Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2014-12-20 00:07
Arty:
..my self proclaimed name for you as taken from your clarinet bboard name....
it depends on how you define "good." So first off, let me state my criterion.
I think Rico Reserve, now D'addario...
(guys in the know like Dave Blumberg here on the board say the mouthpiece products are the same (NOT true for the reeds))
mouthpieces were carefully conceived, with consultants like Richard Hawley and Mark Nuccio on board, and present wonder additions to the clarinet mouthpiece market, that many players are quite happy with.
And yet, everything people have said above about the product are things I can relate to.
Karl said it's not a Vandoren. Agreed. And I agree with Tyler that if a Vandoren comparison were to be made, placing it between and M13 and M15 is right. I definitely think it plays brighter and projects well as Charles said, and my preference for darker sound is one of the reasons I shy away from it--but that's a matter of personal taste. And it's not one of the freest blowing mouthpieces I've ever played, though by no means the hardest, and some people like mouthpieces that "fight back" a bit.
I prefer the easiest to play setup that doesn't compromise my control--something Nuccio, interestingly enough, said about reeds.
My ability to reconcile the two (my like for the mouthpiece, and concurrence with some of the above claims) comes in the age old issue of a mouthpiece needing to feel right with its player, and we're all different.
Since the acquisition by D'addario, if the brief history of D'addario taking the helm is any indication, I have every reason to belive that D'addario has not simply bought a quality brand, but is willing to pour consider funds into maintaining and enhancing it. Somewhat tangential, the two new D'addario reed offerings are IMHO, really good. I don't doubt that these offerings were well funded project endeavors. D'addario's CEO has expressed and demonstrated the desire to play in, nuture, and grow in products "above the clarinet's barrel." I believe he speaks genuinely.
I tend to not advocate buying a mouthpiece before trying it. Have you (tried it)? And what mouthpiece to you seek to replace buy acquiring this new one? What is wrong with your current mouthpiece? What qualities do you seek from a new mouthpiece?
FWIW: I thought highly enough of the mouthpiece to buy one, I like using it now and then, and would recommend it, but for me, (YMMV), it's not in my top 3.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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