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Questions on Tip Openings

Author: Adrian_B-flat
Date: 2017-01-12 01:59

Does anyone have information on the specifications for the Gale Hollywood clarinet mouthpiece? I tried looking it up via Google but pretty much any near-relevant reference refers to that mouthpiece for saxophones.

I'm using it with a Rovner MKIII ligature and a Yamaha YCL-34. I bought the clarinet and mouthpiece from a person who normally plays Jazz, btw. I currently play with Rico Orange #3 reeds as I am redeveloping my chops on clarinet (I took a 20+ year hiatus) and I recently joined a community band (two actually- with my first "real" time playing after my hiatus was to sightread one rehearsal before playing for a dinner/dance concert the day after with a pretty casual community band...I did OK for my first time back!).

Anyway, I've found that my sound is solid except for in altissimo which can, sometimes, be problematic and requires me to adjust embouchure and bite a little more to get satisfactory sound. (Obviously), the longer I play on a #3 reed, the worse it gets to the point I end up pinching the opening closed after an extended period of playing. I'm assuming I need a harder reed. (When I played regularly through highschool and college, I was playing up to 5s.)

With that said, I was given a Legere Classic 3.25 as a Christmas gift. I tried to play it but I found, using my "#3" embouchure, that I can barely get any sound without biting harder and using a lot more effort to get air flowing. I CAN get sound if I bite harder (it's a notably "darker" tone) but the chalameau is really (for me) airy, the clarion is solid, but, altissimo is still tough to the point where I, on occasion, bite the tip opening closed.

I did some searching (on this board as well as on Google) for suggestions and found that the Legere usually requires a smaller tip opening and long facing (not sure on facing) with the mouthpiece. I saw that Woodwind Brasswind has the Vandoren Masters 13 CL4 on sale for cheap (~$40...normally $130) and recommends a harder reed (3-4) so I was curious about it.

According to Vandoren, the CL4 is has a tip opening of "110" (based on 1/100MM from the Vandoren site) and has a long facing.

The problem I have is that I don't know what my CURRENT tip opening and facings are. I was thinking that I'd also like to reduce my tendency to bite to get good sound so would it be better to go with a mouthpiece that has a smaller tip opening- again, same question...I don't know where I am now with the Gale Hollywood.

So that's my dilemma...
1. What are the specs on the Gale Hollywood? It seems to have a shorter facing than but close to the same tip opening as the "standard" mouthpiece that came with my son's Selmer 1400 rental.

2. What would be a recommended mouthpiece to go with with the Legere based on my current situation and assuming I'd like to stick with the 3.25 strength?

3. I'm figuring that, with the Gale, I may need to go up to a 3.5 Rico Orange. Would there be a more recommended reed for someone who is playing community band(s) that are fairly casual?

Thanks!

Post Edited (2017-01-12 08:33)

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