 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jessicaclair.powers@gmail.com
Date: 2016-02-20 03:13
My husband surprised me with a Palatino Clarinet for my 30th birthday. I haven't played in 15 years but it was like just yesterday. I am finding picking it back up is easy.
The Palatino is a plastic clarinet compared with the really old wood and cork one I played years ago it is definitely different but it is so much easier to play than my middle/high school clarinet. We figure if I really enjoy we can save up for a much nicer clarinet.
I replaced the crappy cheap mouth piece with a Yahama 6C and have a Vandoren CL4 on my wish list.
I picked up some vandoren 3 classic reeds, and I also decided to try the legere synthetic 3 reed. Finding I really like the synthetic reed as I don't have the lip blister issue I get with cane reeds.
I guess my questions are:
What mouth pieces do you like for intermediate players starting clarinet all over again?
Is buying a new barrel worth it? If so what do you like?
Are there popular intermediate level clarinets that I can start keeping an eye out for?
Thanks
Jess
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2016-02-20 05:50
How exciting that you're resuming your clarinet playing. I took a 40+ year hiatus and have never looked back after starting again. You'll get a LOT of different opinions in answer to your questions. I upgraded to a Selmer C85 1.05 mouthpiece and love it. I spent the day trying various mouthpieces with a more open tip and didn't like them. However, I'm thinking the change in weather has affected my reeds so nothing played really well, even my Selmer. I'll wait a few days and give it another go once the weather has stabilized. I bought an intermediate level Bliss that came with a Backun barrel. My teacher had me play with each of the barrels and said, hands down, the Backun barrel helped the tone immensely. If you can find a used expert clarinet that's in good shape for the same price as a new intermediate, go with the expert. I went from a plastic beginner's to new intermediate to a new expert in about four years. I'm wishing I'd skipped the intermediate step and saved the money towards an expert clarinet.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2016-02-20 08:25
I'd buy a good cheap mouthpiece from a professional refacer. Some of the ones mentioned on this board often are the FOBES DEBUT (I've tried it and like it a lot), PYNE POLYCRYSTAL, HITE PREMIERE, or GENUSSA MEZZO. You'll et other recommendations as well. But these suggestions are all around 50 bucks or less, I have tried fobes and GENUSSA products and like them a lot (I currently own a fobes debut that I bought to test out to see if I would recommend it to beginners...and I would).
The POLYCRYSTAL and PREMIERE I have no personal experience with, but they seem to be pretty popular for a recommendation.
You can stick with one of those for a good while. Maybe a year or two while developing back your chops and skill. Personally, I'd be fine if someone told me I had to perform on a fobes debut tomorrow. It's. It my preference, but plays certainly well enough that it won't be a limiting factor for my performance.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2016-02-20 08:26)
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2016-02-20 10:05
When it comes to mouthpieces, you generally get what you pay for. I own, or have owned, all four of the mouthpieces Alexi mentioned above. In my experience:
1. Fobes Debut takes very little air support to play and isn't fussy at all about what reed you use with it. BUT, it isn't very flexible--pitches lock in and there isn't much wiggle room to humor an out-of-tune note back on pitch.
2. Pyne PolyCrystal is optimised for Vandoren reeds in the 3.0-3.5 range and deliveres a focused, complex tone. It does require good air support, but isn't fussy about reeds being in perfect balance. It plays in tune on ALL of my clarinets. BUT: The Lucite is prone to tooth marks on the beak, so do use a mouthpiece patch.
3. Hite Premiere is more resistant than the other three, needs good air support, and delivers a complex tone with good focus. Altissimo notes are very stable with the Premiere. BUT: Tone is covered and projection suffers. The Premiere does not tune well with some clarinets.
4. Gennusa Mezzo: Free blowing and flexible, this one is a good choice for jazz and pep/marching band as well as for classical clarinet. Projection is very nice, and there's enough flexibility for vibrato, pitch bends, and other effects. BUT: Tone may be too spread and unfocused for some tastes.
I use the PolyCrystal as a backup mouthpiece.
Were I you I'd:
1. Choose any of the four above mouthpieces to get started with, according to your personal taste.
2. Upgrade to a fine professional mouthpiece as soon as you feel you're ready.
3. Skip the intermediate clarinet altogether and upgrade directly to a professional model.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2016-02-20 13:27
For value to price ratio, nothing beats a used Leblanc Concerto ($600 to $1000). For any clarinet, have it serviced to make sure the pads seal perfectly.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2016-02-20 19:59
I'd go with a Fobes Debut, then after a year or so, upgrade to something better.
No, you don't need a different barrel at this time.
A Buffet E12F or a used R13 would be my choice for instrument.
An etude book and a scale book and then all you need is practice time.
A few lessons with a good private teacher would help you get going again.
Welcome back to the wonder wacky world of clarinet.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2016-02-23 23:22
Hello,
A few years back I needed a new bass clarinet mouthpiece in a hurry. I contacted David Spiegelthal and he send me two he has redone. They were no-name mouthpieces but they played great. I purchased one at a reasonable price, and sent the other back. This "Penn" mouthpiece is all I want in a mouthpiece. Thanks, Dave.
You might want to contact him and see what he can offer you.
Mike Blinn
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Author: moma4faith
Date: 2016-02-26 19:46
A good, cheap stock mouthpiece is the Hite Premiere - a bargain at only $20.00. I use this with students until they build their embouchure up and get their tone strong enough to move to another mouthpiece. I always use a mouthpiece cushion on the top, because it is made of plastic and your teeth will indent through that plastic. It is a free blowing mouthpiece and seems pretty flexible to help players get into all ranges. I also use D'Addario reeds, not Vandorean, because D'Addario is a much more consistent maker - when you get a box, most of the ten reeds are going to play. After that, a Bonade inverted ligature will help as well. There are more expensive inverted ligatures out there, but this one will do the job.
I wouldn't purchase a specialized barrel or bell until you have moved on to a better instrument.
While these aren't the most expensive or "professional" elements to a clarinet setup, they do seem to get intermediate players going quickly in all ranges of the instrument, and they help the player produce and work on their tone.
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Author: moma4faith
Date: 2016-02-26 19:47
Oh, I totally forgot to add, congratulations on your new clarinet and your new adventure. It is never to late to start, or to start back. I wish you tons of fun!
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Author: jessicaclair.powers@gmail.com
Date: 2016-02-28 06:31
I just went into our local music shop and they suggested the hite premiere mouth piece and bonade ligature. I plan to buy them on payday. I have some mouth piece pads already. I am using synthetic legere reeds. I know they are not popular but due to an autoimmune disease I can sterilize them after use. And reduce bacteria.
I hadn't replied sooner as I wanted to gather everyone's thoughts.
I have been playing with some higher end clarinets and I convinced the music store owner to trade my Palatino clarinet out for a Yamaha Advantage. I noticed it planned open G as a d# and not concert F. This will allow me to play for a few years to save up for a professional clarinet.
Now I just have to figure out things I know I use to know. Thank You all!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2016-02-28 07:21
HITE premiere is a good choice. Keep in mind, you can sterilize wood reeds too after each use. Many people dip them in hydrogen peroxide after playing. Search "hydrogen peroxide reeds" in your favorite search engine to learn more (you may get oboe and bassoon sites, but the principle is the same)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2016-02-28 12:47
A friend also needs to sterilise her reeds after playing. She uses a solution of "Milton", which is a product sold for sterilising infant feeding bottles.
Tony F.
Post Edited (2016-02-28 12:47)
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