 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2012-11-11 01:27
I am currently playing a Yamaha 4C mouthpiece on an old malerne stencil Bb clarinet. I have been playing for about 4 months and am studying with a teacher who plays sax and also clarinet, flute, etc. I am a much more accomplished flutist, so not exactly a beginner. I am playing Vandoren standard 2.5 reeds, and am wondering if I should upgrade my mouthpiece and to what. I can spend maybe up to about $125. Much more than that and I think I should probably wait a while. Any advice? Thanks!
Jim C.
CT, USA
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-11-11 02:53
Are you sure you want to upgrade at this point? The 4C is a good beginners m/p, and I know a number of more advanced players who still use it because it works well for them. If you have a specific problem that requires a change then by all means go for it, but I'd think that at 4 months you still haven't explored the possibilities of the 4C. Change for the sake of change is money wasted.
A good middle-of-the-range mouthpiece that seems to suit many people is the Vandoren B45, so that might be a starting point. If you're comfortable with the 4C then the B45 would probably work for you. Most good music shops will allow you to try mouthpieces, sometimes for a cleaning fee, so I suggest you check out your local stores. If they will allow trials, take your clarinet along and try several.
Tony F.
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Author: Vova Doob(UA)
Date: 2012-11-11 11:25
Try Vandoren 5RV, 5RV lyre and M30, they are the best from Vandoren if you want to have a good sound. If you`ll use B45 it`ll be easy to play it. This mtp. is very easy to blow. But it has poorer sound that 5RV or M30.
For 5RV lyre and M30 you`ll need harder reeds
Post Edited (2012-11-11 11:26)
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2012-11-11 12:21
AFAIK the tip opening on the 4C is 1.05, which is fairly close. You might want to try using a #3 reed and see if it makes the kind of difference you're looking for. At this stage, as Tony says, you probably haven't exhausted the possibilities of the 4C.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-11-11 21:21
I have NEVER had good luck with the Yamaha mouthpieces. The sooner you get into a Vandoren M13 or 5RV Lyre the better !!!
............Paul Aviles
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-11-11 22:37
In the UK the price of VD mouthpiece is about 3 times that of the Yamaha student range (£90+ vs £30).
Again in UK the 6C is generally more popular than the 4C but I find both are very good student choices and far better than anything else near that price.
I would think a student should work at learning to play using one of those for at least 2 years before plunging into the mouthpiece jungle.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2012-11-11 23:05
Everyone here will have a different opinion as to equipment. I can't stand Yamaha mouthpieces personally, and don't let my students use them.
The best bet would be to consult with you teacher, or perhaps, take a lesson or 2 with a clarinet specialist (is sounds like your teacher's primary instrument is sax?).
FWIW, I start students on a Fobes Debut, Vandoren Blue box #3 reed, then after a few years move them to a Vandoren M13-L.
1st thing, try a #3.0 reed on your existing mouthpiece.
Good luck.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: mirapaigew
Date: 2012-11-12 00:03
I agree with trying the Vandoren 5rv. I currently play on the Vandoren M13 and love it. I bought the 5rv for my sister in law who plays in high school. It's a huge upgrade! This mouthpiece is made for using a size 3 and up reed.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2012-11-12 13:18
I'd leave a teacher who told me what mouthpiece I could or couldn't use. Do not be swayed by what others like or don't like and don't be over-impressed with VanDoren mouthpieces. Do what works for you.
As Norman points out, you have a good student mouthpiece that could last you for quite some time. Unless it is really causing you problems leave well enough alone and experiment with a few different reeds. As I said the 4C is quite close and a #3 or 3.5 should work well with it, especially as your embouchure strengthens.
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Author: JHowell
Date: 2012-11-12 13:46
While it is true that you can find great players making great sounds on all different kinds of equipment, I try to stay middle of the road for students, who need equipment above all that will require them to use sound fundamentals -- good airstream focus, firm embouchure, not too much pressure. For years I suggested Vandoren M13 and M15s, because they had moderate facings and good resistance, despite the fact that many students struggled with pitch in the throat tones. I think that the new Rico Reserve mouthpieces have excellent pitch, and I now recommend them to students who need mouthpieces. However, I also believe that teachers must walk a line between helping students play on good equipment and teaching them that equipment will solve all of their problems. I played the same Vandoren 2RV from my first lesson in 3rd grade until I went to college; this was before the internet.
I agree with the poster who says to try a #3 reed.
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2012-11-14 02:45
Well, thanks. I am not really trying to solve any particular problem. I do have the occasional issue with the reed closing off, especially when rising through the break. I do better with harder reeds, so maybe I will try some 3s. I have reached the point where I am trying to improve my tone and mostly wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on a significantly better mouthpiece. When I first bought the Yamaha, the salesman suggested that my clarinet warranted a better mouthpiece, I.e. the Vandoren. I guess I'll stick with the one inhave for now.
I am actually kind of interested in learning to reface. I have a selmer goldtone 3 and an unmarked mouthpiece which came with an old bay state clarinet I could mess with. The tools look a bit expensive, though. I suppose it would be impossible for me to make an intelligent choice of facing, but I could at least measure and balance what I have.
I appeareciate the input folks have provided.
Jim C.
CT, USA
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Author: JHowell
Date: 2012-11-14 11:42
People generally do what they want to do, but I'd recommend waiting for more playing experience before delving into refacing. You don't want to play on junk, but the more you look to a mouthpiece to make you better the less you will improve. Just measuring a mouthpiece and scraping it on sandpaper and seeing how it turns out is easy enough, could be interesting, and you might either get lucky or have a real knack for it, but really doing it well requires a thorough understanding of clarinet playing and a lot of experience. And good blanks. Lots of them. If you have some interest in becoming a woodwind technician, spending time learning refacing now might be useful, although I think you'll want to use a 3.5 (3 at least) as a reference. Most players use medium strength reeds, and there's a good reason for that. If your primary interest is performance, your time will be better spent practicing.
And rule #1: never reface your best mouthpiece.
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Author: TheGreekDon09
Date: 2012-11-14 12:43
Do yourself a favor and check out as many mouthpieces are you can.
With your price range that includes many many good brads especially RICO and Vandoren.
Good luck.
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Author: Pastor Rob
Date: 2012-11-14 13:25
Best thing I ever did to improve my playing was visit a mouthpiece refacer (Scott Kurtzweil of Niles, MI). I played a dozen or so of his stock until I found the ONE perfect for me. It took him about a half hour or so to put that facing on an old Selmer with B* in an oval on the table. Its hard for me to imagine anything out there could best this mpc! And I only have $65 into it, including the refacing cost!
Pastor Rob Oetman
Leblanc LL (today)
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