 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CLongoria
Date: 2012-07-20 02:32
I've recently been exposed to a Vandoren A1 Crystal Mouthpiece and just loved the way it sounded. I didn't, however, realize that they are no longer produced. Does anyone know where I can find someone who has the A1s for sale?
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Author: vljenewein
Date: 2012-07-20 03:53
Saw some A2 on sale on an auction site. EXPENSIVE, around $275 to $295 each.
Vernon
Jenewein Duduks Manufacturing & Research
www.duduk.us American made Duduks
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Author: CLongoria
Date: 2012-07-20 04:12
From the searches i've done, these mouthpieces tend to run anywhere from $150-$300. I wouldn't mind purchasing an A2, but I prefer the dimensions on the A1.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-07-20 09:38
I've got a Vandoren A3 Crystal in my junkbox. Has a couple of small chips on the corners of the table, but it plays well enough. A few years back I had a truly wonderful Leblanc Crystal, but the day I discovered its possibilities was also the day I dropped it.
Tony F.
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Author: Merlin_Williams
Date: 2012-07-20 12:13
Weren't the Vandoren crystal pieces made by Pomarico? Pomarico is still in business, so that would be my next stop if I was looking for a crystal piece.
Jupiter Canada Artist/Clinician
Stratford Shakespeare Festival musician
Woodwind Doubling Channel Creator on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WoodwindDoubling
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-07-20 14:29
They were - but the Vandoren ones cost around twice the price of a regular Pomarico crystal.
If anything, the Vandoren ones I've seen (and owned) appeared to be better made than the Pomaricos I had a look at several yeas back and didn't have the mould ridges on them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: vljenewein
Date: 2012-07-20 14:53
What is there in a crystal mouthpiece that gives them such special attributes?
Vernon
Jenewein Duduks Manufacturing & Research
www.duduk.us American made Duduks
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2012-07-20 15:26
Advantages of crystal are dimensional stability over time and over changes in temperature and humidity. Also, ease of cleaning (you can wash a crystal mouthpiece with warm water and dish soap as if it were a drinking glass).
I won't go into a discussion of the effects (IF ANY) of material on tone, a hugely controversial issue that won't be resolved here.
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Author: vljenewein
Date: 2012-07-20 15:34
Thanks David. I would think that hard rubber mouthpiece and especially plastic would not ever be affected by temperature an/or humidity. You could also wash either of those in hot sudsy water with a toothbrush. So, barring a LONG discussion, then the biggest effect would be the tone it produces. Combination of reed & mouthpiece vibrating in unison.
Vernon
Jenewein Duduks Manufacturing & Research
www.duduk.us American made Duduks
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-07-20 18:07
You shouldn't wash an ebonite (hard rubber) mouthpiece in hot water as it will discolour it and turn it all shades of green and brown through to orange - and it won't taste very nice unless you like the taste of sulphur. Always wash ebonite mouthpieces in luke warm water at most (with detergent) and don't use anything abrasive to dry them with.
Plastic mouthpieces won't be affected by washing in hot water that you can keep your hands immersed in without any discomfort, but too much heat and the tenon cork can come off.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2012-07-20 18:49
Vernon: Plastic has a fairly large coefficient of thermal expansion (see other threads about dimensional changes in Bundy bass and alto clarinets), so plastic mouthpieces DO change dimensionally with changes in temperature. Sorry, but I won't be baited into a debate about material effects on tone.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-07-20 21:33
Every mouthpiece maker will make a variety of claims about how the material their mouthpieces are made from will enhance the tone.
Read into the literature published by all mouthpiece makers what you want to - the only truth is how any mouthpiece suits the individual player and they have multitudes to choose from and still will never find the perfect mouthpiece, or reed, or ligature, or clarinet, or the perfect playing conditions.
While ebonite is the most popular material clarinet mouthpieces are made from, plastic is also used by some expensive ones - Wurlitzer mouthpieces are made from acrylic. Selmer used to make metal clarinet mouthpieces which were similar in outer diameter to their metal alto sax mouthpieces.
As for crystal, the biggest maker is probably Pomarico as they made mouthpieces for various companies. Not having the chart to go on, I think the Pomarico Nigun is the nearest to the Vandoren A1, but they may play very differently to each other as will one A1 crystal from another A1 crystal.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-07-20 22:42
I have seen occasional adverts on that auction site for VD crystals.
Most often they are A2s but occasionally A1s.
I have one of each but do prefer the closer lay of A1.
On plus side I like the weight and density of crystal and the warmer tone it seems to assist.
On downside I do find that they are not terribly "reed friendly" and most of my reeds at least seem to take quite a bit of effort to make them work reasonably.
Having said that I have used the A1 almost continuously for 30+ years.
They will never wear out (but will shatter if dropped and can chip if not careful).
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Author: Bill
Date: 2012-08-09 01:46
GBK loves these. Proof that tastes are so different, I have owned several and found them stuffy and without character. My experience is that they go about $100, sometimes less. They're quite heavy, though, and would make excellent paper weights.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: mikooksaram
Date: 2012-08-09 06:24
I may have to invest in one of these crystal mouthpiece paper weights if it can enhance the depth and tonal complexity of the paper, including the essay on it. Any observations Bill?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2012-08-09 12:11
While I haven't yet tried using crystal mouthpieces (Pomaricos in my case) as paperweights, I have found them very effective as clarinetweights. Three of my bass clarinets, plus one Bb and one Eb clarinet (and occasional alto and tenor saxes) are prevented from breaking the surly bonds of Earth and floating into space by the heavy crystal mouthpieces attached to their player-ends. Mouthpieces made of lead might work even better for this purpose, but the stuff is so darned toxic.......Amd the crystals have a side benefit, they play very well should I decide to actually play the instruments rather than use them as ornamental planters and door-stops.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-08-09 12:45
Were crystal mouthpieces ever made from lead crystal?
Probably less toxic than the old ebonite mouthpieces with lead in them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-08-09 22:49
It is my understanding that the crystal used in mouthpieces is actually lead crystal (similar to that used for cut glass items) since this material machines more readily than non-lead glass.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-08-10 07:01
Both hard rubber and crystal mouthpieces can vary in weight, but the two I checked had just over 40g difference. Whether that's significant or not I guess anyone can decide for themselves.
I stopped playing a crystal mouthpiece because I decided I prefer the feel of a hard rubber (or plastic) mouthpeice in my mouth. Ther eis less difference with a mouthpiece patch (which I use). The lighter weight was nice (but not so significant) side effect.
As far as the affect of material on the tone, you can read what different companies claim and you will see that different companies often have contradicting claims about the same materials. Some companies even contradict themselves.
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