 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: joseph o'kelly
Date: 2001-04-20 22:34
I have been playing on a B45 mouthpiece (profile 88) scince middle school. Putting more thought in what clarinet I played rather than mouthpiece I have developed a liking to the B45. Everybody I've played for (including proffesional players and college proffessors) have commented on how proffesional my sound is but said I should try other mouthpieces. Taking their advice I tried Selmer mouthpieces, A Pine mouthpiece, The Larry Combs model and the Vandoran M-14.
I hated the Selmer models and I felt the Larry Combs and Pine brightened my sound to were I didn't like it. The M-14 by Vandoran took my sound which is already on the darker side and darkened it even more. It sounds like a dream come true for many seeking a really dark sound. The only problem was that it took away the vibrance and tonal color of my sound and left me with just a dark sound. It also felt harder to play. My teacher said that my sound was already at a pro. quality with the B-45 so why change it?
Whatever works, right?
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Author: William
Date: 2001-04-20 22:53
Again, the late, great, Duke Ellington said it best, "If it sounds good, it is good!" I say, Good clarineting!!!!!!!!!!!
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Author: Gene Wie
Date: 2001-04-21 08:42
If their suggestion is to try other mouthpieces because there is a possibility that you can change your sound in a positive way (or just to achieve something different or unique) then that's fine. That's a good thing to do over time, because change is also good and "variety is the spice of life."
However, don't listen to people that tell you to change mouthpiece models just because your particular one doesn't fit into their definition of "professional."
Top players of every style and genre play on just about everything. One of the most fascinating things is how so many good players out there can be found playing on so many different sets of hardware (and we're not just talking mouthpieces...reeds, ligatures, instruments, etc...there's a whole world of variation out there).
Out here in CA, there's a whole set of people much against Pyne mouthpieces, yet not a single one of them can give an adequate reason for why players such as Morales and Spring would use (and endorse) them. Then there's the anti-Vandoren bunch. They're a real hoot. "Mass made mouthpieces are terrible." Nevermind that Cohler, Cuper, and others use (and endorse) them. There's the people that seem to have made it their mission to put down anyone that uses a crystal mouthpiece or anything that isn't in line with their particular brand or model devotion.
I'm on the hunt for a good tool to wipe off all clearly visible mouthpiece labels/logos without damaging/scratching the mouthpiece, so I can just smile and ignore anyone who asks me what I'm playing on in order to dispense their own particular set of "mouthpiece wisdom." I don't feel any particular need to justify to anyone else why I play on the hardware that I do. I use what works for me. That's it.
It really is all about the sound, and William hit the nail right on the head. Bravo!
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Author: Bart Hendrix
Date: 2001-04-21 14:37
You have already taken their advice. You tried other mouthpieces. The purpose of that is to see if there is a possible change for the better. If not, you have your answer and don't need to change.
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