 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: isaare
Date: 2013-07-19 15:35
Hi to all,
I live in Europe and recently lost my clarinet (it was stolen, actually...). It's the second clarinet I get stolen.
When I was 15 I started to play my first Buffet E11 with B40 profile 88 mouthpiece (traditional reeds Vandoren Blue Box, some times V12).
This clarinet was stolen from me and so I bought my second Buffet, E13, which I used with M30 profile 88 mouthpiece. I was quite happier with M30 than I was with B40, because sound emission was easier for me, and I think I improved my tone a lot during that pair of years, using by the way Legere Signature reeds (3 - 31/4).
After the second robbery I've come to buy a Yamaha YCL 650 which fit my budget better than buying another buffet. It's a second hand one and it came with a B40 non-profile-88 mouthpiece. After trying my new instrument with the "OLD" B40 I feel exhausted... my Legere reeds feel very hard on this mouthpiece, and the sound is quite airy (I didn't remember how much relieved I felt when I switched to M30!!). Some of my "real" reeds (non-synthetic ones) don't even play on this B40... even being number 3!! (Gonzalez number 3, FOF cut).
So I'm thinking of buying a new mouthpiece to recover my complete equipment and start playing again... I've found out than Vandoren has designed new models in this years, CL4 for example.
As I'm currently pregnant I'd like to get a very easy-emission mouthpiece.
What would you recommend me? Do you think that CL4 will be more comfortable to play than my former M30 profile 88? Will I feel it's a better mouthpiece? Or maybe is it better for me to buy another M30 profile 88 and stop reading about new models?
Also... Do any of you know if there are any good internet sites to download classic sheet music with backtracks/playalongs?
Thanks in advance!!
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2013-07-19 15:47
Do get a Fobes Debut, at least as a backup piece. It's cheap, reed-friendly and it just works.
(Yes I know it's a student mouthpiece...it's still one of the best beaks in my drawer)
--
Ben
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Author: isaare
Date: 2013-07-19 15:50
I'd love to, but as far as I know, it cannot be found in my country... I'll keep it in mind anyway, just in case I come across one of them some day... Thanks
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2013-07-19 15:54
Shipping ain't all that expensive...$18, last time I checked.
--
Ben
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2013-07-19 16:10
I'm sorry, I can't help you much with the mouthpiece issue except to say that the symptoms you describe -- mouthpiece is hard to blow, sound is airy -- are classic symptoms of reeds that are too hard for the mouthpiece. They could also come from reeds that aren't balanced or small leaks but the first place to look is reed strength. The B40 has some resistance to begin with and perhaps it has become warped over time. Is there a store nearby where you can try some different mouthpieces.
As far as free sheet music and backing tracks is concerned, if you are interested in classical music that features the clarinet, Oliver Seely's "(mostly) clarinet music page" might be worth a look:
http://www.csudh.edu/oliver/clarmusi/clarmusi.htm
The files here are midi files or Finale (music notation software) files. To see the sheet music, you need music notation software that takes midi files as input. Finale PrintMusic is a relatively inexpensive program that will let you input both types of file on Oliver's page. Any midi files you input (and some of the Finale files as well) will not have dynamics or articulation markings. However, you may be able to find better (free) copies of the related sheet music at:
http://www.http://imslp.org/wiki/
Some others who follow this Board will probably tell you that midi sound is terrible and you're better off buying music from an accompanist site. The midi sound doesn't bother me and it has the advantage of a rock steady tempo.
Some other midi files are available on this website. Just click the "Music" tab at the top of this page to go back to the site's home page then click "Music & Midi" on the menu on the left-hand side of the page. The page you go to has a description of its contents toward the bottom. It includes a mirror of Oliver Seely's site but, in the past, that hasn't always been up-to-date. I haven't checked recently. It's easier (for me) just to go to Oliver's site.
I applaud your perseverence. If people kept stealing my clarinets, I might just give up.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2013-07-19 16:15
> If people kept stealing my clarinets, I might just give up.
My clarinets are so old and/or off-brand, they don't invite thieves. Pawnbrokers, on the other hand... ;-)
(I preemptively apologise to all pawn shop employees for this bad joke)
--
Ben
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Author: isaare
Date: 2013-07-19 16:23
Wow Thanks a lot! I didn't know the Petrucci Music Library and I find it awesome! I'm still looking at it with hunger... haha... now I need my new mouthpiece (or maybe a new set of softer reeds) more than before! ;D
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2013-07-20 15:46
The M30 and B40 (especially) are very open mouthpieces that require a relatively soft reed (again, especially the B40).
The comfort and ease you found from switching from the B40 to M30 was both a closer tip opening and longer facing. I wouldn't recommend either the CL4 or CL5, since they both are pretty open and resistant.
I think you would find the M15 to be a significant improvement. The airiness and difficulty with resistance would be alleviated. Reeds will function better, since they have less distance to travel to get to the mouthpiece. Essentially, this is a far more efficient mouthpiece design.
You may need to play a 3.5 blue box or V12, but overall you'll feel a SIGNIFICANT improvement in the effort you have to put forth to get a good sound. Articulation will be easier.
I never thought about a mouthpiece that is too open to be damaging to more than the player using it, but if you're pregnant that is added stress to your body from the resistance that is not necessary.
Sorry to hear your clarinets keep getting stolen! I know if I'm ever asleep at an airport or places like that while travelling, my arm is through the straps of whatever bags I'm carrying! Not a fool proof method, but better than nothing I suppose.
If people really want to steal something, there's not too much you can do about it if you don't know what's about to happen! So frustrating.
Vandoren M15 or perhaps a 5RV if the M15 is too much of a change. Either way, should be a significant improvement.
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Author: isaare
Date: 2013-07-23 20:31
I've been looking for data and it seems B40 opens 119, M30 115 (and that was a big improvement for me) and CL4 110. Wouldn't this mean that CL4 would be less resistant than M30? (Obviously, 5RV would be far less resistant with 103.5 opening... and M15 with 106.5... )
What could be the problem if I switch to a too close mouthpiece? What would I perceive?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-07-23 21:21
I'm glad the stats seem to jive with experience. Yes, the M30 is more resistant than the CL4. In addition to the slightly more open facing the M30 features particularly thick side (and front) rails. This architecture also tends to make the response a bit less "immediate."
Of course the raw number of the facing tells only a small part of the story. With the M15, the facing is much LONGER, so the reed has more bending opportunity and thus the resistance is LESS than the others mentioned perhaps save for the 5RV.
Things get even more complicated when you factor in the shape of the baffle. When the baffle is higher (shallower; closer to the reed) the air pressure will cause "bounce back" and make the system play easier (than the same opening with a lower baffle.... a concavity if you will).
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2013-07-24 21:29
Paul is right on about the rail thickness. Vandorens have gone down hill in that respect (thicker and thicker...slower and slower response).
I imagine that you're referring to the 5RV (rather than the M30 mentioned before) when you say the M15 has a longer facing?
As to the post above Paul's:
The difference between the facing\tip opening of the B40 to M30 is significant. This improvement was indeed noticeable.
The reduction in resistance of these open mouthpieces can be accomplished to some degree with reed strength, I don't think that's the best way to go. A 3 to 3.5 on a closer mouthpiece, compared to a 2.5-3 on an open mouthpiece will provide a more comfortable blow-through and a comfortable amount of working resistance. All that without the problems that can arrise from a very open mouthpiece with a very long facing to compensate which needs a soft reed to respond well, but many times this reduction in strength (2.5-3) can yield reeds that are too easily closed off and unstable, even with minimal bite pressure.
An M13 Lyre or M15 should give you more than ample flexibility of reed strength providing stability, ease of response, and a working resistance (rather than resistance that you have to FORCE your way through!
The M15 does come in a 442 version as well. The CL4 plays as high if not higher than the normal 442 vandoren models.
I would say don't bother with the Masters series, since the closest tip opening is still far more open than any pregnant woman should play!
Order a few M15's, M30's, and CL4's and see the difference. Be sure to have some fresh reeds, Blue box or V12's in 3.5, perhaps a box of Blue Box 3's if you can afford it.
Select a mouthpiece that's not going to anger your unborn child and go with it! =)
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Author: MSK
Date: 2013-08-03 02:28
As far as accompaniment recordings a cheap but not free suggestion: try Smart Music. It is generally thought of as a teaching tool, but there are lots of accompaniment tracks for solos. They have everything from popular band books to a few pop music books. The also have audio tracks for lots of repertoire solos such as Mozart concerto. With these you would need to find the sheet music elsewhere (such as imslp.org) as these are only audio. A caution: playing against a recorded accompaniment is harder than with a live person. The recording doesn't adjust to changes in your dynamics or tempo. You have to adjust to it.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-08-03 03:13
Try a Vandoren 5RV Lyre, which, for me, is a middle-of-the-road, slightly open and free-blowing mouthpiece.
Ken Shaw
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