 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ashley91489
Date: 2007-11-24 01:12
I'm currently playing on a Vandoren B45dot and while I really like it, I'm looking to try a new mouthpiece. I play on a Fobes w/ my BC and love it so I was wondering how the soprano clarinet mouthpieces were. Also, which facing would you rec. coming from a B45dot?
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2007-11-24 01:22
Why not contact Mr. Fobes? Do a search for him, and you will find contact info. He's very good about consulting with prospective customers, as are all makers of quality mouthpieces.
http://www.clarkwfobes.com/
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2007-11-24 01:23)
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Author: Ed
Date: 2007-11-24 13:17
I have used Clark's mouthpieces for quite a while and think very highly of his work as a craftsman. He knowledge of the workings of a mouthpiece and the acoustics are top notch. I agree that the best idea is to call or email him. He is great about consulting and responding to all inquiries. He can ask you what you are looking for, your tastes in playing, etc, to get the right fit. Good luck and let us know how it works out.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2007-11-24 15:47
I have to say although I've never tried Fobes mouthpieces that I like the idea of getting it directly from the maker much better than buying from retailers because then you can be sure that you are getting two slightly different pieces of the same model and also the maker is then making a piece for you and your style and not just to send of to retailers.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2007-11-24 16:54
While he has a reputation for being very responsive to questions about his products and for a willingness to make recommendations based on a potential customer's preferences and needs, here's a quote from the "Order" page on Clark's website:
"I can no longer send mouthpieces to individuals!
Due to the tremendous interest in all of my products I am now selling through retailers only. MANY wonderful local music stores carry my mouthpieces and if they do not , please refer them to my site and they can request dealer information."
It's not clear from his website whether he has a shop where he will still custom-make mouthpieces for customers who visit him. If you want to mail-order one of his mouthpieces, however, you have to go through a dealer.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Ed
Date: 2007-11-24 18:51
I have some of Clark's mouthpieces that I received earlier, when you could contact him directly, and some more recently which I received through Muncy Winds. Honestly, all of them are great. I would suggest finding the facing that works for you and get a few of that model to try. You will be very likely to find at least one that will fit your needs and taste. Clark has a good variety of models, so there should be something to suit just about any taste or playing style.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2007-11-24 20:46
The problem is when I order say from Walter Grabner I get two mouthpieces of the same model and only pay for one during the trial time. I can be sure that they are different within the spec. On other hand if I buy from retail store I have to pay for each mouthpiece and here in Iceland the rule is that I have to pay 24.5% tax on the whole order and if I want to return a mouthpiece I have to tell them before and when I return it I get 80% of the custom fee back. So I both have to pay restocking fee and 20% of the custom fee on each mouthpiece. This and not getting mouthpieces selected by the maker are the resons I like it more to buy direct from the maker.
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Author: Ryan25
Date: 2007-11-24 22:49
Iceland,
Most stores will send more than one mouthpiece for trial as long as you contact them first. Woodwind and Brass Wind and Muncy winds have done this for me in the past with no problems. Next time you want to try something, I would call and speak with someone in person before ordering.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-11-24 22:53
> Most stores will send more than one mouthpiece for trial as long as you
> contact them first.
This kind of convenience is usually only offered within the same country.
--
Ben
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2007-11-24 23:51
But you will have to pay for each and then get the money back when you return it isn't like that? And then I get a check with the pack and have to pay tax and custom fees and then when I want to return it back I only get 80% of the tax and custom fees back. And when I order mouthpieces from Grabner I pretty much know what I'm getting and I'm almost always been able to sell the second mouthpiece to my teacher or other students.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2007-11-25 14:17
Iceland clarinet says:
"I can be sure that they are different within the spec"
I would think that this would be the case with 2 mouthpieces of the same model from nearly any maker wouldn't it? I imagine any maker is creating their mouthpieces to be the same spec. In all honesty, I have never played any two that play EXACTLY the same in every respect, so there are always very slight variances within those measurements.
Unless perhaps I am misunderstanding your comment.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2007-11-25 14:39
Well when I look at Fobes website I can see that his SF+ facing is 1.00 opening but when I look at Grabner site he says that his K14 is Medium mouthpiece of 1.065-1.08 opening so when you order two you can be sure to get two pieces from different end of the spec. But the main reason of my comment is that it's much cheaper to get mouthpieces from the maker and only pay for one during the trial period because of custom rules here in Iceland rather than paying for both of them and then only get 80% of the custom fee back when you send one or both of them back.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2007-11-25 15:05
Iceland-
That is lousy about the fees. It would be tough to lose all that money on the transaction. The only choice I suppose would be to order a few with the idea that those you don't want you will sell to students or colleagues.
As to Clark's facings, I don't know if he matches the facing numbers exactly or within a number or two. It might be worth asking him that question sometime. I suppose if you wanted more different options, you could order slightly different facings, for example, like the CF+ and the 2M.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2007-11-25 15:15
Iceland clarinet wrote:
> Well when I look at Fobes website I can see that his SF+ facing
> is 1.00 opening but when I look at Grabner site he says that
> his K14 is Medium mouthpiece of 1.065-1.08 opening so when you
> order two you can be sure to get two pieces from different end
> of the spec.
1) 1.00 is a nominal opening. No one can be exactly "on" each time.
2) How accurate do you think the table length is? Or the curve? Or the tip rails? Or the baffle? No one can precisely match mouthpiece to mouthpiece. Fixating on one number isn't all that helpful.
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