 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: barney
Date: 2015-01-24 20:23
I've been looking for a mouthpiece to improve my altissimo control. My old Fobes SF has worn out and my embouchure may be to blame as well. I read about Borbeck and was going to buy one of his 13's directly from him. I stumbled upon a closeout at weiner.com for a Backun Morales mouthpiece that was finished by Borbeck, cost $135, less than half the cost of the pro model. I'm a pretty good amateur, 54 years old, who plays a R-13 (horn is in fine shape) along with other instruments and am a singer as well. I want to give this mouthpiece a try so I ordered it from Weiner. Does anyone here have experience with Borbecks or any of his finished models? Do they help control the altissimo? If not, maybe I'll buy a new Fobes again. Thank you.
analog9@hotmail.com
Post Edited (2015-01-24 20:25)
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2015-01-24 21:33
Borbeck mouthpieces have a good reputation, but it might be worth contacting Clark Fobes to see if he could reface your SF.
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Author: barney
Date: 2015-01-24 21:45
The teeth marks are pretty deep and there is a lot of crud along the baffle area. I doubt it could be repaired, but if so, should I contact Mr. Fobes via his website? Thanks.
analog9@hotmail.com
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2015-01-24 23:21
Crud in the baffle area can maybe be cleaned out. Let the mouthpiece sit tip down (carefully) in a small container of vinegar. Others here have recommended lemon juice. Someone will suggest that the vinegar be diluted with water, but I've always used it undiluted with excellent results and no damage. I use a 1 ounce shot glass. Anything that will keep the rails and chamber in the liquid and the cork out of it will do. Assuming the crud is mineral matter that has precipitated out of your saliva when the water portion has evaporated, the mild acid will loosen it so it can be wiped and rinsed off. I leave the mouthpiece in the vinegar for a half-hour or so, but I have occasionally forgotten about it for a couple of hours and never done any damage.
Teeth marks, unless they've gotten to a point where they make *you* uncomfortable when you're playing, shouldn't affect the way the mouthpiece plays. You could put a rubber patch on the mouthpiece to prevent deepening the impressions and, maybe, make you more comfortable.
If there's nothing else wrong with the mouthpiece, you may be having reed problems more than mouthpiece issues. Technique and reeds are far more likely to explain an altissimo problem than a mouthpiece you've been playing on successfully for any length of time. That isn't to tell you not to try other mouthpieces, but that a new one probably isn't going to help your altissimo control if it hasn't been an issue in the past with the SF.
Karl
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Author: barney
Date: 2015-01-25 08:27
Thank you, Karl. My embouchure is indeed the problem. I'm playing a lot more than I have in years and am constantly adjusting to go from the upper register to the altissimo and back down. I squeak often as I make the break between registers and have difficulty holding the high notes. Would a different reed help? Any suggestions? I think I'm simply out of shape. I will try the Borbeck, since I already bought it and it's on its way. I will also try cleaning the Fobes as you suggested.
analog9@hotmail.com
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Author: Carmelo
Date: 2015-01-26 23:38
Hi Barney,
I have some experience with Borbeck mouthpieces that you might find useful. I played on his 13 model and for the longest his 11 model. These were purchased directly from Mr. Borbeck himself as they are made from the famous zinner blanks out of Germany. Like all mouthpiece craftsman they send there dimensions to the factory in Germany where they are created and then sent back for further handwork and customization. The beak on the Borbeck mouthpieces are just a tad steeper in the beak area than the traditional beaks which helps in articulation. My experience with these mouthpieces are that they play really well with the Blue box Vandoren tradition reeds or other medium blank style reeds, such as the former Rico reserve classic reeds. I know a lot of players have played the V12 (3.5) reeds on his mouthpieces but for me the V12 (3) worked the best as well as the Vandoren traditional.
The listing in the Weiner Music page shows a picture of a Backun MP and believe this may be a typo or misprint. The Borbeck mouthpieces that are sold there at Weiner music is on a mouthpiece French rubber blank 1 line up and 1 line down. Still for the price in my humble opinion you can't go wrong with this student intermediate mouthpiece. Borbeck studied mouthpiece making with Frank Kaspar many years ago and his mouthpieces reflect the style. Mr. Borbeck is really very nice to speak to with a lot of history to share.
I hope this helps!
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Author: TomS
Date: 2015-01-27 06:00
A little story, if I remember this correctly: Thirty years ago, I found Mr. Borbeck's phone number and gave him a call. As I remember, someone else answered the phone and I could hear all this commotion in the background. In a couple of minutes, Mr. Borbeck came to the phone and his voice seemed upset and shaky about something ... but still engaged in polite conversation for a couple of minutes about his MPs. Finally he added "I'm sorry, I've got to go ... I've just had a car accident ... in front of my house ... and I'm hurt and bleeding!!" He then gave me a price and his address ... and I ordered two MPs.
Tom
Post Edited (2015-01-27 06:02)
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Author: GLHopkins
Date: 2015-01-27 07:30
I have tried several of them, and have yet to find one that works for me.
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Author: barney
Date: 2015-01-27 14:07
Hi Tom,
That is a sad story. I'm glad Robert survived and look forward to trying out the mouthpiece I ordered from Weiner. I just bought an Buffet E-11 Eb sopranino that is on order from the factory. Does Mr. Borbeck make mouthpieces for that instrument as well? The Fobes is recommended but I will still need to work on my embouchure issues to be a more effective player as opportunities arise on the Eb. Thank you.
analog9@hotmail.com
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Author: TomS
Date: 2015-01-27 20:08
Borbeck MPs were popular with the better players in the central Arkansas area a while back ... some dynamite players using his stuff, back then ...
When I ordered a couple, I think the facings were too close for me at the time ... didn't use them regularly.
As far as the E-flat, I played a Selmer Bundy (very sharp and generally terrible) and later a Selmer Series 9, which was very good. I've borrowed for extended periods R13 E-flats, but never found them to be as good as the Selmer.
I'd like for a design genius like Ridenour or Backun to apply their talents to building a really good E-flat.
Tom
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