 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jazzy701
Date: 2015-05-27 06:38
I am about to receive a new Eb contra clarinet student (8th grade). I'm not sure of the brand, but it is a cheaper plastic brand. I need some advice of which mouthpiece would be the best for him to buy. I don't believe money is an issue! I want it to be a great playing/sounding mouthpiece. He will be playing on a school owned instrument. Thanks for your input.
jazzy701@yahoo.com
Post Edited (2015-05-27 06:59)
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-05-27 07:05
Clark Fobes also makes contra mouthpieces, though I've never tried one myself (I love his soprano CWF mouthpiece that I play, though, and I remember liking the bass mouthpiece I tried a while back.) Might be worth looking into.
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Author: jazzy701
Date: 2015-05-27 07:05
Ken,
In all honesty as well, just in case the student's parent doesn't want to put out that kind of money in the beginning, do you suggest any other brands below the Grabner?
Thanks!
jazzy701@yahoo.com
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Author: jazzy701
Date: 2015-05-27 07:09
I will check out the Fobes as well. What about a Selmer? I forgot which model but it was about $250 on eBay or Amazon. Just in case they want to get something cheaper.
jazzy701@yahoo.com
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Author: Wes
Date: 2015-05-28 00:08
Yes, the Selmer C* is useable for contra alto if reworked by a mouthpiece expert.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2015-05-28 07:04
Hi Johan!
It has been a while since I've used my Eb contra, but I think I recall that the facing needed rework, such as making it slightly concave and making four points of solid support. These four points would be two at the start of the curve and two where the butt end of the reed sits. Too much concavity and the saliva could leak under the reed but a little bit of concavity will allow free reed vibration. I may have also narrowed the side and tip rails plus making sure the reed fairs into the tip accurately. Not everyone will agree to these ideas.
By the way, a while back, I played a number of concerts in Stockholm, including the Swedish Jazz Festival, Nalen, and the City Hall.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2015-05-29 13:47
Thanks, Wes.
I was wondering because I have ordered a Selmer standard C mouthpiece for my contra (got it new at $250 so I thought it was worth a try). Selmer can certainly make bad copies but I doubt there would be systematic flaws in their mouthpieces.
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Author: jazzy701
Date: 2015-05-29 23:15
Ken,
Another one of my contra Alto students was thinking about trying the Clark Fobes. I know you mentioned the Nova for $165, but what about the San Francisco one for $350? Is that one a lot better than the Nova and comparable to the Walter Grabner you have tried? She has trouble getting the high notes play without squeaking above A.
Thanks,
Julie T (jazzy701)
jazzy701@yahoo.com
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2015-05-30 00:39
Julie -
If your student can afford the price, I advise the Grabner rather than the Fobes San Francisco. The Fobes is very smooth and responsive, but for me the Grabner has more color in the sound.
Squeaking on the high notes is usually caused by a leaking register vent (the one for the low clarion or the one for throat Bb) that doesn't close completely. If they're OK, then check whether the reed is covering the mouthpiece tip completely, particularly at the corners. Finally remember that contra clarinets exist to reinforce the bass. They're designed to emphasize the low register at the expense of response on the top notes.
The edges of the reed must not overlap the rails, which kills the response. If the reed is too wide, I narrow it on a very large mill bastard file. You can also use 400 grit sandpaper over plate glass.
When I play contra (which comes naturally to me), I always use a double lip embouchure and soft reeds. Ease on the high note comes from plenty of wind, not from squeezing the reed.
Johan -
Contra mouthpieces sell very slowly. The Selmers on sale today were probably made 50 years ago. As I noted, the material is excellent, but the machinery is badly out of adjustment, and it would cost them more to fix it than they could ever recover in sales. I have never tried a Selmer contra mouthpiece (Eb or BBb) that was even close to being playable, let alone good. All of them require extensive work.
Ken Shaw
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Author: LCL
Date: 2015-05-30 06:56
Customer quote:
“Got the Contra-alto mouthpiece yesterday and tried it out. It is fantastic!! Big, rich, fat sound! When I got (former mouthpiece) I have been using for about two years and compared it to the Selmer C* the horn came with, I thought, wow what an improvement! Now after putting yours through it's paces, I can say, wow what an improvement. Thanks a lot!"
This is the quote that appears on Walters site, and I am the one who made it. I stand by every word. Ken is right on about his advice. I have played BC, CA and CB since 1963 and although for from a professional, I have a lot of experience with these horns both LeBlanc and Selmer!
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2015-05-30 12:41
Ken wrote: "The Selmers on sale today were probably made 50 years ago"
I seriously doubt that. No producer of any goods would do that, binding capital for such a long time and taking the risk with ageing and accumulating quality problems up front.
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