 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clar6580
Date: 2008-07-26 00:14
Hi, everyone,
I wanted to send my support for Greg Smith's mouthpieces. I tried one on my R13 today and it sounded great! It was a big difference from the other Vandoren mouthpieces I had. The tone quality was superb and made a world of difference.
Well, thanks for letting me give my input.
Kimberly
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-07-26 02:32
Was it only better sounding than your Vandoren? If so then I would not have changed. The new mouthpiece need to make my life easier in any way or at least be as good as the mouthpiece I might be replacing due to it being worn out.
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Author: Ron
Date: 2008-07-27 00:38
Hello Kimberly,
Greg Smith makes excellent mouthpieces, plain and simple. Greg is among a small number of experts today who have made professional quality mouthpieces available to musicians who, years ago, had extremely limited options. Years ago (I mean in the 50's and 60's and even the 70's) people like me were destined to play on a stock Van Doren or Selmer mouthpiece. Yes, there were a few others but nothing like a Greg Smith mouthpiece.
I did not know what a Kaspar mouthpiece was until I took lessons with a Marcellus student in Atlanta at age 30 in 1976. I was not able to get a Kaspar because people held on to them once they were lucky enough to get one. I did get a Borbeck mouthpiece at that time from my teacher which I still have. Mr. Borbeck also makes excellent mouthpieces.
My advice is find the equipment that works for you. If you sound better on Greg's mouthpiece than stick with it. You made a very good decision to seek out something better. In the future, you may want to experiment with other facings, reeds, etc. But always stick with what works for you and don't let anyone tell you different.
By the way, I have two of Greg's mouthpieces and love them. They are both his Kaspar Cicero models. I have tried some of Greg's other models that some friends own which are also excellent.
All the best,
Ron
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-07-27 15:22
It’s interesting that one person feels a mouthpiece is gods gift to the clarinet world and someone else can’t even play them. I’ve tried several of GS mouthpieces and simply can’t get the result that I’m looking for. In some case could hardly get a sound. On the other hand I’ve heard others sound very good playing them. That’s the reason there are so many different mouthpieces on the market that people consider “The best mouthpiece ever”. Try before you buy! ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
A little Mozart, on an old Morgan that I think is the best mouthpiece ever, for me, but maybe not for you.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2008-07-27 18:15)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-07-27 15:45
A student of mine plays a Smith MP and I like it a lot. One of these days I'm going to order a Cocobolo MP from him.
My student's MP has a very good tone, response, and overall quality.
Everyone's experience is different, and the only one that counts is yours for you.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2008-07-27 16:23
Certainly the fact that others have been heard sounding very good playing a particular mouthpiece recommends that maker in some way. I would hope to convey here the importance of working directly with the custom mouthpiece maker who catches one's initial interest.
At that point, I would think it in one's own interest to pursue things to their logical conclusion - to contact the maker and try all of the various recommended models, facings, etc. rather than making a decision based only on others' choices. I would say that it is a similar process of finding a performance reed or two in a box. One needs to try the entire box before forming conclusions.
There are variables easily communicated from player to maker that can then be adjusted to the individual client's wishes. Ed has described very well what can happen when not working one to one in collaboration with the maker of custom handmade mouthpieces. It is the same problem that I've described in several other threads regarding why I prefer not to sell my mouthpieces through retailers.
Gregory Smith
http://www.gregory-smith.com
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Author: clar6580
Date: 2008-07-27 20:18
Thank you for your help, everybody. You've been a big help.
Kimberly
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