 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BrianM
Date: 2008-01-02 05:49
Hi all,
My name is Brian, and I have been a lurker here for a while. I also am currently an employee of Kennelly Keys Music in Lynnwood, WA (near Seattle). I have taken a pet project of improving our selection of clarinet gear at the store, since it seems to me that the clarinetists of Seattle currently lack a great place to go for stuff. I think that the place where I work is the best there currently is, and since I've had more influence over some of the items that we've gotten in stock it could be that great spot within a year.
I'm probably going to be making a few posts like this in the future to try to get some advice on particular bits of equipment that are popular in the larger clarinet community, and so I we can better serve the needs of my fellow clarinet geeks in Seattle.
What I'm looking for right now is a rough consensus on a couple of higher end mouthpieces to get in. So, if you were to walk into a music store and got to choose between a few handmade hard rubber mouthpieces, what would you want to be able to choose from? If you are a teacher, what do you recommend to your students? I'm looking for suggestions beyond the basic Vandoren mouthpieces.
Thank you very much for your help,
Brian
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-01-02 07:00
I would say that any custom made mouthpieces on the Zinner blank www.hans-zinner.de would be safe. Some mouthpiece makers don't like to sell to retailers suchs as Gregory Smith and Tom Ridenour while others do it like Fobes(who only sell through retailers),Grabner,Hawkins,Ben Redwine and others.
Unless a store has a good stock like 4-6 mouthpieces of the same model buying directly from the maker is the only way. Then you can be sure that you get two different mouthpieces within the spec and you can try them in real situation. And if you want a backup piece you could just tell the maker it and he will find you two very close ones. In fact I like to talk to the mouthpiece maker about his products so he can better meet my needs.
Look at the sponsors on right on the site and choose mouthpieces and barrels and there you have some great makers.
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2008-01-02 19:08
For bass clarinet, I highly recommend mouthpieces by Roger Garrett. His Zinner-based model is so good that I ditched my treasured Lelandais/Miller in its favor. Even his moderately-priced "MO" model is IMHO superior to any of the commercial mouthpieces on the market, and competitive with "boutique" 'pieces costing many times more!
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Author: Wayne
Date: 2008-01-02 20:26
I'll vote for Walter Grabner mouthpieces (K11 and K13 seem to be popular models) and Chadash barrels. Seems nobody in the NW has these in store to try. Good Luck !
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-01-02 21:09
also, don't neglect good ol' vandoren. Of those mpcs, I'd stick with the m- series. M13, m15, m30 I have found to be very good and a good economical alternative to handfinished mpcs like those stated above.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2008-01-02 21:50)
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-01-03 00:22
These are products that will sell.
always have vandoren mouthpieces.
for custom line
walter grabner
greg smith
rick sayre
accessories
Backun
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: BrianM
Date: 2008-01-03 01:26
Thanks for your responses guys. It's good to have an idea of which mouthpiece makers would like to have a relationship with a retail store. As far as the Vandoren mouthpieces go, we will of course still carry those, and I hope to actually increase our selection of Vandorens in addition to adding a few extra custom pieces.
Thanks again, and keep the suggestions coming.
Brian
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-01-03 02:13
You could (if you don't already) also add Pomarico mouthpieces to the addition. And the fact that they are crystal just adds to the marketing. I mean, it looks AWESOME! (IMO) And I like how it sounds too.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: CK
Date: 2008-01-03 03:52
I would go with Mike Lomax, Greg Smith, Walter Grabner, Clark Fobes,
Richard Hawkins, Backun and check out his Barrels for Clarinet, Brad
Behn for custom lines.
CK
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Author: Ed
Date: 2008-01-03 04:02
I highly suggest those by Clark Fobes. His debut line is essential for the young student. His pro mouthpieces are top notch. The CF+ are a great starting point. You might contact him to see what others would be good to carry in a basic line. I like his bass and Eb mouthpieces as well.
Post Edited (2008-01-03 12:20)
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2008-01-03 05:04
Also recommend Fobes CF+. They are reed friendly and sound great. J Price freelance woodwind player
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-01-03 05:05
For beginners I like Yahama, Fobes Debut, Hite Premiere.
A lot of beginners use Vandoren here. Professionals in many places also use Vandorens, so it is a good idea to have a few each of several models. I like 5RV Lyre, B40, B45 (maybe B45 Lyre too), and the M models a lot of people like. I think M15 and 5RV (and also 5RV Lyre) are the most used by beginners from the Vandoren models.
Pomarico is also good (IME they are not as consistent as other companies like Vandoren).
Other mouhtpieces that I thought were good are from Clark Fobes, Walter Grabner, Lomax.
Edit: A few more things I needed to add.
I forgot that I've tried a Garrett bass clarinet mouthpiece and it was very good too. From what I remember these cost less than most other "custom" mouthpiece makers.
About the Fobes Debut - although they play great, the ones I've seen had very rough finish, possibly bad enough to not being to present as new in a store. From very rough machining marks and very sharp burr on the inside part of the rails on one mouthpiece to very rough finishing (sanding) on the inside (like scratches) on another. The edge (connection between tip and rails) doesn't look the same on both sides either. These were ordered new from a store and arrived this way. I'm using them for testing and don't mind but a student or parent would most likely not buy them. I've heard from a few others that Debut mouthpiece they have seen don't have these cosmetic problems so I have no idea how come all the ones I've seen (three) were like this.
Post Edited (2008-01-04 05:50)
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Author: clockwiser
Date: 2008-01-03 11:15
I highly suggested mouthpieces by Clark Fobes. All his mouthpieces are great and moderately priced in my opinion.
His Debut mouthpiece is to me the best mouthpiece at that price and beyond, ver focused and refined sound. It would suit many many beginner or advanced players.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2008-01-03 23:25
There are several reasons why I would recommend Clark Fobes' mouthpieces as a place to start, given what you want to do:
1. his workmanship is consistently superb across all models
2. he is located on the west coast so shipping should be convenient
3. he produces student models (Debut) that are widely recommended by teachers, hard rubber step-up models (Nova) that are competitive in price with Vandorens, and he makes a variety of professional models (the Debut and Nova mouthpieces are modeled on one of his professional models)
4. he makes soprano, Eb, alto, bass and contrabass clarinet mouthpieces as well as some saxophone models; coupled with (3) above, that means he has a fairly complete line that can result in "halo effect" sales
5. he will send teachers a free Debut mouthpiece on request -- you can use that as a marketing device
6. (as mentioned above) he only sells through retailers (so you have no direct competition from him through direct sales)
7. he also makes barrels and an interesting Eb clarinet extension (more potential "halo effect" sales)
8. while his basic (and most popular facing) is middle-of-the-road in terms of resistance, he actually has a fairly wide variety of facings to choose from in his professional models
Disclaimer: I have no connection, commercial or otherwise, to Clark Fobes but I have been (and am) a satisfied user of his mouthpieces.
Having said all the above, I second Larry Bocaner's comment about Roger Garrett's bass clarinet mouthpieces (though I still prefer my Fobes).
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: BrianM
Date: 2008-01-04 05:28
Thanks for all your input. I know from my own experience what mouthpieces I like (the ones that get them most use are a Lomax classic on my Bb and a Johnston J facing on my A), and I have talked to a couple of local teachers about what their preferred mouthpieces are. I think I'm getting a good base of information which I can present to my superiors. Thank you all for your input, it has been very helpful. I especially appreciate those that brought up the sales aspect.
Brian
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2008-01-04 15:34
Check for symmetry; many are not . Next, does the contour of your reeds match that of the mpc, especially in the tip areas. I have found that Vandoren Rue 56 reeds do not match the M13 mpc in those areas. I play a symmetrical Fobes Debut. It is the best mpc I have played in many years, far superior to mpcs costing nearly 10 times as much.
richard smith
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