 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Natasha.Hallam
Date: 2016-06-24 23:06
Hi,
So I am looking at purchasing a new clarinet mouthpiece since I am currently using a stock mouthpiece. I am rather fond of the dark and round sound of the M30 that my clarinet teacher had me try, however she says that I should look for a mouthpiece that has that tone quality but allows for crisper articulation as well.
Anyone have any recommendations on what I could try? Does the M15 allow for crisper articulation compared to the M30?
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Author: tylerleecutts
Date: 2016-06-25 00:16
In short, it should. Some may not. If you're trying Vandorens try the M13 Lyre and BD5 as well as the M15.
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2016-06-25 00:17
Since your fortunate enough to have a teacher advising you, why aren't you asking her?
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Author: Natasha.Hallam
Date: 2016-06-25 01:27
I have asked my professor, however she is not really sure which Vandoren mouthpiece would be easier to articulate on. She told me to look around online for ideas.
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2016-06-25 01:31
I agree with trying the M13 Lyre and M15 for Vandorens.
If you can, try some of the Clark Fobes mouthpieces too. I play a Clark Fobes CF and I find that it makes articulation very easy for me.
Most good mouthpieces shouldn't make articulation impossible, though. I tried an M30 a while back, and I don't really remember having any articulation problems with it.
Post Edited (2016-06-25 01:33)
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Author: bassclarinet101 ★2017
Date: 2016-06-25 01:34
If you are looking for ease of articulation, I would skip on the BD5, because the thicker rails, while reed-friendly, cost you in the articulation department. If you are absolutely set on sticking to Vandoren (no D'Addario Reserves or handmade/hand-finished mouthpieces), check out the M13Lyre (meaning at least 2 of them), the M15, M30, and M30 Lyre to get a pretty good spread of the board.
-Daniel
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Author: ClaV
Date: 2016-06-25 02:05
I would agree with M13Lyre and less so with M15, which seems to be designed for harder reeds and more demanding for reeds. M30 and M30Lyre are more open and may require more developed embouchure.
One of the most recommended first Vandoren mouthpiece is 5RVLyre.
The best is definitely to try few mouthpieces for yourself with few reeds, if possible.
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2016-06-25 03:54
The M30 has a very long and relatively open facing. It might cause some control issues, especially if you have one with thick rails (this seems to vary). Since the standard Vandoren series has the same interior (series 13 has a bit lower baffle) I suggest the M13 regular or Lyre or the M15 as decent options with more managable facings than the M30.
Mark
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2016-06-25 05:37
Natasha:
I am surmising that given your current use of what I'll possibly incorrectly call a no-name mouthpiece that you are (again, I could be wrong) the type of player with "more to learn than possessing vast knowledge of the instrument."
If that's correct, I might shy away from larger tip opening mouthpieces like the M30.
http://www.vandoren-en.com/file/162130/
At the above link you can see that the M30 has a tip opening of 1.15 millimeters (bottom half of page).
While MANY things go into what makes a mouthpiece play the way it does, from the aforementioned tip opening, to the curvature of the rails, to their thickness, to beak length and angle to materials to other more esoteric factors, I fear that this mouthpiece, and others of similar tip opening may be not only be too hard for you to control because of this relatively large tip opening, but--as you asked--too hard to articulate with for relatively new players compared to models like the M15.
Mouthpieces don't have a sound so much as players do, and mouthpieces modify that.
I happen to think the M15 is an excellent and relatively reed friendly mouthpiece. Bear in mind you may find need to go up 1/2 a strength in reeds compared to the M30 because of its closer facing--or you may not. Many of the other Vandoren's mentioned, as well as the Fobes models are excellent as well.
Some like Vandoren's CLX (where X is 4, 5 of 6) line of mouthpieces. I believe the larger the value of X, the larger the tip opening. The CL6 may be too open for you. And if you happen to be into the Vandoren M/O line of ligatures (I'm not a big lig guy) I think the CLX line may take its own special M/O ligs if I remember correctly.
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