 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: linnich49
Date: 2007-12-01 02:28
What mouthpiece brand is reasonably priced and is still good quality. There are so many out there I need some advice in what to look for. I currently have a inexpensive student model mouthpiece which sells for around $15. I have picked up playing after many years and was frustrated with the tones I was getting with my student model Artley (plastic). I used to play in high school orchestra and was first chair. Back then we didn't exactly put a lot of money in our student clarinets. I understand the mouthpiece makes all the difference in playing.
Any advice or experience you have would be appreciated.
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Author: grifffinity
Date: 2007-12-01 14:30
My personal favorite is the Gennusa Excellente mouthpiece, which can be purchased at several online retailers for between $80-$100. I love the quality of tone of the Babbitt blank the mouth piece is manufactured from, as well as the reed friendliness of the facing and the ease of articulation I can achieve.
At this point in time, you may think the price range is too high, but it is similarly priced to the Vandoren series which a few on this board may recommend. However, what I like about the Gennusa is that there is a consistant quality between each mouthpiece you try, so if you do like the Gennusa and it becomes damaged, it will be easier to find a replacement.
Ben Redwine, a BBoard member, now produces this mouthpiece and the quality control of the pieces I have tried are first rate.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-12-01 16:01
> I 2nd the Fobes debut. Best mouthpiece at that price to me. (under $40)
...closely followed by the Hite Première. (I sometimes can't make up my mind which one to use).
--
Ben
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2007-12-03 18:06
I second the Gennusa Excellente, it's what I've been using for about 7 months now. But, Vandorens are a little cheaper and you can usually find a good one if you try a bunch. I found switching to Gennusa from an M13 Lyre was pretty comfortable. Then again, the Gennusa Excellente also comes in a student model made of plasticized rubber instead of vulcanized, but with the same dimensions...the tone is supposedly a bit different because of the material. It is less than 1/2 the price of the professional one, but I would go ahead and spend up to $100 on the professional one if you've got the $$. Trying several is always a good idea, whatever piece you buy.
Matching with the right reed is a good idea, too, but that's different for everyone. I think Ben Redwine likes the Xilemma D on his, but I like the Vandoren V12 4.5-5 on mine after some whittling. So, just try several strengths of each. Vandoren classic are worth a try too.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2007-12-03 18:49
At least one of these recommended pieces has also been nominated on the "Worst mouthpiece thread" ... ymmv.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-03-27 13:38
I've tried a lot of mouthpiece and some that costs more than 4-5 times more than what I currently use without any luck and in fact one piece costing 3-4 times more was just plain horrible. The mouthpiece I'm talking about is the Gennusa Excellente. It doesn't have a "sound" but it's an extension of me as a player making my life easier and the sound in my head to just pop out.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-03-27 14:08
I am "3rd"-ing the Fobes Debut. Usually $31.
The Hite premiere is also good, similarly priced.
Going into the intermediate range:
Vandorens $70's
Fobes Nova $90 (great mouthpiece!)
I love Clark Fobes' mouthpieces so much I'm surprised I don't own one of his pro mouthpieces.
My experience with the Gennusa's is not complimentary. But they might be fantastic for you...so you should order as many as allowed from a music store and try them to see for yourself!
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Ed
Date: 2008-03-27 15:41
Fobes debut would be my top recommendation. I have various students playing them, even some more advanced players who cannot yet afford to move up to a pro level mouthpiece.
I have one in my case that I keep and use playing in some situations in schools, etc. where I don't want to pull out my best mouthpiece. They play great.
I also strongly recommend Clark's other mouthpieces when a player feels it time to move up to an advanced or pro mouthpiece. He makes some of the best mouthpieces out there. He has a variety of styles and facings, so most anyone can find something that fits. They are well in tune, respond beautifully and very important- are VERY reed friendly. They are a pleasure to play.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2008-03-27 16:08
Below and around USD50:
Fobes Debut
Hite Premiere
Redwine Gennusa Intermediate Model
Behn Overture
Ridenour Encore
If you can try all of them, then you will surely find something you like.
In the 50-100 range:
Vandoren mouthpieces (my favorites are M13Lyre, M30 and M15)
Gennusa Excellente
Mouhtpiece choices are very personal, so try a few if one clearly feels good to you then give it a try. If you have a teacher s/he may have a small stock and help you find what you need.
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: Augustus
Date: 2008-03-27 16:33
If you want to go into the intermediate range, try the new Walter Grabner "Intermezzo", made from a Zinner Blank and hand finished.
It has a rich sound, is free blowing and reed friendly, important factors for someone just returning to the Clarinet.
Augustus
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-03-27 17:21
I think it's overused frase to say that this or that mouthpiece has this or that kind of sound. It doesn't play it self you the player play on it. So a mouthpiece can make your life easier and to achieve the sound you have in your head but it does not have a "sound". When I try mouthpieces I always begin by trying if the mouthpiece is reedfriendly then I try if it make my life easier with register leaps,staccato,playing soft or loud and go through some repetorie then finally I listen to how I sound/can vary my sound on that mouthpiece not how the mouthpiece sounds.
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Author: clockwiser
Date: 2008-03-28 11:54
I highly recommend the Gennusa GE*S, it is made out of acrylic and cost about $30. I really love it very much, it is very reed friendly and easy to control, also the it sounds very good.
I actually bought it as a back-up of my beloved Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, but now I am using it more than my B45! Of course a mouthpiece wont suit everyone, but I highly recommend you to try it and hear.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-03-28 12:47
David as much as I like how my current teacher sounds and the one who tought me a year ago and plays in the Icelandic symphony then I don't like the same setup as him. I used to use Grabner K14 but when I got two piece to try ut they were both closer faced than my former teacher's K14 and he likes them a bit more open for power in the Symphony. He uses Tosca clarinet which I don't like too much and Vandoren V-12 reeds which I don't like at all. All my teachers have allowed me to change setup when I thought I needed to I just had to tell them what the new setup did better for me. In fact he wasn't much accesories guy when I started to study with him but now he tells me that he plays on a different mouthpiece each week but that's something I would never do(I change no more than once a year or when the piece wear out).
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-03-28 13:21
Iceland, a good teacher will fit the mouthpiece and reed to the abilities of the student, and not insist that the student use the same setup he uses. My daughter's teacher, a member of the Detroit Symphony, had her test more than a dozen different mouthpieces from different makers before they found the setup that worked best for her sound. He ruled out a number of others even before she could try them, based on her playing style and embouchure.
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."
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2008-03-28 14:45
No, I'm pretty sure that made him a bad teacher.
Just an isolated comment, people. I know he had a good legacy as a teacher.
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Author: 53engine
Date: 2008-03-28 15:35
linnich49
If you contact me at my BB email, I may be able to help you and clarify some things.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2008-03-28 15:46
Hello,
No one piece of equipment will work for everyone. Try as many as you can before deciding! Price doesn't always equate to quality. The mouthpiece is perhaps the most important part of the entire clarinet--choose wisely!
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-03-28 21:43
Note also that Ben Redwine is one of the makers of reasonably-priced, high quality mouthpieces at all levels, from beginner to pro-level.
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."
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2008-04-04 15:47
There's some good mouthpiece facers around, but many of them seem
to spend a lot of time spoiling Zinner blanks. Then they want $200 for their misbegotten creations.
But maybe I'm too picky....
You won't go far wrong with Vandoren...some of the best players in the world swear by them. But if you've got the patience and bank roll, try a lot of them. They say ol' Lazarus had over 80 which he rotated on a regular basis. Even an old ranker like myself has 15!
Clarinet Redux
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2008-04-05 04:17
If you havn't seen it, a site with a pot full of info about mouthpieces is ClarinetPerfection.com. When get there, click on mouthpieces there's dozens of photos of mouthpieces new and old etc.
I enjoyed rummaging through it...give it a try.
Clarinet Redux
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2008-04-06 18:42
Old Geezer wrote:
>"There's some good mouthpiece facers around, but many of them seem to spend a lot of time spoiling Zinner blanks. Then they want $200 for their misbegotten creations. But maybe I'm too picky....You won't go far wrong with Vandoren...some of the best players in the world swear by them".<
What makes you unhappy the Zinner blank or the maker?
You say "You won't go far wrong with Vandoren" but both Zinner and Vandoren blanks are made by the SAME German Company. Blank is irrelevant it's not a mouthpiece yet. It all depends on the monkey who makes the mouthpiece. Undeniable truth is that some mouthpieces are real pieces of art. So, the monkey is not a monkey anymore. He is an artist... and you can not put price on art. The problem is that too many monkeys are labeled as artists. No wander many mouthpieces made from Zinner blank have a dark-chocolate-covered-banana sound.
Vytas Krass
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Professional clarinet technician
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-04-06 20:06
The darker the better!!!!!! I've seen this statement and read between lines many many times here on the board. Vytas is saying as I understand it: Zinner blanks are good because they have dark-chocolate-covered tone but are no good by some makers or refacers if you want just to call them that. If a mouthpiece makes my life easier than my current one then It's a fantastic thing, the tone color is less important and I even sound just like myself with less effort after 2-3 weeks. That's for example why I don't like Vandoren mouthpieces because they are more difficult with reeds and are harder to control.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2008-04-07 17:16
Dark chocolate covered banana
is a flavor (not sound) that I savor.
But frankly O.G., 15 VD's to me
sounds like pure non-adaptive behavior.
jnk
Post Edited (2008-04-07 17:17)
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