Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-10-01 02:00
In a sense, you've actually started with the wrong question. And as a result you've gotten a lot of votes for the 4C and a lot for the 5RV. And as an immediate, practical matter, you need to play on the mouthpiece that gives you the most satisfactory result - that's your judgment to make.
But the more general question is, is a Vandoren mouthpiece generically an upgrade in quality from a 4C? There are a lot of players, including some well-reputed pros, who perform on Vandoren mouthpieces. But not necessarily on a 5RV. There are a number of Vandoren mouthpieces on the market and there are players using everything from the no-longer-available M14 through the B4x facings, with both "traditional" shaped beaks and the Profile 88 ones and with both "Traditional" internal configurations and Series 13.
I don't think any experienced clarinetist, or at least not many, would say there isn't *some* Vandoren mouthpiece that would give you better results than your 4C. But maybe not the 5RV that you have.
I've had students try M13, M13 Lyre and M15 Vandorens and love one while hating the other two. And they're very similar to each other. If you want to see what Vandoren (or D'Addario or Fobes, Backun or Behn intermediate mouthpieces) offer, you'd have to be motivated to try some of them and willing to spend the money to buy one.
So, if you don't really like the 5RV (even though it's *supposed* to be an upgrade), it comes down, rather than to a comparison between 4C and 5RV, instead to a decision about whether the 4C makes you comfortable and gives you the results you want. If not, shop. Otherwise, you won't lose anything much by waiting until something comes up that you can't easily do with the 4C (back to your own judgment call).
Karl
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