Author: Ursa
Date: 2011-07-05 07:04
While I don't have a Fobes Debut or Hite Premiere for Bb clarinet, I do have a Gennusa Mezzo and a Ridenour Encore on hand which retail for about the same as a Fobes Debut.
Between the Encore and the Mezzo, I prefer the Mezzo. It's a free-blowing mouthpiece and the facing is very well done--I find it remarkably easy to transition between the registers, altissimo is a breeze, and it works with just about any reed I've tried with it. The sound is slightly covered and very rich in overtones. On the big-bore clarinets that I play, the Gennusa really projects well. For playing big band, adult standards, and jazz in outdoors settings with my knock-about outdoors clarinet, the Mezzo gets the job done with ease.
Another feature of the Mezzo is that it's available in A=440 and A=442 versions.
The Encore is no slouch, either. The Encore is made from a blend of hard rubber and plastic and delivers a dark, very focused sound. I especially appreciate the remarkable tuning accuracy delivered by the Encore. I find that the Encore is somewhat fussy about reeds. With a good reed and good technique, the Encore can deliver a rich, complex, classical clarinet tone.
Between the two, I'd choose the Mezzo for the beginner. The Mezzo plays with such ease and with such reed-friendliness that a beginner would get good results more dependably.
Both the Encore and Mezzo are better players than many professional mouthpieces costing many times more. There is no excuse for anyone these days to have a crummy mouthpiece when the Encore and Mezzo can both be had for about US$30 each.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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