 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2010-02-09 17:18
has anyone tried these or currently play on one?
i know choosing a mouthpiece is personal but just curious to know what others think of these.
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Author: davetrow
Date: 2010-02-09 23:00
I have a Richard Hawkins Bb CL Student model mouthpiece that I like quite a lot. I moved to it from a Vandoren 5RV Lyre, and seemed to get a richer sound with better articulation.
Based on my experience, I'm thinking of trying his bass clarinet mouthpiece.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-02-09 23:37
I've had some students play them and I've always stocked at least one for them to try but like all others, I had to try several to choose one that I liked. All MPs play differently so what ever you decide you like, you need to try several of those facings, no two are alike. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2010-02-09 23:44
About eight months ago, I switched from an M13 Lyre to a Hawkins "B" model. Both are close mouthpieces, but I found the Hawkins B suits me better. It's a more comfortable fit with my embouchure and it produces a lovely tone: the chalumeau is rich and the high notes ping. Intonation is excellent throughout the registers.
I bought it directly from Richard, who was a pleasure to work with. We dealt by e-mail only. Although I usually play-test several, I ordered only one mouthpiece and liked it immediately.
It plays well on the two Bb clarinets I use, and it sounds great, too, on my teacher's 1964 R13.
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Author: TianL
Date: 2010-02-10 02:49
I have an R model. It has quite a sweet sound, a little bit on the bright side, and it's very responsive.
I just played it alongside with two Backuns. The control on the Backuns were a lot better, but they were not as responsive as the Hawkins R. I guess it's kind of a tradeoff? But keep in mind that I only have one Hawkins.. could just be this specific MP.
The sound of the Hawkins and Backuns were also quite different. The Hawkins has more ring in the sound and as I said, very sweet. On the other hand, the Backuns were more mellow and a little darker. Hard to say which one has a better sound, depends on one's preference.
I would choose control over responsiveness, however what annoys me on the Backun is that they are thicker, so if I snug in the same amount as I usually do, it feels quite uncomfortable.. kinda sucks. If I have dont snug in that much, then the reed is a little too far away from the tip of my tongue and then my tonguing suffers a lot..
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2010-02-10 11:26
ok, let me ask this.....
I Have been playing a 5Rv Lyre (88) for many years. I like it quite a bit but just wanted to try something else for the heck of it. You dont know what could be out there until you try, right?
So I have talked to Richard through email and he sent me 1 B model and 1 S model.
Both are good. different from each other, but good. But neither felt as clear and responsive as my old Vandy.
Is it just b/c Ive played on that style mouthpiece for so long? I'm afraid if I return the Hawkins I will regret it, but I'm also afraid to spend the money and never really like the Hawkins better.
How long should I play on it to know if it will work out for me?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-02-10 12:19
Try the advice given by Tom Puwalski on this board some time ago.
Play an open "G" and keep moving the mouthpiece further into your mouth until you get a "SQUAHK." Then just back off that spot a bit, and that should be the perfect spot to engage that particular mouthpiece.
I find that I am able to switch gears to an entirely different mouthpiece MUCH quicker knowing exactly how to FEEL where the sweet spot is rigtht away.
If you're not getting good results in a matter of a few minutes (at least getting it to play.....not so much feel the best right away), then maybe it's not for you.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2010-02-10 12:23
For me personally Vandoren V12 4s work best on the Hawkins B mouthpiece most frequently. Occasionally a reed will play better for me on the Hawkins R, which I find less bright than the B.
I would use mostly V12 3s on a 5RV Lyre (88), sometimes a 3.5. Other people, of course, might have other preferences. But perhaps a change in reed could make a difference for you, janlynn??
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2010-02-10 12:36
Actually, I did just change reeds and they arrived last night. I went down a strength to a Vandoren Traditional #3 it works quite nice on both mouthpieces (the old and new). My teacher pushed me to go from 3 to 3 1/2 and 4, but I just dont feel like those strengths work for me.
What I'm not certain about is if I am so used to my old mouthpiece, nothing will feel better until Ive played something new for awhile. In that case, I would spend the money and keep it. But if its always going to feel slightly less than what I have, I might return it. I'm trying to make a decision I wont regret.
But I'm glad to see others happy with their Hawkins mouthpieces. When I told my teacher I wanted to try them out, she poo-pooed it because she had never heard of him. So I am refraining from her opinion.
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Author: David Niethamer
Date: 2010-02-10 12:47
> I Have been playing a 5Rv Lyre (88) for many years. I like it quite a bit but just > wanted to try something else for the heck of it. You dont know what could be
> out there until you try, right?
>
Right - you never know what's out there unless you try things, though be forewarned - it can become a disease!! If you have a dozen (or more) unused mouthpieces in a drawer... ;-)
> So I have talked to Richard through email and he sent me 1 B model and 1 S
> model.
> Both are good. different from each other, but good. But neither felt as clear
> and responsive as my old Vandy.
>
but surely they have some attractive features, or you wouldn't be so hesitant about returning them? What are the good points?
> Is it just b/c Ive played on that style mouthpiece for so long? I'm afraid if I
> return the Hawkins I will regret it, but I'm also afraid to spend the money
> and never really like the Hawkins better.
>
> How long should I play on it to know if it will work out for me?
>
I find that to really discover the good and bad points of a mouthpiece, it takes a few weeks and maybe even a few months of playing in your own settings - ensembles, playing with students in lessons, working with a pianist - wherever you usually play. You'll know what the mouthpiece does well (and maybe not so well) after that sort of playing.
Since you are accustomed to your 5RV, I'd suggest that you go "cold turkey" to one of the Hawkins mouthpieces. Open a fresh box of reeds and see how reed friendly it is - how many out of the box play pretty well right off the bat. That assumes that you have the right strength reed for the mouthpiece, of course. See how the reeds break in (easier or harder than your current mouthpiece?), and play them in all your usual settings. After a couple of weeks, you could try your old mouthpiece again for comparison. I just wouldn't do that on a daily basis, or you'll never adjust to the new mouthpiece.
If you decide after a serious trial that you don't like the mouthpiece, you can always sell it and recover at least some of the money, so it won't be a total loss. And the experience will be worth something to you as a player. I have an expensive mouthpiece in a drawer that I tried for 4 months (recital, Spohr Concerto performance, etc) before I came to the conclusion that it didn't really do what I needed it to do. [Want to buy it? ;-) ] Eventually someone will decide that they like it and I'll sell it.
David
niethamer@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/index.html
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2010-02-10 13:03
Ah ha .... David, that was what I thought! That I should be trying it for longer than the trial period of 14 days.
I think I will keep model B. And I have a brand new package of reeds strength 3, and half a box of 3.5 to try with it as you suggested. Wasnt something I had thought of, thanks.
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Author: TianL
Date: 2010-02-10 15:46
Janlynn Just for your reference the Hawkins R took me a while to get used to. At least several weeks, I think.
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