 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2001-03-01 19:00
I used to play on a Vandoren B45, then Selmer C85-115.
I just broke my Selmer C85-115, tried a bunch of new ones and they really did not sound good.
Any ideas on a good match in the Vandoren world?
I was advised to try a 5RV Lyre 13 and the new M15.
What do you think?
Anybody tried the M15?
Thanks,
-Sylvain
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Author: clarinutty
Date: 2001-03-01 19:08
i personally have not, but many people i know have switched to the m-15 and are loving it - i notice their tone is much more centered and deep, however i play on a b-40 and have a terrible time matching pitch - the m-15 seems to be verrrrry flat, and of course i'm pretty sharp...but that seems to be the only vice, and is pretty relative anyway...yeah so that's my two cents, best of luck
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-03-01 22:11
Be aware that (unfortunately) like every other mass-produced mouthpiece, there are wide variations in the M15s. My son was lucky enough to try out a handful or two shipped from Vandoren to his teacher before selecting one.
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Author: Gene Wie
Date: 2001-03-02 08:54
The M15 also comes in an A440 and A442 version, at least that's what I've seen in a few catalogs to date.
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Author: Crystal Obrien
Date: 2001-03-03 18:30
I've tried some good M15s, M14s, M13s and all the derivations of them. There are great mouthpieces of each model number out there, you just have to have the patience to try out a bunch and find one that works for you and your reeds. Personally, I'm waiting 'til they come out with the M16s so I can "lay waste to all the land" with machine-gun precision!
-Crystal
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Author: Ed Wojtowicz
Date: 2001-03-05 02:25
As mentioned, check pitch carefully as the M series mouthpieces can often be flat especially in the throat region. You may also wish to try some of the custom mouthpieces from someone like Clark Fobes. A custom maker will have a more consistent product than the mass produced ones.
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Author: sylvain
Date: 2001-03-05 18:48
Hi all!
I have finally managed to get a hold of a few M15's. They're really difficult to get in Montreal.
They sound great, facing is a bit odd for me considering I've always been playing fairly open mouthpieces. I guess it's a good way of improving my embouchure and making it more flexible...
As for your comments on the variations across the same model, I have to say, I was quite impressed by the consistency of Vandoren mouthpieces (can't say the same for their reeds though). I don't have the tools to measure the facing and opening but they felt and sounded quite the same.
I guess I'll have a final question. I am currently playing V12's #4. I feel the quality of these reeds has been dropping in the past year or so.
Do you know of a good alternative?
PS: I'm student thus cost is an important factor :(
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Author: Gene Wie
Date: 2001-03-06 10:43
Well, as for the reeds sucking (as boxes of Vandorens seem to do), I went ahead, emailed Ben Armato, and bought a Reed Wizard.
A huge number of people I know doubt that it works. I know. It's hard to believe.
Whatever.
I use it. It makes good reeds better and okay reeds good *enough* for practice. It saves me from having to buy ten to twenty boxes a month to maintain a set of good reeds during a busy performing season...I can deal with one (or maybe a bit less) box a week these days....
My explanation to doubters? I'm a computer nut by trade. I absolute refuse to buy hardware that doesn't improve things.Products I evaluate live and die by their "percieved feel and improvement" as opposed to their benchmark numbers. So why would I spend money on clarinet stuff that doesn't work?
I didn't really consider any info about the Reed Wizard before I bought it. Armato was down in CA demonstrating it at a conference and I was somewhat impressed, if not a little bit skeptical.
So...
I bought it. I tried it. Things were great. Now I use it all the time.
Is that not simple enough? =)
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-03-06 11:02
Gene Wie wrote:
>
> Well, as for the reeds sucking (as boxes of Vandorens
> seem to do), I went ahead, emailed Ben Armato, and bought a
> Reed Wizard.
>
> A huge number of people I know doubt that it works. I know.
> It's hard to believe.
>
> Whatever.
>
> I use it. It makes good reeds better and okay reeds good
> *enough* for practice. It saves me from having to buy ten to
> twenty boxes a month to maintain a set of good reeds during a
> busy performing season...I can deal with one (or maybe a bit
> less) box a week these days....
Something is wrong here. Even a box a week is way too many reeds. That's a reed a day. By the way, I find a box of Vandorens give me 7 or 8 very good reeds and the rest playable.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2001-03-06 16:14
Thanks for the infor Gene,
Unfortunately I don't have 300USD...
Thanks to all of you for your valuable comments I think I will settle on a M15 and hope that I'll finally get a hold of a decent batch of reeds...
-S
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