The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ryan K
Date: 2009-09-21 03:04
My colleges Eb SN traces it to between 1964-1966. It has a stock Buffet mouthpiece. Assuming it is original, is this mouthpiece of any quality? It played much better than expected, which is why I ask.
Thanks
Ryan Karr
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-09-21 13:14
To paraphrase Duke Ellington, if it plays good, it *is* good. Buffet stock mouthpieces are notoriously awful, but if you lucked into a good one, by all means use it.
If you have the money, you should consider getting one from Grabner, Lomax or another quality maker. That way you'll have something good and familiar after you give the horn back to the school.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-09-21 14:43
I agree with Ken and "The Duke". You might want to try the Vandoren MPs as well, they are actually quite good. Reasonably priced and available. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2009-09-21 14:45)
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Author: William
Date: 2009-09-21 15:50
I am playing on an old, stock Selmer HS* Eb mouthpiece that I really like. I also use a Bb reed on it, cutting the butt shorter so it will fit lengthwise. The extra width of the Bb tip gives more depth to the sound, for me, especially in the low register. Upper altissimo note also speak easier. The Bb reed looks too big, but it works much better than any Eb reed I ever tried.
For my "butt cutting", I use an electical wire crimper with a wide head. Another local clarinetist uses a sheet metal cutting tool. What was awkward and didn't work so well for me was a coping saw nor a hacksaw with the reed in a wood vice. The crimper just snips it right off clean and quick. Just watch out for those fingers, LOL.
Also, FWIW, I am playing a Forestone Bb #4 reed, rather than cane or Legere, on my effer mouthpiece. Doesn't good "dead" halfway through the gig and stays ready to go while I'm playing my sopranos.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2009-09-22 19:34
As I recall, at the time your college's clarinet was made, Buffet was still including mouthpieces made from Chedeville blanks (either faced by Buffet or as received from Chedeville). If so, I would expect that the mouthpiece has one ligature line up and three down. These mouthpieces sometimes play pretty well. If not, they are good candidates for refacing by a professional. They are good rubber.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: donald
Date: 2009-09-22 21:04
I worked at the Interlochen Summer camp in 1995, and while there played E flat clarinet in the local "Traverse Symphony Orchestra", using a borrowed R13 that I believe was of a similar vintage to the one you describe. The stock mouthpiece on this had been refaced by Scott (who is perhaps best known for the synthetic barrels he makes) and at that time was the best E flat mouthpiece I had played. When I told my teacher about this his comment was, as jnk writes, that it was probably a Chedeville blank.
dn
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Author: Ryan K
Date: 2009-09-22 21:12
Alas! There's no way I can make my college reface the mouthpiece, but I can justify not spending the money on it. It has a very stuff B/E, so I'm going to pick up the Fobes Eb extension, and a non-stock ligature.
Thanks for the information!
Ryan Karr
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
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