 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2014-11-04 01:47
With due reference to Leonard Alterman's recent question along the same lines regarding the number of Bb clarinets you own, allow me to ask, "how many Bb clarinet mouthpieces do you own."
I play an M15 and CL6, but own a B45, D'Addario (formerly Rico) Reserve X10 and an MD30. That's 5, and all but one Vandoren.
I'll bet some of you merely ROTATE your favorite 5 and own dozens.
Sure--if you play it on your "A" clarinet it can count too!
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-11-04 04:10
From favorite to least favorite:
1. Clark Fobes CWF - I play on this one exclusively.
2. M13 Lyre - my previous mouthpiece.
3. RVS 4* - supposedly a knock-off. Not very well-made but sounds ok.
4. Buffet stock mouthpiece - tie with the Yamaha. It's ok.
5. Yamaha "Custom" stock mouthpiece - tie with the Buffet.
6. Unidentified wooden Albert system mouthpiece - pretty bad; tip rail is scratched.
Someone should do one of these threads for barrels or ligatures.
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Author: James S
Date: 2014-11-04 04:57
I have a D'addario X0 from when they just came out and a Greg Smith Chedeville (facing 1). I had an m13Lyre but gave it to a friend. The only other mouthpieces I can see myself getting in the foreseeable future is a Greg Smith Eb and some sort of bass mouthpiece.
James
Owner, James' Clarinet Shop
www.jamesclarinetshop.com
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Author: TomS
Date: 2014-11-04 06:41
About 20, currently ... I've given away and/or sold about 20, as well. Includes Vandorens, Hites, Fobes, Bay, Ridenour, Selmer, Pyne, O'Brien, Borbeck, Smith, etc.. Currently my "community band" MP is VD M30-lyre (blue box) and my "wind ensemble" MP is VD M13 (V12 and Legere)...
Tom
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2014-11-04 21:13
Way to many. About 20 as well.
However the ones I tend to play the most are all Walter Grabner mouthpieces (I have about 10 of his).
I also have and enjoy playing on a Fobes mouthpiece (it's damned loud and I use it for outdoor marching band all the time), and for the past few months I've enjoyed playing a Ben Redwine mouthpiece (Genussa).
But I always go back to and depend on my Grabner mouthpieces. Love 'em.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-11-05 15:24
Never counted them but must be between 20 and 30. But none work in my 12 ga shotgun.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-11-05 17:45
I'll answer that in a different way. Earlier in my career I collected mouthpieces in the hunt for the Holy Grail. At some point, out of utter frustration I literally destroyed most of them and kept only one or two to keep myself from losing my mind (and to this day I don't regret that). More recently I had a mouthpiece from a custom finisher that was quite wonderful. For two years there was no reason to even consider looking at another mouthpiece. In a freak accident I lost this "chosen one" and even with several attempts from its creator, I could not replicate the experience. Seven years later I have three that I rotate because they are all in the "acceptable" category, yet I continue to hunt for one that is truly enjoyable.
Not a great place to be.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-11-05 20:03
In my rotation:
1. Pyne PolyCrystal for outdoors gigs, which is where I perform 90% of the time
2. Boosey & Hawkes with no model designation, reworked by David Spiegelthal, on my B&H 1-10 and 8-10
3. Coast X4, reworked by Brad Behn, on my French-bore instruments
4. Yamaha YAC-1208 for jazz
In the collection, but not used much:
Brilhart Ebolin 1 and Tonalin 4, Buffet Chedevile C Crown, Buffet B12 stock piece, generic B45 copy, Noblet 3V, Noblet 3X, PerfecTone, Portnoy BP01, two Selmer HS*, Vito France 2V, Vito Melodia France 2V, Woodwind Company G7, G8, and W45.
There ya go--twenty in all.
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Author: William
Date: 2014-11-05 20:11
And then there is the old story about Dan Bonade and how to chose a mouthpiece. His advice, take all of your mouthpieces and get into a rowboat. Row your boat to the middle of a lake, put on a blindfold and pick one--and throw the rest overboard. Then, go row back to shore and learn to play the mouthpiece you selected.
Interpretation--rely more of practice than on equipment. Think about it........
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-11-06 06:56
There IS the printed advice from Bonade (in the Clarinetist's Compendium) about there being a standard basic mouthpiece dimension used by most professional players. There is still quite a bit of truth to that today, even with all the varieties available on the market.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-11-06 10:14
I agree with Mr. Bonade about selecting a mouthpiece and then sticking with it, BUT...mouthpieces are unfortunately subject to wear. I learned to play soprano clarinet on a wonderful Selmer HS* purchased as new-old-stock in the late 1980s and if it only were still playable today, I would have never bothered to search for something better.
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Author: LaurieBell
Date: 2014-11-07 03:00
I was in the (very small) category of folks who picked one mouthpiece and played on it forever (or at least the 9 years of my army band career.)
When I returned to clarinet last year and had that mouthpiece reworked (because I was told it was very wrapped – yeah, not doubt), I didn’t like it as much so I decided to order two Behn mouthpieces (in slightly different facings). Why did I select Behn? Honestly, because I was impressed with the level of detail on his website and when I talked to him he was very friendly and informative.
I still remember the first time I played on my new Behn mouthpiece. At first I couldn’t believe how good I sounded. I mean OMG (I don’t use that phrase often but it’s appropriate here) my sound was just beautiful. My second reaction was I felt like kicking myself for sticking with my old mouthpiece all these years.
With two Behn mouthpieces that give me a slightly different sound, I’m very satisfied now, so I’ll probably fall back into my old habit and just stick with what I’ve got. Or I may take the advice of others on this board and purchase two more identical mouthpieces so I’ll have spares to fall back on.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-11-07 03:07
Dear "LaurieBell,"
I'd say that after avoiding the trap many of us fall into of buying a new mouthpiece every year (or even more frequently), you've earned it.
Glad you found something you really REALLY like.
..............Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2014-11-07 03:08)
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2014-11-07 09:50
I don't know but I would be happy to get rid of all but two or maybe three if I could find someone to pay a reasonable price for them...
>> Think about it <<
OK.
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Author: MSK
Date: 2014-11-08 06:46
11 Total
I have 6 Good MPs that were purchased over a 35 year period (most recent first)
Fobes San Francisco CF+
Fobes Debut
Vandoren 5RV lyre
Vandoren M13 lyre
Vandoren B45
Vandoren 2RV
Two decent MPs that came with the purchase of a Selmer Series 9 clarinet
Selmer HS**
Selmer Crystal
Also have 3 lousy stock MPs: Artley, Evette Schaeffer & Buffet that also came with clarinet purchase
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