 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Charlie
Date: 2007-07-20 19:26
I currently play on an R13 with a Vandoren B45 and a Rovner Dark lig. Just wondering, is this the best choice? I know that a major factor in this is personal preference but surely there is some kind of absolute in quality.......?
rockerchar@gmail.com
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Author: bufclar
Date: 2007-07-20 19:49
I find fabric ligatures can dull the reeds vibrations and can cause ones tone to be strong on fundamental but lacking a spectrum of overtones that can add color to ones sound. That being said, some great players use fabric ligatures and have a sound I would love to have. I like the Vandoren Optimum or the Bonade ligatures.
Mouthpieces are very much an individual thing. Vandorens can be good and great students and pros use them. If the mouthpiece feels comfortable to you then there is no reason to switch. Now if there is sound that you can describe clearly in your mind that you can't get on your current mouthpiece then yeah maybe it's time to try some different things but make sure you know what you want and why you can't make the sound you want on your current mouthpiece before trying a bunch of stuff. A lot of the sound we make or the sound we wish we could make has as much to do with the player as the mouthpiece so my best advice is to really understand what you have and what is good and or lacking about it before going in another direction.
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2007-07-20 19:50
There's many threads on mouthpieces, so read up. The Rovner Dark lig. and B45 combo works alright for one of my high school students. I'm not crazy about the mouthpiece itself 'cuz it was bright, but the Dark lig. helped that. We might change that mpc. during the next school year, we'll see. She uses 3.5 Vandoren traditional cut reeds.
What to look for in a mpc. Tuning, feel, and tone quality. Reed friendliness. Refer to mouthpiece and reed charts as a starting point for what reed might go with what mpc. Feel is about the angle of the beak, and how much mouthpiece you need to take in for it to play well. Is it easy for you to control? Use a recording device and/or a professional clarinetist to assess the tone quality. Check tuning with a tuner, then play a duo with someone you know plays well in tune.
etc. etc. etc.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-07-21 14:55
I love the search. I've had PLENTY of awesome mouthpieces, and still have some awesome ones in my possession. And have even more awesome ones coming in every other month or so.
I don't even no if there's a "best" out there. But I do know that every now and then I reminisce (sp?) about a few that I let go that I wish I hadn't. But all in all, I like to believe that they've been sent to good homes.
Alexi
PS - Ummm . . . as per YOUR search, make it your own. Take your time, and enjoy the thrill of the hunt.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: SirAdamWilliams
Date: 2007-07-21 19:47
I don't think there is any mouthpiece that is simply "the best".
But, if you find it... call me.
^_^
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-07-21 21:38
You might give the B40 a try. I agree re the fabric ligs and currently favor the vandoren Optimum.
Bob Draznik
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