 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sab15
Date: 2010-01-04 02:43
Hi,
I'm looking to try out some new mouthpieces 'cause I'd like something that's easier to blow. From the reviews at wwbw and postings here I have narrowed it down to 3 to start with. wwbw will let you try out 3 at a time. They are B40 Lyre, B45 dot, and M13 Lyre. When I'm ordering it is easy for the B45 dot and M13 Lyre because with the B45 dot I can say I want the Profile 88 facing and for M13 Lyre there is no choice. It's just the M13 series. But, what about the B40 Lyre. They offer Profile 88 and the M13 series (and also the traditional, but I saw that the 88 and M13 are for Americans). Anyway, what's the difference between the Profile 88 and the M13? The Vandoren site says they are both for Americans.
Thanks a lot.
Steven
Post Edited (2010-01-04 02:50)
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Author: moolatte
Date: 2010-01-04 02:48
My personal opinion on the M13 Lyre - Once you break it in, it sounds wonderful. BUT! It's naturally flat until it's completely warmed up. I got yelled at a couple of times for it's flatness. :P I use mine so much and swab it out a lot, that the flatness is no longer a problem.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-01-04 02:51
You are in Brooklyn, take a trip to the city and go to the Vandoren studio and try them all at the same time.
I have not been there for a while, but I think the address and phone are still the same.
Vandoren Artists Studio
250 West 54th Street
212-399-9457
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Author: sab15
Date: 2010-01-04 03:14
Haha. That's funny you said that. I've actually been there before. My instructor's school is located on the same floor in that building. I bought the b45 the first time I was there. You see, I doubt they'd let me take them home. When I was there I sat in a room and tried a few for a couple hours. In retrospect, I don't think that's enough time to really come to a conclusion. wwbw let's you try them for 15 days. They charge your credit card for 1 of them and then 20% for the other 2. If you like one then keep it and return the other 2 and then they'll reverse the charges of the ones you didn't buy. If you don't like any of them, return them all and try another 3. I just want to play them in the comfort of my own home without any pressure.
Steven
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-01-04 04:35
But on the upside, you can say "Can I try a ~~~?" and David will just pull out a few right then and there. From WWBW you get 3 for 2 weeks, but from the Vandoren, you can try everything. for a few hours. There is no pressure to buy and you can just go back the next week to try again.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2010-01-04 06:03
Series 13 mouthpieces were designed to play at a lower pitch (supposedly for American orchestras that play at A=440). Traditional Vandorens play higher. I think there may be some other less obvious differences in the baffle and chamber between Series 13 and Traditional Vandorens, again aimed supposedly at American tastes in tone character. Profile 88 is strictly a difference in the shape of the outside "beak" - the Profile 88 is longer and narrower.
Karl
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Author: audrey
Date: 2010-01-04 08:19
Indeed, as explained by kdk, profile 88 is just a question of confort of playing and doesn't influence the pitch or anything.
Profile 88 mouthpieces are not particularly intended for Americans at all. Many clarinetists here in Europe play them.
Series 13 mouthpieces, on the other hand, are designed for the american market.
Now what I understand from the website is that all the Series 13 mouthpieces are profile 88, but I'm not shure about that.
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2010-01-04 13:41
Most of the people I've met that play on a 13 series (tuning to 440 or 442) have no problems playing quite sharp on them. While they do play lower (and for me, they do play too low), they are usually "Bit" until submission to play higher. I'd prefer to play a non-13 series and play with a more relaxed jaw pressure for added color and flexibility.
If only they made the M13 lyre without the "13 series" lowered baffle part of it, then we'd really have something!
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-01-04 14:40
Karl is correct about the differences and Skygardner has a very good point. You have to remember that there are no two mouthpiece exactly alike. No matter what anyone tells you there're all somewhat different. If you can go to the Vandoren store and try them, once you determine which facing and shape you prefer, you can then try several of those types and pick the one you like the best. It's a no brainer in my opinion. GO! ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2010-01-04 17:56
Take a tuner. What length of barrel do you have now? If you have two barrels long and short that you like then pitch might not be such an issue. If you just have one barrel then you might end up having to buy a new barrel.....doubling the cost so make sure you consider pitch. (throat register and low register specifically)
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: sab15
Date: 2010-01-05 14:17
I only have 1 barrel - the one that came with the clarinet.
Oh, so are you saying if I go with a 13 series mouthpiece, it would be better to get a shorter length barrel to compensate for the lowered pitch created by the mouthpiece?
By the way, the original info I had about the 3 mouthpieces for 15 days, etc... was incorrect. The new policy at wwbw is 4 mouthpieces for 10 days, and they just charge you for 1 of them.
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2010-01-06 14:36
I have played on the B40 Lyre Series 13 for over a year now and am very happy with it. It has a nice, big, flexible sound with plenty of presence, excellent response and accurate intonation if you are tuning to A440. Perhaps best of all, it seems to be very reed friendly (I mostly play 3 1/2 V12s and regular Vandoren reeds, and have had good luck with the Xilema reeds, although other brands work as well).
I arrived at this mouthpiece after playing an M13 Lyre(13) and M30(13) over the previous 4-5 years. I think the M13 Lyre and the B40 Lyre play similarly, but I find the B40 Lyre has a bigger, better sound. I really like the feel of the M30, but in recordings, the B40 Lyre just sounds better (to me).
I have tried both the M30 and B40 Lyre in the conventional (non Series 13) models. These models do tune higher (A442+), but for me they have a different and less satisfactory sound. For this reason, I would go with shorter barrels (which I have for my Yamaha CSG) rather than consider the regular series.
However, since everyone is different, you should take any opportunity to try as many of each model as you can. This both helps focus what you are looking for, and whether a particular model helps you achieve your objectives. Even among the same model, there can be variations (which I think is a good thing). I currently play 2 B40 Lyre 13 mouthpieces: one has a free, velvety, bigger, more "open" sound, and the other a more dense, compact, rounder and warmer sound. The former prefers a slightly stiffer reed than the latter. These mouthpieces give me a lot of flexibility to meet a variety of music styles and performance conditions.
A final suggestion for evaluating equipment: you will know you found the right "whatever" if, when using it, you forget about equipment and simply play the music.
Good luck in your quest!
Bob Barnhart
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Author: sab15
Date: 2010-01-08 03:59
Thanks Bob!! Very helpful and interesting information!!
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Author: Kentlarinet
Date: 2010-01-09 00:39
Does anyone think that the B40 Lyre mouthpiece takes a lot more air than the M13 Lyre? I've been switching to the B40 Lyre and that seems to be the one drawback for me. But other than that, I find it to be a great mouthpiece.
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