 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-11-01 21:03
I am about to sell off a group of student clarinets, but don't have any good mouthpieces on hand to include with them.
Any suggestions for a decent but inexpensive piece to bundle with these? The Hite Premiere gets many positive reviews here and looks like the best overall value at around $20...but I haven't ever tried one.
Of the "cheapies" currently on the market I have tried a $14 Buffet B12 stock mouthpiece and after touching up the facing, it plays well. I've also got a Rico Royal Graftonite that is just horrid--so that's not an option. But there's other options such as the Bari Esprit, Selmer Goldentone, and Brilhart Special, that would save me a few bucks versus the Hite. Are any of these worth bothering with?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mirko996
Date: 2014-11-01 23:36
depend of the genre you want to do:
if you want do klemzer or have a very hot musical note, i will suggest to buy Pomarico Mouthpiece, if you want listen a musican that use pomarico i will suggest to listen Giora Feidman, a great musician.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOKnUKIZ_Kc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEMBTQ9ujQA
Pomarico isn't expensive, it's possible find to private a cheap mouthpiece, the cost however, new it could be 60€ or 100€, that you are in american i don't know in your country sell crystall mouthpiece, but, if you find one, watch the number, for example if have the number -1 is certainly not very open, the only disadvantage is very but VERY VERY fragile, be careful if you buy it.
other crystal mounthpiece they could use in country music, they are very open, are very very very cheap 'cuz they aren't know.
other mounthpiece i could suggest are vandoren, some model aren't open, they can used in classical music, some model are open, is convinient buy vandoren, but aren't cheap, the cost, generaly is 80€, but vandoren are very specialized in this sector, if you are interesset i will send you a list of all the mouthpieces , so you can see the opening and pick the one that 's right for you .
http://www.vandoren-en.com/file/155718/
a very economical moutpiece is yamaha, can vary from 4 to 6c, from the more closed to more opened.
the price is 30€
the only mouthpiece i bought was for sax and i done a quantum leap.
i don't know other mouthpiece, i hope i helped you.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sonicbang
Date: 2014-11-02 00:02
I have tried many students mouthpieces, and found the Behn Overture to be very pleasing. Good uniform quality, easy response and reeds friendliness are they best features. I use an Overture for outdoor performances as well.
disclaimer: I'm just a satisfied customer who shares his own opinion.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-11-02 00:08
Mirko996, thank you for sharing your insights. I have considered including Yamaha mouthpieces with the instruments that I am about to sell.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-11-02 00:24
Sonic, thank you for your recommendation of the Behn Overture. I have a mouthpiece redone by Mr. Behn and it's a true work of art. I'm sure the Overture would be much more than adequate. But, I'm getting six inexpensive clarinets ready to sell, and want to include a usable mouthpiece with them at minimal cost. It doesn't make sense to invest $40 in a mouthpiece to include with an old Bundy 1400 that will likely sell for about $60 regardless of whatever mouthpiece is bundled with it.
For the sake of clarity, I'll rephrase my post above:
Is anyone aware of a decent entry-level mouthpiece at a price point lower than the Hite Premiere?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2014-11-02 00:55
Why are you buying new mouthpieces to include with instruments your planning on selling? No matter what mouthpiece you buy you are still going to lose money. Having a mouthpiece doesn't increase the value of an instrument by any significant amount, especially not enough to cover the cost of buying a new mouthpiece.
Just sell the clarinets without mouthpieces. And if your buyers ABSOLUTELY will not buy a clarinet without a mouthpiece (which has never happened to me) simply go to your local music store and find some old plastic or rubber mouthpieces. Or better yet buy a cheep lot of used mouthpieces off of "that site".
Hope this helps.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gary
Date: 2014-11-02 01:10
I have been very satisfied with the Hite Premiere mouthpiece for students, very good for the price. I personally use a Hite D mouthpiece and the Premiere plays very much the same for me. I'm also somewhat of a heretic when it comes to reeds for students. Lately I have been suggesting Fibracell #2 to start which has done two things, 1) every student makes a good sound and 2) new students (especially for group lessons) do not come up to me and show me a reed whose tip reminds me of a panoramic view of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Saves money in the long run for the parents.
Post Edited (2014-11-02 01:15)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-11-02 04:27
The Hite Premier would be an excellent choice for a student mouthpiece, but I'm inclined to agree with JDBassplayer in that you're unlikely to get your money back by supplying mouthpieces. I'd consider selling the instruments as they are with a recommendation for several suitable mouthpieces, and let the student make their own choice. I'd include the Hite Premier, the Fobes Debut, the Yamaha C4 or 5 and perhaps the Vandoren B45.
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed
Date: 2014-11-02 18:20
Fobes Debut is an outstanding mouthpiece and outplays many mouthpieces that are many times the price. I often throw one on while teaching and it is a pleasure to play.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-11-02 18:55
Actually, selling the instruments sans mouthpiece sounds like a better idea than including a cheap "doorstop". I could always describe the situation thusly...
"A mouthpiece is not included with this clarinet Any given mouthpiece included with a clarinet is not likely to be suitable for the vast majority of players. In the event of this instrument being purchased for a student, his or her teacher may insist on the use of a particular model of mouthpiece different from the one included. In either case, a mouthpiece included with this clarinet would not be of any use to the recipient of this instrument."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2014-11-02 19:01
I concur with the Fobes, but I think you're hitting the right idea on selling the instruments without mouthpieces.
James
Gnothi Seauton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2014-11-02 22:49
+1 on Hite Premier and Fobes Debut (both use Bobbitt blanks).
Jewel 45 (VD B45 knock off) is another one to look at..
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-11-03 07:15
I like the Hite Premier much more than the Fobes Debut :-)
Wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same?
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Exiawolf
Date: 2014-11-03 09:18
Reading this post got me thinking (as a section leader for marching band next year). The Fobes or Hite mouthpieces would be a great "requirement" for the clarinet section, as they are indefinitely better than all of the mouthpieces that most of a clarinet section has.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: TomS
Date: 2014-11-03 18:45
I vote for the Fobes Debut ... examine them for even side and tip rails before buying. The Hite Premier seems a little better to me, if you can find a good one, as they are less consistent than the Fobes. The Hites are in sealed boxes, so you can't look at them 1st.
I have a couple of Ridenour RE10s and they are quite good, but about twice the price. Warm and covered, and very uniform top to bottom.
If the student can part with an extra 65 bucks, I'd go with a closer facing Vandoren "M" series or maybe the 5RV-lyre.
If you can find something that plays well with the highly available Vandorens, that would be a plus. Legere would be a good choice, if they work OK with selected MP.
Tom
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-11-03 21:26
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I am going to order a Hite to evaluate, and if it's a keeper, it'll remain here in the studio for resale to a student. Otherwise, it'll go out with one of the clarinets I'll be selling off.
I have had the budget-friendly Fobes Debut, Gennusa Mezzo, and Ridenour Encore here in my studio. The Debut works minor miracles in improving timbre and reducing squeaks when played by students with weak air support, but I much prefer the superior projection and more consistent resistance profiles offered by the Mezzo and Encore. I started my lessons student off with an Encore with a Rovner Dark ligature on a Vito V-40 clarinet, and he did very well with that setup.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
