 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ryder
Date: 2008-04-13 16:31
What are your favorites? What are the advantages and dis-advantages of using them. In generall, which ligatures tend to work best on crystal mps?
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Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"
Post Edited (2008-04-13 16:39)
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Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2008-04-13 18:41
I play a Pomarico 2 on bass and use a Vandoren optimum with it.
Advantages...free blowing with the potential to create a powerful rich sound. The main reason I went for one is that it enables me to get big leaps out cleanly in contemporary pieces.
Disadvantages...a nightmare to keep clean and I'm always worried I'm going to damage it!
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Author: William
Date: 2008-04-13 19:24
Main advantage--lay will not change with age.
Main disadvantage--they break easily.
Personally, I don't think they have any particular playing characteristics different from a hard rubber mpc, given the same accoustical configurations--chamber, lay, rails, tip opening, etc. I've never played one that I liked--Pomerico, OBrien, Selmer, "no name"--and I've played plenty of hard rubbers that I equally did not care for. No matter what the material a mpc is made from, the bottom line is that has the sound and response you are looking for. Can't comment on the lig issue.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-04-13 20:40
After close to 40 years I am still playing on the same hand selected set (out of more than 20 samples) of Vandoren crystals. I also have a few extras as backups just in case of emergency.
The main advantage is that the facings are extremely stable and will not appreciably change over time.
There are a number of disadvantages which may include their fragility and possibility of damage or the feel of a crystal mouthpiece on your teeth if you do not use a mouthpiece patch.
For me, the biggest drawback is the slippage of metal ligatures. Thus, I have found that the ligatures may have to be lined with cork to prevent this from happening.
I have never found cleaning them to be a problem, nor is the fear of damage. If you are careful (and have a steady hand) they should not drop (and break) any more frequently than hard rubber mouthpieces.
BTW - Your inherent sound is in your aural memory, so after a short time you will sound like yourself, no matter what mouthpiece you use...GBK
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2008-04-13 21:26
I agree with above posting. I have owned and played same Vandoren crystal mouthpieces for must be 30 years, A1 and A2 but mostly play A1.
Rovner / BG ligatures in past but currently Vandoren leather.
I do believe all other things being equal (are they ever??) that the extra density of crystal does have subtle smoothing / warming effect on tone but also think tounging is somewhat harder.
One big effect I have found is the extra weight of the crystal changes the balance of the clarinet, making it slightly top heavy and thus putting some natural weight on the lower lip. As a double-lip player I actually find this an advantage but it's a very personal thing, you have to try it to see if it works for you.
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2008-04-14 02:23
I have 3 O'Briens which are my favorite. The 3 are distinctively different designs.
[1] A Selmer/O'Brien which is, first visually, a longer/taller mpc which has a more "smoother" tonal quality, and other window, tip width, etc variation
[2] my "regular" O'Brien which I got in 1980ish, which has a larger tip and is good for cutting through a big band or general playing, and
[3] a smaller tip regular O'Brien with one of those odd-ball tone-boosters in it which makes it, if needed, a much louder mpc than normal. This isn't one of those "add-in" tone boosters, an orignal one built into the model design.
cleaning them is easier than regular rubber. they are glass after all and you "could" use windex then water but I use a mpc cleaner (which I then use water after wards becz I don't like mint flavor).
they do chip ... so you have to be more careful. I always place a cap on mine whe not in use. I either use a BG REvolution lig & cap or a Luyden
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Author: Neal Raskin
Date: 2008-04-14 03:08
I am going to be purchasing a new mp in the near future. Since I am no expert on mouthpiece design, could someone tell me what Brand/model/specifications of a crystal mp that would be similar to a Vandoren B40? or and M13 Lyre?
Thanks
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-04-14 05:09
I've tried a lot of crystal mouthpiece made by Pomarico and Vandoren. Some were very good, some were bad, and some in between. I played Pomarico mouthpieces on both soprano and bass clarinet for a few years. I don't think the crystal itself makes any difference to the sound. In a blind test of several mouthpiece including a few crystal no one could detect which was the crystal. I don't think cleaning them is any different than other mouthpieces except you need to be a little more careful not to drop it. I stopped using the crystal because it was a bit heavier, have to be more careful all the time, but mainly because I didn't like the feel of them even with a mouthpiece patch.
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