 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: oian
Date: 2015-01-04 21:21
I just picked up a very nice Normandy 4. It has two mouthpieces in the case:
one marked Coast N4, the other is a Vandoren B45. My clarinet experience so far has been about 1 1/2 years playing a Bass clarinet, and I thought I'd give the smaller clarinet a try. Any suggestions on which mouthpiece might be the best one? I'm currently using a 2 1/2 reed. My main problems so far are getting used to the "tiny" mouthpiece and using the open ring keys (getting from Bb to B). The clarinet has been gone over by the local repair shop and with the replacement of some pads was given a clean bill of health (He said the $51 I paid for it, was a steal). My main problems thus far are just getting used to the much smaller instrument. I was just curious about the mouthpieces.
Thanks, John
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-01-04 21:53
Are you sure the Coast mouthpiece isn't an X4? I had an X4 come with an old metal clarinet--it was made from a Chedeville blank and sounded wonderful as found; after a rework by Brad Behn it plays and sounds fantastic.
You may have gotten an even better deal than you thought!
Regards...Greg
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-01-04 22:35
John, does it have FRANCE stamped anywhere?
Post Edited (2015-01-04 22:35)
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Author: oian
Date: 2015-01-04 22:59
No on the France, just Coast and N4. Looks fairly new very shiny just dull on the facing, Probably plastic.
John
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-01-04 23:27
If there's no tire smell when you rub the tenon end on your palm, it's plastic.
Go with the B45, assuming it's not worn or damaged.
The B45 is a rather open mouthpiece. You didn't mention what brand of reed you're using, but a Vandoren 2.5 on a B45 could be too hard a reed for a bass clarinetist new to the soprano.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2015-01-05 03:09
The Coast mouthpiece is probably originally a student or intermediate level item from the Coast Wholesale Music Company, long out of business in Los Angeles.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-01-05 09:09
Wes, thanks for sharing that info. I've long suspected Coast was a jobber brand from the West Coast, having only seen Coast mouthpieces with old instruments from California and Nevada.
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2015-01-05 23:50
didn't Normandy used to come with riffault N4?
probably knock off like armstrong A45
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2015-01-06 17:41
Even if you decide you prefer the Coast mouthpiece now, my (amateur) recommendation is that you keep the B45 as well. Don't sell it (although you could probably get a pretty good price for it). It's so commonly regarded as "the" professional mouthpiece that some conductors specify that their clarinet players should use it.
I don't agree with conductors insisting on that or any other particular mouthpiece, btw. Those directors probably play the trombone. Anyhow, they don't know squadoosh about the clarinet or else they'd know there's no such thing as a one-type-fits-all perfect mouthpiece. But since some directors do make such a rule, it's not a bad idea to have a B45 handy, just in case.
The B45 does turn out to be my ideal mouthpiece on modern soprano clarinets. It doesn't work for me at all on antique clarinets. Once you get used to the itty-bitty feel of a soprano clarinet mouthpiece, you may find that your personal preference changes. Having two options available already is convenient!
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-01-06 19:17
@cyclopathic: Normandy (and Vito) clarinets originally came with Riffault MPs, and eventually were supplied with Woodwind Company units some time after Leblanc USA acquired The Woodwind Company. Some Web sources claim Chedeville supplied some Noblet blanks, but I haven't come across any.
My c. 1952 Normandy came with a "scrollwork" X3, and a c. 1960 Model 14P came with a nicely finished 2V.
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