 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BassClarinetBaby
Date: 2011-02-16 11:45
I currently play on the stock standard mouthpiece that came with my Buffet B12 and a size 3 Vandoren Traditional reed.
I am looking to upgrade to the Vandoren M15 mouthpiece, Vandoren V12 reeds and a BG Super Revelation ligature. I have a few questions that I am unsure about.
a) What are the benefits of the profile 88 series mouthpieces? I am leaning more towards the traditional but I am not really aware of what the difference between the two means.
b) Are the V12 reeds far superior to the Traditional Vandorens? How do the 56 Rue Lepic reeds compare?
c) Is it important to use a reed that is recommended for your mouthpiece? For example, it is recommended a V12 size 4 - 5 read is used with the M15 mouthpiece. This is significantly harder then what I have been playing on. Should I buy the 4s anyway?
d) What do you think of the BG Super Revelation ligature? I just wanted to buy this so I could experiment with the tone between that and my Rovner Dark.
I am currently between private teachers and cannot test any part of this set-up as I am limited to ordering online (small town with no decent music stores). In the next few weeks I am looking to purchase a Buffet R13 to finally complete my clarinet upgrade. Thank you for all answers.
Never Bb, sometimes B#, and always B natural! ♫♪
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-02-16 12:17
The only way you will know what mouthpiece is best for you is to try them, the same with reed type and strength. Most of the big mail order stores will send you 3-4 mouthpieces on a trail basis. Try as many as possible, from different stores, before making a decision. Then use the strength of reed that you feel comfortable with, not what they recommend, because everyone is different. Embouchure, jaw strength, air support just to name a few. Same with ligatures, they all react differently for every player depending on the MP, the reed and what you're looking for. ESP
http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2011-02-16 13:01
WHat Ed said. Best bet is to try out a variety of combinations with the aid of a competent teacher. Be sure to use a tuner in the process, to make sure the mouthpiece tunes well with your clarinet.
The reeds all pretty much are the same size, provided you stick with Bb clarinet reeds. Contrabass reeds, on the other hand, are a different size.. I think you are referring to reed strength.
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Mom
Date: 2011-02-16 13:02
As usual will give the disclaimer that I am not a musician, but related to one who has fallen in love with the BG Super Revelation. She feels her tone is enhanced. As the "Bank of Mom" I am annoyed that it seems to loose its glory about every 6 months, and needs to be replaced, according to the clarinetist and her teacher.
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Author: BassClarinetBaby
Date: 2011-02-16 13:07
Sorry, I'm used to using the terms reed strenth and reed size interchangeably. To clarify, yes I do mean reed strength.
And thanks Mom. I have a friend who has the BG Revelation (not the super) and she loves it. She's had it for a few years now, but I've also heard numerous reports that they wear out ridiculously fast. Oh well, if they are as worth it as everybody makes out, then I shall just have to foot the bill.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-02-16 13:10
Ed's response is correct - mouthpiece, reed and ligature questions have to be answered on an individual basis. Here are a couple of more specific answers to your questions:
>
> a) What are the benefits of the profile 88 series mouthpieces?
> I am leaning more towards the traditional but I am not really
> aware of what the difference between the two means.
>
Profile 88 describes the external shape of the beak - the part that goes into your mouth. It's entirely a question of comfort.
> b) Are the V12 reeds far superior to the Traditional Vandorens?
> How do the 56 Rue Lepic reeds compare?
>
The three models attempt to cater to different general concepts of how reeds should sound and, more importantly, respond. None of the three is inherently a superior design, but players sometimes strongly prefer one of them them over the others. So it isn't a question of quality, but of comfort and personal expectation.
> c) Is it important to use a reed that is recommended for your
> mouthpiece? For example, it is recommended a V12 size 4 - 5
> read is used with the M15 mouthpiece. This is significantly
> harder then what I have been playing on. Should I buy the 4s
> anyway?
>
Not if you're uncomfortable playing on them. The strength Vandoren recommends is based, I've always felt, on the comfort of the average professional player or at least a player with well-developed embouchure musculature that is in good playing condition. If a #4 strength (those numbers are generally referred to as strength - the dimensions are the same for all numbers, so they're not strictly "size" designations) is uncomfortably stiff, you'll cause yourself a good deal of frustration by trying to play on it. Better to use a reed you're comfortable with and from which you get a solid sound and response.
> d) What do you think of the BG Super Revelation ligature? I
> just wanted to buy this so I could experiment with the tone
> between that and my Rovner Dark.
>
You may be experimenting with too many things at once to be able to tell. My advice would be to get used to the instrument and mouthpiece and decide on a comfortable reed before you try to make any judgments about ligatures. Although I don't prefer the Rovner dark myself, it's a perfectly serviceable ligature. There's more to compare, including a couple of other Rovner models and a few metal or plastic ones (Bonade, Gigliotti, Luyben, etc.), but you'd be better able to make a decision once you're comfortable with the rest of the system. The ligature has the least real influence on the total result.
Karl
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Author: BassClarinetBaby
Date: 2011-02-16 13:26
Thanks Karl.
I have played on BG Revelations before (not the Super) and do quite like them). I will obviously be smart about the changes I make, changing one part at a time while keeping the rest constant to truly see how each element effects the sound. Thanks for the advice.
I honestly cannot wait until I move to a bigger town next year to study music at university. I'll be able to visit the music stores and browse and test whatever I want to before commiting to buy. Living in a town where music is highly under-appreciated as certainly not made things easy.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-02-16 15:35
BassClarinetBaby wrote:
>
> I honestly cannot wait until I move to a bigger town next year
> to study music at university. I'll be able to visit the music
> stores and browse and test whatever I want to before commiting
> to buy. Living in a town where music is highly
> under-appreciated as certainly not made things easy.
Don't over-anticipate what you'll find in the stores in a "bigger" town - unless the town is New York City. I live in the Philadelphia suburbs and find that the stores even in this area stock little beyond what's in demand by the kids in the school programs. I still need to get most of what I want online.
Best of luck with your upcoming university life.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2011-02-16 16:03
The 88 beak is thinner so your mouth doesn't open quite as much when you take in the same amount of mouthpiece into your mouth. Keep in mind there is one BEST spot on any mouthpiece where you need to set the embouchure. It's easiest to find by playing an open "G" as you take in more and more mouthpiece. At some point you will SQUAWK. Just back off slightly from that point and THAT'S the spot. For what it's worth I've always prefered the traditional over the 88.
The Revelation is a ligature with a metal insert. Many of these style are quite good. My preference is the Vandoren Leather, but the Revelation is fine. The problem with the Rovner Dark is that the whole ligature IS damping material and this impedes the reed's ability to vibrate a little.
.....................Paul Aviles
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2011-02-16 18:38
On an M15, which has a close facing, you'll need a stronger reed than you will on a stock Buffet, which has an open facing. (Yes, I am taking internal measurements of these mouthpieces into account.) However, you may find that a 3 1/2 is a better fit for you. Since there is no way to tell before trying them both, I would get both 3 1/2 and 4s to test.
Chris
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