here of famous names on mouthpieces and hand-made mouthpieces with that person's actual involvement with each mouthpiece. Leblanc produces many, many factory mouthpieces with great players names on them but no truly handmade models. As far as I know Larry Combs isn't currently in the business of making mouthpieces bearing his name. Perhaps Mr. Smith could say this better than I can.
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2007-02-26 14:12
I used to play a Larry Combs "1" back in the early 1990's. But, it was worked on by my then clarinet professor. I liked it alright back then, but I have played on so many better ones since then that I wonder why I ever liked it at all. It was just ok.
Lori
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2007-02-26 14:17
Roger asked:
"...I was curious if Larry Combs is actually using the Grabner Chicago mouthpiece or not."
-----------------------------------------
No.
Gregory Smith
Post Edited (2007-02-26 14:18)
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Author: bufclar
Date: 2007-02-26 16:15
As I understand it,
Mr. Combs and Mrs. Derouche worked with Mr. Grabner to develop the mouthpiece. I believe it is a mouthpiece that is available to their students. Instead of the Depaul students mail ordering mouthpieces from Richard Hawkins with varrying results, now they can drive to Mr. Grabners and try them out in person. It seems to me that the mouthpiece is a product of convenience.
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Author: Aaron
Date: 2007-02-26 17:56
bufclar wrote:
"As I understand it,
Mr. Combs and Mrs. Derouche worked with Mr. Grabner to develop the mouthpiece. I believe it is a mouthpiece that is available to their students. Instead of the Depaul students mail ordering mouthpieces from Richard Hawkins with varrying results, now they can drive to Mr. Grabners and try them out in person. It seems to me that the mouthpiece is a product of convenience."
No, that's not the case. Hawkins is still very much the mouthpiece of choice here at DePaul, but Mr. Grabner will be coming in some time over the next couple weeks to bring his new mouthpiece for both students and faculty to test. I don't believe that very many (if any) students have tried his new mouthpiece.
In regards to convenience, Mr. Hawkins sends several batches of mouthpieces a year for students to try and purchase. He himself was just here a couple weeks ago as a guest in our studio class, and after the class he was available to students for mouthpiece adjustments. He also brought another batch of mouthpieces for us to sample. I had him adjust my newish mouthpiece (RH Standard) slightly and he did a fantastic job.
If anyone is interested in hearing about Grabner's new mouthpieces, I can write mine and my fellow students' impressions when Mr. Grabner visits.
Aaron
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2007-02-26 19:11
Aaron,
I would very much like to hear about your (and other students') impressions of the Grabner mouthpieces.
Thanks, Roger
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Author: William
Date: 2007-02-27 14:32
"They are supplied (or were before the Backun arrangement) with Leblanc's top of the line models (Opus, Opus II, and old Concerto model)"
Not my experiance, having been to the Kenosha facility on mumerous occassions and having actually bought a set of Concertos. All of the Concerto-Opus clarinets that I personally play tested were supplied with the LeBlanc K10 model mouthpiece. Didn't see even one LC mpc in any of the cases. Then, maybe the guy that stuffs the cases couldn't locate the LC bin that day...........
But I would second your suggested list of mouthpiece makers, with a personal vote for those of Gregory Smith (as I have played tested his models and own two--"Chedeville" 1* & "Kaspar Cicero" models.
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Author: Aaron
Date: 2007-02-27 15:55
My Concerto II (also from Kenosha) came with an Eddie Daniels mouthpiece.
Aaron
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-02-27 19:05
William, as you may remember I've bought and sold several Opus clarinets and currently own an Opus II and a Symphonie VII, and they all came with Larry Combs 1 mouthpieces. If you got a K10m you got screwed. Look it up on the website (gleblanc.com) it says Larry Combs is the equipment mouthpiece for these. The new Concerto II comes with an Eddie Daniels mouthpiece.
http://www.gleblanc.com/instruments/query.cfm?model=1191S
the 2571 LC1 is the Larry Combs 1 mouthpiece.
Post Edited (2007-02-27 19:07)
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Author: William
Date: 2007-02-27 20:55
"If you got a K10m you got screwed."
LOL
Seriously, the K10 mpc isn't that bad, at least the ones I got. And I prefer the LC3 over the LC1 anyhow. However, I'll stick with my Chicago Kaspar and Ithica Bay for my main mpcs and keep my wonderful Gregory Smith Ched and Cicero models as backups.
But I'll never forget that LC3 that John Winslow got from Glenn Bowen--a "top drawer" mpc that, unfortunately, is probably still in his top drawer. The good ones are "out there"--all you have to do is get lucky and find one. That goes for any mouthpiece.................(I seem to remember reading that the late, great, Emily Bernstein played on a WW G8 for her entire career--perhaps worked on by Matson)
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-02-27 21:24
William, it does my heart good to know you've got a good mouthpiece to play. The K10M isn't a bad student mouthpiece, but retail value is less than the LC1. That's all I meant. Someone probably swapped it somewhere along the line, or it was a complete mistake in packaging.
I used to buy new K10Ms from a local music store and sold them on the unmentionable auction site. The friend's music store had a free upgrade to a Vandoren of your choice if you bought an Esprit or upper level instrument. So, he always had dozens upon dozens of new K10Ms for me. Too bad those days are over. He sold out to Brook Mays and Brook Mays went broke...it's a sad and often retold story.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-02-28 03:35
Whoops. Wrong thread. Please delete.
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2007-02-28 03:37)
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Author: Sue Kim
Date: 2015-02-15 22:26
I have a LC3 woodwind mouthpiece I have been playing for 32 years, and it has a tiny chip on the back side of the tip, does anyone know if that can be repaired?
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2015-02-16 00:07
A good mouthpiece tech can usually fix a tiny chip on the tip rail, back or front, if the mouthpiece as a whole is worth repairing. Naturally, you have to decide if the quality of the mouthpiece justifies the the cost of repair.
Talk to Brad Behn at bradbehn@hotmail.com. Or try Nathan Beaty at
nathan.beaty@gmail.com. You could also ask the clarinetists in local or nearby orchestras to refer you to the techs they use, if you want a reliable tech perhaps closer to home.
If Behn and Beaty happen to be at a clarinet conference or expo, they may take a few days to reply but they will.
Post Edited (2015-02-16 00:14)
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Author: William
Date: 2015-02-16 20:49
To update this old thread, I am still playing my Leblanc Concerto Bb, but have opted for a Buffet R13 A as it's partner--a very good match, btw. And I have become a Walter Grabner client using his CX_BS bass clarinet mpc and his K11* soprano clarinet mpc exclusively. His mouthpieces, customized from Zinner blanks, produce a warm, rich sound that remains focused at all dynamic levels. Walter is a fine craftsman as well as being a superb repairperson and will work with you until the job's done right.
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