 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Zack Piatt
Date: 2012-02-02 02:53
I'd like to know if anyone can suggest a new alto clarinet mouthpiece or any other advice to me. I am currently playing on a Vandoren hard rubber #2 mouthpiece and a Vandoren #3 reed. I currently play an old wooden Pedler, but not one of the nice earliest ones. However I can't afford to upgrade to a better horn as of now. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
-Zack Piatt
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-02-02 04:26
There really aren't a whole lot of options out there for alto clarinet mouthpieces so unless your current mouthpiece is damaged or you will be playing the alto with enough frequency that you are willing to invest a sizable amount of money to get something better I'd stick with the Vandoren. If you are convinced that the mouthpiece is a problem you might consider having it refaced as the better alto clarinet mouthpieces can get fairly pricey. Walter Grabner can probably help you with a reface or a new mouthpiece.
My other piece of advice would be to bring the instrument to a good tech and have it checked over. I play a Pedler bass clarinet and can attest that the double register key mechanism will go wildly out of regulation if you so much as look at it funny. The keywork is somewhat soft and the mechanism is needlessly complicated which is generally not a good combination. From what I have seen the Pedler alto clarinets use a nearly identical mechanism to the bass clarinets so chances are you will have the same issues. Given that you will likely do a lot more playing in the upper register on alto than I do on bass you will definitely want to get this sorted.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: alto gether
Date: 2012-02-03 16:15
I use a Yamaha 4C mpc on my old plastic Holton alto. It sounds nice, but an odd thing: my old Buffet student Bb and my new-to-me Bundy contra alto both work great with Legere reeds, but the alto, or at least the mouthpiece, doesn't like them. I use VanDoren #2 now, but it really liked Plasticover alto sax #2 when I found a box cheap.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-02-03 18:44
Got a Hard Rubber Bundy Signature onto which David Spiegelthal did his magic, and ever since my humble Bundy Alto sings.
Another recommendation, based on experience with a bass piece, would be Clark Fobes' "Nova".
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
