 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2011-02-16 17:58
It has been suggested to me that the fact that I play on a Vandoren M13 series 13 mouthpiece (with Vandoren V12 #4 reeds), could be the reason that my A clarinet is always flat (starts out about 20c flat and its hard to bring it up to A440 with warmup unless the room is toasty). The Bb is generally close to A440 before warmup and sharp after warmup.
For both clarinets, I use the M13 (13) mouthpiece with a 64mm Chadash barrel. Since I don't think a shorter barrel is available (that I know of anyway), is the mouthpiece switch the way to go? I'm gathering opinions from as many places as I can since this suggestion was posed to me on the mailing list. Plus, funding is limited.
A and Bb clarinets are Buffet R13s.
Rachel
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2011-02-16 18:12
Indeed the 13 series can drop the pitch significantly. Starting out a few cents cold is normal, but 20 cents is not normal and not really functional.
You can do a search about 13 series mouthpieces (I believe I started one that has quite a bit of info on it...) that will give you info on why it's flat.
The M15 is the most similar to the M13 that comes in a 442 version. I'm guessing there are some other reasons why you play so low aside from equipment, but switching to a higher or "normal" pitched mouthpiece will help you quite a bit.
64 on Bb is pretty sure, 66 being the typical length, many people play 67 as well. You should have no problem playing up to pitch there.
If money if tight, the cheapest thing to do, equipment wise, would be to get an M15 442 pitch.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2011-02-16 18:20
A competent tech. can always shorten your existing barrel by 1 or 2 mm which should be much cheaper than a new mouthpiece.
The "normal" A barrel is 65 mm (Bb is 66mm) so 64 is only marginally shorter on the A.
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2011-02-16 18:41
Even a regular M15 will probably be higher in pitch than an M13. I would not shorten an already short barrel to compensate for a flat mouthpiece- you may add other intonation problems.
Chris
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Author: TianL
Date: 2011-02-16 21:36
i was playing on a M13 lyre and I really liked it but i was having the exact same problem. I also tried switching barrels from 66mm to 64mm and it didn't bring the pitch up that much. i also tend to use softer reed than average people so that probably made it even worse for me.
i emailed vandoren and asked them whether they will have a M13 lyre in the 442 version, but they said there are only rumors but they don't know when.
so eventually i just gave it up on M13 lyre and switched to something else.
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2011-02-16 23:25
I'm just pulled a brand new M15 out of box and it played well with a Vandoren Blue box 3.5. I'm going to adjust the facing to that of an M13\M13 lyre. As far as vandoren goes, that facing in the non-13 series is about as good as it gets. Some rail\baffle adjustments might be forthcoming, well see...
Just try 3 or 4 M15's and play on the best one. Pitch won't be a problem (or at least will be greatly reduced).
I don't play vandoren mouthpieces, but have played most of their facings at one time or another. M13, M14, M13 lyre, M15, 5RV Lyre, M30. If I wanted to use shorter barrels, and M14 would probably be my choice. With my current barrels an adjusted M15 would be what I would use.
70 bucks, can't beat it for the price.
It's by no means the best mouthpiece out there are far as material, design, and detailed finish, but it gets the job done for many students and professionals alike.
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Author: JamesOrlandoGarcia
Date: 2011-02-17 18:30
I love the 13 series because it did bring my pitch down. Oddly enough I had the same experience as you did in that it brought the pitch of my A clarinets down more than my Bb's. The M30 13 Series mouthpiece works fine for me using a 66 on my Bb and 64mm on my A.
Are you using stock barrels? I use Muncy Barrels but Chadash are really great as well and are an industry standard.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-02-19 19:55
JamesOrlandoGarcia wrote:
> Are you using stock barrels? I use Muncy Barrels but Chadash
> are really great as well and are an industry standard.
Um..., I don't have anything against Chadash barrels. They're good and easily available. But what do you mean by their being "an industry standard?"
Karl
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Author: JamesOrlandoGarcia
Date: 2011-02-20 07:35
More players than not that I have come across who play on buffet clarinets (and are well trained) also play or have played on Chadash barrels at some point.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2011-02-21 05:40
For over all feel I'd say the 5RV Lyre is closer to the M13. Also, the regular beaks (non profile 88) seem a bit easier to play.
..................Paul Aviles
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