 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2007-02-28 11:04
These look interesting (especially the Zinner blank ones). As someone brought up on Vandoren, my question is this: where do they sit on a comparitive scale with regards to suggested reed strengths? Are we talking M15 or B40 here? I'd like to know what to expect before I get one to try.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-02-28 11:24
My experience is only with the non-Zinner mouthpieces.
The Genusa is different than the Vandorens. I have a G** (most open) and found that even the less open models have a good sound and lightning quick response.
I might compare the Genusa more to the M30. The M15 seems to be a mouthpiece with a uniquely long lay. Now that I spend all my time on an M15 going back to the Genusa is a bit jarring.
The only thing I would add is that the Genusa (non Zinner) mouthpieces in general play pretty low. Work closely with a tuner. My first Genusa was a heartbreaker - I loved the response and sound but the sucker dragged my high clarion C into the gutter.
.........Paul Aviles
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2007-02-28 11:35
Thanks, Paul. I think I read on their site that the standard Gennusa is built on a 440Hz blank, and they do a 'Euro' 442 version. I assume the German Zinners are 442 - please correct me if I'm wrong. 442 would be best - one of the bands I play in regularly drift to 443 and beyond when the weather's warm ;-D
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-02-28 14:24
Why not contact Ben Redwine directly and ask him these questions. He's a fine fellow and reads the bboard quite a bit.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-02-28 14:40
I have two older Genussas (made by Iggy), which were inconsistent. One had a quite asymmetrical (crooked) facing. Everett Matson touched it up, and it plays quite well, but the two still don't sound the same.
I haven't tried any of Ben Redwine's mouthpieces, or the ones on the Zinner blank, which were introduced after I got mine.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-02-28 15:22
Funny you should ask about the "Euros." I did not get the advertised results. Even though the mouthpieces are actually physically shorter, my problem with the pitch results from the HUGE tone chamber (I guess that's what makes Genusas sound the way they do). They may have been ever so slightly higher in pitch but still LOW sounding for me.
Oh, and as for 442 or some other such designation, it really only makes sense to make sure you get the pitch that is comfortable for you (with the leeway necessary for adjustments of course). Mouthpiece manufacturers can tell you all day that they make a product to a certain pitch, but it is the combination with your instrument and how you play that makes that determination.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2007-03-01 20:33
Interesting, Paul. I currently play B45 dot which (apparently) has an enlarged chamber, and that plays a good ten cents lower than any of my other mpc's. And have you ever tried a Selmer CP100? Built 2mm shorter than any other mpc for the same nominal pitch.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2007-03-01 22:05
Why do people here always think that the mouthpiece is a problem if it plays too low? I play at 442 and I have both 440 and 442 mouthpieces and I find no problem playing the 440 mouthpiece with 65mm barell on my Festival clarinet. Also people should have at least two barells because you need sometimes to pick up your instrument cold say when you are altering between Bb and A clarinets. The only problem is that when I pick up my Bb clarinet really cold it plays just about 5 cents too low but after 2-3 minutes it's okay. But I've never had to pick up my Bb really cold only slightly cold.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-03-02 00:50
Dear Iceland,
I don't attribute flatness to mouthpieces in general, however, my experience over the decades is that there has been a trend in the last twenty years to market "DARK" sounding mouthpieces to a gullible public by making the tone chamber larger and FLATTER. I don't necessarily contend that you cannot get them to work. I merely hope that awareness will lead to thoughtful decisions for equipement rather than groping around with all sorts of gadgets to correct a problem that we may have unwittingly brought on ourselves (such as "bad twelfths").
...............Paul Aviles
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