 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: super20bu6
Date: 2011-10-09 14:19
Greetings all,
I'm currently using a Selmer C* on my Selmer/Bundy Contra and use a Fobes Debut on my Bass Clarinet. I actually really like the Fobes Debut but it seems he doesn't made a Debut for the Contra Alto. Does anyone have suggestions for a Contra Alto Mouthpiece?? I do like the Selmer C*.....I've been told I have a really good tone. While I don't HAVE to upgrade...and some of you may say "if it isn't broken, don't fix it"...but am open to suggestions on a different mouthpiece. I'm currently using a Rovner Dark ligature with Fibracell #3 Bari sax reeds. Just got a Legere Contra Alto reed and will try that out today.
I'm fairly new returning to Contra playing......haven't played Contra any since my college days in the late 70's/early 80's.
Thanks in advance for your time!
Mark
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-10-09 14:44
Selmer C* contra mouthpieces are made of good rubber but are dreadfully inconsistent. Their machines are badly out of adjustment, and they don't sell enough contra mouthpieces to recover the cost of fixing them. Kalmen Opperman told me that he had to do a tremendous amount of work on the lay and the baffle to make my C* Eb and BBb mouthpieces work, and Everett Matson said the same about my C* bass clarinet mouthpiece.
Clark Fobes makes contra mouthpieces at various levels, which I have not tried, but he has an excellent reputation. http://www.clarkwfobes.com/clarinets_low.html
I have tried Walter Grabner's BBb mouthpiece, which is the best I've played. His Eb mouthpiece should also be excellent. http://www.clarinetxpress.com/contraalto.html It's $285, which is a substantial investment, but you buy it only once, and every time you play it you have the pleasure of using something really good.
Ken Shaw
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Author: super20bu6
Date: 2011-10-09 15:44
Thanks Ken. I should have specified that I have an older C* mouthpiece. It came with the Contra and shows some pretty good signs of use...so I have to assume it's older. I've checked out the Fobes website.....he seems to have only Nova and San Francisco for the EEb. I will email him to get clarification on that. Will consider the Grabner, too.
Thanks for your input!
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Author: LCL
Date: 2011-10-09 16:09
I have a Grabner, which I believe was the first one Walter made. The quote on his site is mine! The mpc is wonderful and one that I highly recommend. I also have the Fobes.
Best,
Lynn
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Author: buedsma
Date: 2011-10-10 06:43
you can also use a bass clarinet mouthpiece on the contra : just some extra cork needed on the mouthpiece
Did you ever try that ?
I'm always playing with a bassclarinet mouthpiece on contra - works very well
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2011-10-10 13:25
I use a Selmer C* on my Bundy 1440 Contra-Alto, probably from the 1980s. No idea whether the previous owner had the mouthpiece resufaced but I like it a lot! The only reason I'd buy another mouthpiece would be to have a backup in case Jane Feline gets hold of my C*. Hmm, a backup might not be a bad idea ....
(Unlike the late lamented Shadow Cat, Jane Feline loves the sound of a clarinet, and wouldn't damage one on purpose -- but she also loves chasing anything that will roll down the stairs. The basement floor is concrete.)
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: William Hughes ★2017
Date: 2011-10-10 17:08
I also use the C* refaced about ten years ago by Dave Spiegelthal. If memory serves, he opened up the lay a bit in the process and, to my amateur ear, it sounds great.
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Author: DNBoone
Date: 2011-10-10 18:56
I generally use a C* after making the cycle on mouthpieces. I did go the grabner route for a while, but I find the C* just gets a much richer sound. I did have to go through about 30 of them to find an acceptable one though. I also picked up a really nice C.
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Author: super20bu6
Date: 2011-10-11 11:01
I appreciate the input. As DNBoone said, this C* has a pretty rich tone. The two groups in which I play have never complained about my tone at all...nor the volume I can put out. I might try out the Fobes Nova sometime next year....maybe the Grabner. I'm very pleased with the combination of my Fobes Debut on my Bass Clarinet...so am leaning toward the Fobes at the moment. But for now, will stick with my C* as I can rattle the chairs of the row in front of me.
Thanks for the comments!
Mark
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2011-10-11 20:13
I go back and forth between the Grabner and the Fobes on my Selmer Paris contra alto. Both have BIG sounds and give you great articulation. i don't think you can go wrong with either. I found both are a BIG improvement over the two Selmer C*'s I have. Plan B might be to have your mouthpiece refaced.
Eefer guy
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