 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mvjohnso
Date: 2010-09-11 06:01
Hello,
I'm a college student and I've been playing clarinet for 11 years now. I'm playing Bass Clarinet in the school band, and I now find myself at a loss trying to figure out the right setup to use. The school has some good horns to use, but all of the mouthpieces are stock and many even have chips that have been taken out of them. For this reason, I've decided that it would be best to invest in my own mouthpiece, seeing as I now play Bass Clarinet more frequently than I play my Clarinet. What are some good mouthpieces to buy? With Clarinet I found that I like mouthpieces that have a wider opening. Also, I was wondering if the ligature that I use would make a difference as well, so i was thinking about just getting a Rovner. Finally, I've been having some trouble finding a reed that I'm happy with, on Clarinet I use Rico Grand Concert Select Evolution. I've now found that I am always disappointed in a box of reeds if the they are French file cut instead of double cut. This has become a problem for me when I play Bass Clarinet because I can never find double cut reeds. Does anyone know of any good double cut Bass Clarinet reeds? I know this is a really long request, but any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2010-09-11 14:24
I'm sure I will be shot down by the experts but, I use a George Bundy #3 hard rubber mouthpiece with a Rovner dark ligature and a Legere 2 1/2 synthetic reed. The Bundy mpc, which makes a good refacing blank, has had it's tip slightly opened. It works for me.
Alan
tiaroa@shaw.ca
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Author: Connor
Date: 2010-09-11 14:54
It never hurts to play on a bass mouthpiece made by the same mouthpiece tech as your Bb mouthpiece.
I have found Clark Fobes, Selmer C*, Brad Behn and Vandoren B-45 all to play very well on bass. I personally play on a Behn Vintage bass mouthpiece.
A Bonade ligature is a great place to start.
Reeds, of course, are different for every one. I don't know of any double file cut bass reeds. I play on blue box vandorens, but it seems to take awhile before they are broken in and stable. Be careful not to play on reeds that are hard, especially as you are still getting familiar with the bass clarinet, it is a different animal. It is nice to have a resistant reed when you need to play loud, but for those delicate entrances with the bassoons........ is it worth the misery of a bad sound or a squak to prove your heroism for playing on a #4?
Connor O'Meara
MM. Clarinet Performance University of Texas at Austin (2012).
BM. Clarinet Performance University of Northern Colorado (2010).
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Author: Zenia
Date: 2010-09-11 15:00
You don't say what your budget is and with bass, everything is more expensive than soprano.
An excellent inexpensive ligature is the inverted Bonade; cane bass reeds are an even greater challenge when it comes to consistency and there are fewer options available. Tenor sax reeds are an option and many bass players use them. For consistency the Legere bass reed is very responsive and the company plans to have a Signature bass reed in the near future.
As for a mouthpiece, the sky's the limit. Vandoren, Selmer Paris, Grabner, Ridenour, etc. If possible go to a music store with your horn and try a bunch out and decide which feels best. By the way, you may be able to test Legere reeds as well; Legere encourages local stores to allow this so you're not buying blind.
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Author: William
Date: 2010-09-11 15:03
I play an older Walter Grabner, CX_BS model bass clarinet mouthpiece with a Vandoran Optimum lig. For several years, I played Legere #3 reeds, but for the past summer, have been playing on some prototype Forestone bass clarinet reeds that are excellant. These reeds are not available as yet--as they are still in "development"--but when they are, every bass clarinetist should give them a try.
Other mpcies I have played: stock Buffet mpc (that came with my Buffet Prestige low C), Vandoran B45 (customized by Walter), Charles Bay & Pomarico Jazz 1*. Of these, the Pom had a big sound and articultated very well in the upper register, however, my old CX_BS has the superior sound--at least, I think so. The Vandy & the Bay were both rather stuffy and probably not the best examples of their otherwise great products. I sold the Bay, but kept the quite interesting Bay ligature that came with it. The Buffet stock mpc played "OK" and Walter thought it could be worth something for auction, but I still have it--not for sale......yet. For me, the Grabner CX_BS (customized Selmer C*) mpc can't be beat. But try his Lawrie Bloom Zinner based model--it's my mpcies successor and has received rave reviews from all who have tried it. I understand the "co-creator" Lawrie Bloom plays one in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
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Author: Zenia
Date: 2010-09-11 15:30
I also have an older Grabner mouthpiece CX-BB and it's very nice. A friend is currently letting me test his Grabner LB model and it is terrific. Although these are very high end ($$) mouthpieces for someone just starting on bass they are well worth the investment.
I started up the ladder with a Ridenour, Buffet stock, Selmer C, Selmer C85-115,
and all have their good points, in particular the Selmer C85. But in hindsight it would have been cheaper to get the best mouthpiece at the outset. It will turn any 'sow's ear into a silk purse' with ease; and as you upgrade your horn the mouthpiece will always be your best friend of the set-up.
And now I'm off to spend the second day with the LB before I contact M. Grabner
to order one!
Post Edited (2010-09-11 21:46)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2010-09-11 18:49
'nother vote for the Bundy Hard Rubber 'piece. If you can find a vintage one, grab it.
--
Ben
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Author: mvjohnso
Date: 2010-09-11 21:22
Thanx everyone for all of the responses,
Sorry about leaving some information out. As far as budget goes, I have the money to afford the higher end mouthpieces such as the Grabner, but as a college student I am weary about parting with it. So I think I may go with Conners suggestion of playing on the same mouthpiece maker as I do on Clarinet. For me, I've never had any complaints about the Vandoren m30 mouthpiece, so I think I'll go with its Bass Clarinet counterpart. Also the Bundy looks intriguing if i can find one. As far as reeds go, I'll have to try using the Legere reeds as well as some sax reeds. I know of a few different types that make double cut tennor reeds. Thanx again to every one who helped out.
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Author: Scott S
Date: 2010-09-11 21:47
I'll add 2 cents as well!
I've had this same search recently. I culminated my journey with a Clark Fobes RR Facing Bass Clarinet M-piece (have heard great things about Grabner as well) and am finding tremendous success with the Legere 2.5 Bass Clarinet reed. The response is amazing, and I can play pp to ff with an evenness of breath support.
I am happy to hear from an above poster about the Signature Bass Clarinet reed in development, along with William's Forestone Reed experience (I plan to try these as they become available)
I concur with your choice to try the Vandoren. Why not? Good luck!
Scott S
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-09-11 21:53
There are several very good mouthpieces on the market today, both company and individuals. I've always recommended the Selmer C* because if you can find a decent one it's could be a very good MP and is accessible and not too expensive. I always suggest trying at least three because, just like every other mouthpiece on the market today, no matter who makes them, they are all different and inconsistent . I use one myself though it was voiced by David McClune, he does a great job on them. My second best MP is a Forbes RR facing but everyone is different so what works for me may not be ideal for you though I have been successful with many students using the Selmer. Check out my bass clarinet page on my website. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Curinfinwe
Date: 2010-09-11 22:00
I don't think they make an M30 for bass. I use one for Bb, like you do, and for bass I use a B44, which I like very much, with #3 Rico Grand Concert Select Reeds and a Bonade Inverted. I like it very much; it's quite responsive and projects well.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2010-09-11 23:33
While I've liked the Selmer C* for a long time, the refaced and worked on Buffet that came with the 1193 Buffet bass clarinet is playing quite well.
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Author: mvjohnso
Date: 2010-09-12 00:10
I'm under the impression that the B30 is Bass Clarinet equivalent to the M30. But I could be wrong.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-09-12 04:23
Keeping in mind what Ed says about mouthpiece choice being a matter of individual preference and noting that, IMO, there is little, if any, relationship between bass clarinet mouthpieces and mouthpieces for any other woodwind instrument other than fit and finish, here are my thoughts.
I have a NOS Selmer C* that came with a bass clarinet I bought. When I got it, I considered it far superior to the Mitchell Lurie, Bundy, (Chedeville) Buffet and Pomarico mouthpieces I had tried. As far as I can tell, it is very popular with professional bass clarinetists, at least around here. However, my former teacher told me a few years ago that, for some reason, the ones currently being made are not as "good" as the older ones. There may have been a design change or it may be a matter of quality assurance. In any case, if you can find an older one, it's worth a try.
Ed, I'm not sure I'd include the Selmer C* among "not very expensive" mouthpieces anymore. It seems to me that I used to see them advertised for around $80 but their price has gone up significantly in the last few years. The lowest price I've seen recently is $175 at Amazon.
After I got the Selmer, I lucked into a NOS David Hite (professional, not Premier) for $50 (which seems to be the going price, when you can find them) on eBay. This feels very similar to the Selmer but I prefer it slightly. I now play a Clark Fobes CF+, which is my favorite of the three but, for me, the others are very close -- almost interchangeable -- and I sometimes use one of them in an outdoor concert or pit situation where I feel my mouthpiece may be at some risk.
I have not played a Fobes Nova but my understanding is that it is the same design as the CF+ at a much lower price. If so, I think it would be worth looking at. Another mouthpiece that I have played and think is a very good value for the price is Roger Garrett's.
If you like Rovner ligatures on your soprano clarinet, I expect you will probably also like them on your bass.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: donald
Date: 2010-09-12 09:07
I have a Bass Clarinet mouthpiece made by Mclune- a re worked Selmer. Every single professional bass clarinet player who has tried it has liked it, enough for me to have lent it out for gigs twice in the 2 years I've owned it.
dn
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Author: A Brady
Date: 2010-09-15 20:03
My primary bass mouthpiece is a vintage Selmer C** expertly refaced by Brad Behn. If you have access to a Selmer C* or something in that ballpark, even with chips or damage, there's a very good chance that Brad can make it into an outstanding player, as his restoration work is as good as his refacing. The C** that he worked on for me had a section of the tip that had been broken and glued back in, and Brad made it into the best bass piece that I have had.
AB
AB
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