 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jun
Date: 2001-04-24 17:08
i facing a major problem now.....the need to find a good mouthpiece and reeds.
i now using the mouthpiece that come with my Yamaha custom CX and i using Zoda reeds...
somehow i find that i sounded quite muffy..the reed vibrations very obvious and the mouthpiece doesnt give that smooth feeling that i experimented with my friend's german mouthpiece..
should i get a german mouthpiece or stick with a french one..which mouthpieces and reeds do u all recommend...below US$100 i on very low budget
or anyone with 2nd hands?
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2001-04-24 17:57
Hi Jun,
First of all you should now that there is no magic mouthpiece. You need to try a few and find the one that you like the best.
I kind of like to stick with the main manufacturer because they are usually cheaper and if I ever break a mouthpiece I can find one very similar to it.
The one I am using now is the Vandoren M15. It feels good and from what my teacher/bandmate say sounds good too. I use it with V12 in strength 4 or 4-1/2.
It has a close tip opening a long facing but feels surprisingly open. If you're looking for a very dark sound, it might feel a bit bright to you.
In the vandoren world I have tried/played 5RVLyre, B45, M13, 11.6. All of them are good mouthpieces but I just liked the M15 better.
Make sure you try several mouthpiece of the same model. Unfortunately 2 supposedly identical mouthpieces do not sound the same, so try a bunch before making a final decision.
I will not comment on other manufacturer, Pyne, Selmer, Pomarico because I've never had the chance to really try them. I am sure you will helpful comments from others on this board.
Good luck,
-Sylvain
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-04-24 18:39
Check out eBay. You can get some great bargains on new and used mouthpieces. Make sure the seller has a lot of positive feedback ratings before you bid. I noticed several good ones today. Vandorens, Larry Combs, Marcellus, etc. Read about them and decide from the decription if it fits your needs.
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Author: Bob R
Date: 2001-04-25 13:01
Let me give you piece of advice. See if you can try before you buy. Some music stores will let you try a few mouthpieces before buy. The mouthpiece is probably the most important part of the clarinet. A mouthpiece that works well for one person may not for another. Some people will even tell you that one mouthpiece is better than another, even if both are the same make and model.
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Author: Jun
Date: 2001-04-25 14:18
actually i wanted to buy a morgen RM15 mouthpiece but the music store over here refuse to let me try out the mouthpiece...i tried protone and vandoren...but no improvement......i very fed up.....
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-04-25 18:54
Then why don't you try some online discount catalogue places like International Musical Suppliers or Woodwind and Brasswind? You can get mouthpieces on approval from them and that would give you an opportunity to try out the one you think you would like. The downside is that you'll be out your shipping and insurance and a restocking fee; plus it'll be on your credit card for several weeks if you decide to send it back. But that's about the only way to try out a mouthpiece if your dealer won't let you test one in his store.
In Texas there are some music stores that don't let people test mouthpieces for "health" reasons--even if they're sanitized after playing. So, it's not a common thing to find a dealer who will let you play one before buying.
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Author: graham
Date: 2001-04-26 08:23
I like Zonda reeds but they are prone to sounding muffly and buzzy. Try a clearer less complex sounding reed with your existing set up, like Vintage or Superial Classique. It may be the reed which is the bigger issue here.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-04-27 14:21
Good morning, Jun.
Let me chime in on the subject, as well with a few recommendations.
Get on the horn with Chris Hill (one of the sponsors) and talk this over. I have found Chris to be very helpful and plays at a professional level. His stuff may be the shortest route to finding a consistent player out of the mouthpiece pile.
Be prepared to spend the buck$.
Any seller of mouthpieces that will not let you audition such a vital item doesn't deserve your business. If you show them a credit card or cash before playing (Don't hand it over or offer any deposit) and they deny your request, go somewhere else!
I like the gang at Muncy Winds and IMS, both sponsors (?) I believe.
If you want to save money, try Dave Spiegelthal. He makes good stuff and is reliable (also offering a trial period). He will also help you choose, based on your reed preference and playing demand.
I recommend you get one of the Legere reeds in similar strength to your Zondas.
Humidity changes rapidly this time of year, and the synthetic reed allows you to 'troubleshoot' the actual source of the problem.
The Legere is also pretty neutral in overall tone (a little dull compared to a good Zonda day), but should play much the same on all mouthpieces. You could then have a standard for evaluation.
My teacher plays on the Zonda and ROCKS! So, don't give up on the reed, yet.
anji
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Author: Jun
Date: 2001-04-27 14:51
thanks everyone for the helpful tips......
over here there is more 4 seasons but high humidity.....reeds get mouldy if not frequently used or taken care....
i had my eyes on a Robert Marcellus mouthpiece...hopeful i can manage to get it...and can do well with Zonda reeds...
actuaaly Zondo reeds isn't that bad because i used to used another mouthpiece (my friend's) together with them. but the stock mouthpiece that comes with my clarinet doesn't work well with it....too bad..
The music stores over here have quite limited kinds of mouthpieces and reeds. i doesn't see vintage reeds sold here...and they just started to sell morgon mouthpieces over....so sad.......and the prices isn't that nice....
nite people...need to study for my exams...still think whether to go for a major in music in future.....
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