The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: gkern
Date: 2014-03-14 04:01
I have a Vito Melodia 3V mouthpiece that came with a clarinet I purchased through that auction site a year or two ago. I cleaned it up, and it plays surprisingly well. Apparently it is made of hard rubber, as it has taken on a mottled green color.
Has anyone had a similar experience with, or any thoughts about, these mouthpieces?
Gary K
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2014-03-14 11:38
Your mouthpiece is probably a Riffault stencil and it's a decent refacing candidate, although real Riffaults (like Riffault steelite ebonite, ideal super etc.) are somewhat better.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-03-14 16:32
These are indeed hard rubber mouthpieces made from Riffault blanks. I have three of this type--Vito 2V, Vito 3V, and Noblet 2V.
Both of the Vitos came faced with very long lays and rather open tips, making them very tiring to play. In stock configuration, I think they sound rather bland for a hard rubber mouthpiece. I eventually had the 3V refaced and its chamber reworked; it turned out quite usable.
The Noblet 2V came with a much shorter facing--about the same as a Selmer HS*--and a less open tip. After touching up the somewhat worn facing, it plays very nicely.
If I were to have a Riffault reworked again, I'd go with one of the older ones with the "scrollwork" ligature line. I have a Noblet X3 of this type--it has a smaller window than the other Riffaults, and develops a very rich, complex, sonorous tone. It's the nicest sounding Riffault I've come across--in my opinion, the equal of many Chedeville-blank 'pieces; these are the Riffaults to be on the lookout for.
Post Edited (2014-03-14 20:34)
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