 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: theorangecat
Date: 2015-07-16 06:33
I recently bought an R-13 Buffet clarinet. However, my teacher said (before I even purchased it) that I should not play with the mouthpiece it comes with and that I should use the Hawkins B mouthpiece I currently use.
Is the provided one poor? I have read many good things about the R-13, and while nothing mentioned its mouthpiece, surely it can't be that bad. Is it normal to buy a new clarinet but keep the same mouthpiece? While I do feel comfortable with my current mouthpiece, my teacher seemed pretty sure when he told me to not use the provided mouthpiece despite me never trying it out.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-07-16 06:41
theorangecat wrote:
> Is the provided one poor?
Probably, but the Hawkins mouthpiece is almost certainly better.
> Is it normal to buy a new clarinet but keep
> the same mouthpiece?
Yes.
> While I do feel comfortable with my
> current mouthpiece, my teacher seemed pretty sure when he told
> me to not use the provided mouthpiece despite me never trying
> it out.
>
The stock mouthpieces that come with new Buffet clarinets don't have a good reputation and haven't for a long time. The earth won't swallow you up if you do try it, but mouthpiece makers and finishers like Richard Hawkins are in the business of producing better mouthpieces. If you like it, you should keep using it.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-07-16 07:02
Definitely two different animals. You want (as much as possible) to change only ONE thing at time in your chain of equipment.
For example (and I might be the exception on this one) I have basically played the same strength and brand of reed my entire career. I wish I had been as frugal about my mouthpieces. The truth of the matter is that (as long as there are no glaring problems holding you back) the longer you stick with specific equipment, the more consistent you will be.
I had experienced one decent Buffet mouthpiece many years ago and thought all the "hating" was overblown. But after many years of testing the Buffet mouthpieces that come with various clarinets I've tried, the one from years ago was basically the only good one of the lot (who knows, you might get lucky).
Good luck with your new clarinet!
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-07-16 07:09
Curious, is your "teacher" your Band Director, or a private clarinet teacher? If a private teacher, is your teacher associated with any college? Is your teacher a clarinet person?
As mentioned - just curious.
Anyway - Listen to your teacher!
Pretty much any new instrument will be supplied with the least expensive piece possible, or at best, an average okay mouthpiece that will play for most anyone.
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2015-07-16 08:54
I've always supposed that they assume that if you are buying this level of instrument you are going to want to chose the mouthpiece to go with it, so as a result they don't put any money into it. My experience matches Paul's. Most are very bad, but you do get a decent one once in a long while, probably by pure chance due to low standards in this area. It's been this way, at least with Buffet for at least a couple decades. No harm in trying it. I might be ok as an emergency back-up, but it's probably junk.
Also changing only one thing at a time as Paul suggests is excellent advice. It sounds like your teacher is giving you good information.
Now that I'm thinking about it a bit more, they put the same low grade mouthpieces in with the B12's so maybe I'm giving them too much credit!
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Author: pewd
Date: 2015-07-16 19:38
Buffet makes clarinets, not mouthpieces.
When one of my students buys a new instrument, and plays on one of those stock mouthpieces, I can hear the sound degradation without even looking - my ears tell me they have changed to a different (worse) mouthpiece. The stock mpcs really should be thrown in the trash. Or drill holes in them and add treble hooks.
A Hawkins mouthpiece is excellent, why do you want to change mouthpieces? Are you having issues with it?
Search 'mouthpieces' on this board, you'll find hours of reading on the subject.
When changing equipment, only change one thing at a time - reed brand/strength, mouthpiece, ligature, barrel, clarinet, etc. Then practice for 6 months on the new setup before you change something else.
You should follow your teacher's advice. If you don't want to follow his guidance, then its time for a new teacher. There are many excellent clarinet teachers in Plano.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2015-07-16 20:06
Student clarinets should come with playable, if not super, "standard", well accepted mouthpieces. Anything from intermediate up should not come with one, though mfg or dealer might offer a selection of good choices at additional cost.
Or perhaps they should supply a cardboard facsimile of a mouthpiece as a place holder, kind of like the fake TV's in furniture stores. But please do not add to the proliferation of worthless mouthpieces that waste everyone's time and breath. Unless they want to put stickers on them saying, "Do not use", kind of like in another thread where I suggested dotted 8th/16ths should be introduced as "Do not play this way".
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2015-07-16 20:15)
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