 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2012-12-29 18:01
I've been using a Van Doren 5rv Lyre for the past 9 months. I purchased it new, and although an "out of box" deal it was immaculate. I am using various reed strengths, Mitchell Luries (3-3.5, sometimes a 4), Rico Grand concerts and Reserve Classics, occasional Gonzales (3-3.5). During the early autumn I noticed an occasional slight chirping in the upper register (above C5), especially in quickly articulated passages. I attributed it to old or soft reeds, and changing to a better reed always solved the problem. Then I got to an extremely fast passage at the end of Fugue on Yankee Doodle, and I couldn't find a reed good enough to stop the chirping. I pulled out my old M13 Lyre and voila! no chirp, ever. Has anyone else had this problem, or is possible that this mouthpiece is defective? It seems that the chirping started gradually (I don't recall hearing it when I first got it), and got more persistent over time. I thoroughly clean the mouthpiece, could it need even more attention?
The other thing I discovered, as often noted here, the M13 Lyre is flat. So I took off the 66.5 (Yamaha 72) barrel, and replaced it with "blondie," the 65 mm Cocobolo with the unique blonde streak in the front. The clarinet is now nearly perfectly in tune in all registers. (For those familiar with my thread of several months ago, I am now getting the unwanted attention due to blondie, it's not so bad after all . ) It's nice not to have to worry so much about intonation, with the 5RV I had to pull the barrel and bell out each 1-3 mm to play acceptably.
Laurie
Laurie (he/him)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-12-29 19:12
It's always hard to track down a chirp like the one you describe. If the M13L solves the problem, the there is almost certainly something about the 5RVL that's responsible, but it's hard to say without seeing and playing on it if it's a damaged facing: I assume "out of box" means bought and returned by someone else - maybe the first purchaser tried to tinker with it before returning it; or maybe the table isn't flat or there's some other distortion in the facing or the baffle that you may not see with the naked eye. Or possibly (but I would think improbably) some tendency of the facing reacts badly to something you do while you're tonguing. If there's something about the 5RVL you prefer to the M13L, the best test would be to buy another 5RVL and see if you have the same result. If the M13L + "Blondie" is giving you what you want, stay with it and one day have a mouthpiece refinisher look at the 5RVL to see if he thinks something's off.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-12-29 19:32
There is the possibility of an irregularity (unevenness) at the very tip where it is most difficult to get things even. I've run across an occasional Vandoren that has a chirp. I've even gone so far as to prefer one that did over several that didn't (kinka regret that decision).
Although, the 5RV Lyre is a bit less open than the M13, so if that is what you're coming from, there may be a bit of an adjustment period for you. If you've been on this one constantly (no going back and forth) for the last nine months I'd guess the problem is with the tip..........try a few others, or look up a good "mouthpiece guy" to tweak yours.
......................Paul Aviles
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2012-12-30 05:05
I've been playing the M13L for a couple of months now, I stuck with it since I had a couple of concerts and didn't want to experiment back and forth with different mpcs. I can't tell much difference in the way the two of them feel or sound. When I got the 5RVL I seemed to think it had a slightly better sound, but if that is the case, it is not very noticable (I had to really focus to "hear" it.). I keep thinking that I'll pull out the 5RVL again now that we have hiatus between concerts. I've concidered trying another 5RVL, having it touched up might not be a bad idea either. FWIW, the M13L is probably a little more open than a stock one, since a year ago I touched up the tip and top third of the rails with some fine sand paper (on a flat surface). Although I had good results, I swore I'd never do this again.
Laurie
Laurie (he/him)
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2013-01-22 18:27
I just wanted to report that I sent the 5RV for repair to Brad Behn, it now plays better than it ever has, and is bit more responsive. It now seems to be more forgiving on some of the reeds that were giving me problems. (The slightly harder reeds play better, but some of my slightly softer reeds I'll now save for my more open mouthpieces).
Laurie
Laurie (he/him)
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