 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2017-03-01 05:01
Which one?
Constraints-
1) Must be available in mass market (no custom makers unless the model is widely available through local music store ordering or many online vendors)
2) Only one specific model! Not a whole line!
3) you don't have to be nasty. You don't have to agree with someone else's idea. Just acknowledge that it's an opinion and everyone (even though sometimes it seems unfortunate) is entitled to their opinion!
My answer?
The vandoren B45. I respect vandoren. I really like and often recommend their M-series mouthpieces or 5RV Lyre. But that B45 seems to cause so many control problems for the unsuspecting middle and high school students that purchase it as a step up. And it frustrates them!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: ClarinettyBetty
Date: 2017-03-01 07:31
I don't care for the B45 either, actually. I inherited a band program back when I was teaching that had everyone purchase B45s if they could, and I just felt like they were loud and uncontrolled. Switched beginners to M13 lyres and over three years had a more mature-sounding junior high program.
Also, I know some people prefer "such and such" mouthpiece for beginners, then want them to step up around 7/8/9th grade, but in my Title 1 schools there was no such thing as getting a new mouthpiece, ever. I was lucky if they had more than one working reed.
Personally, the worst mouthpiece for myself that I've played on was the Black Diamond by Vandoren. It was like blowing into a black hole---fortissimo air for barely any sound.
All imho.
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Eb: 1972 Buffet BC20
Bb: Selmer Paris Presence
A: Selmer Paris Presence
Bass: 1977 LeBlanc
https://gentrywoodwinds.com
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Author: tucker ★2017
Date: 2017-03-01 07:57
I'll jump on the B45 bandwagon.... didn't like it for bass clarinet.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2017-03-01 10:29
Personally I have no problem with the B45. I used to play one and I know a number of clarinetists that I would rate as advanced who are completely comfortable with it. I think the worst mouthpiece of all time is the Rico Graftonite.
Tony F.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2017-03-01 11:07
Twenty-some years ago, I bought a new-in-box Woodwind Company Steel Ebonite G8. Bland timbre, zero projection, and it took massive amounts of air and embouchure pressure just to play mezzo-forte. Oh, I squeaked a lot on it, too.
I see this model, the 2560-G8, is still available. Whoever made the one I got should be investigated for malpractice.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2017-03-01 12:43
Tony F said:
> I think the worst mouthpiece of all time is the Rico Graftonite.
Totally agree.
Unfortunately they were also practically indestructible.
...GBK (who still has about 5 of them when they were given out for free to teachers)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-03-01 12:49
HAHA! B45 popped right in there.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Shostakovich
Date: 2017-03-01 13:08
Also not a fan of the B45, but I'd like to mention that the B45-dot is quite different - I find it very good.
All the pomaricos I've tried have been fairly unplayable (particularly anything they market as "open". So I think they'd be my first target.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2017-03-01 14:13
Chris; Andrew Marriner played or has played a Vandoren 45 for practically all of his playing career. Not a bad clarinetist.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: RKing
Date: 2017-03-01 18:33
Mouthpieces are so personal and the B45 never "fit" me at all. I was very frustrated starting out and almost dropped the instrument until I discovered the 5RV. I now use an M15 and it was love at first note. :-)
I never could figure out why the B45 was called the Universal Mouthpiece.
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2017-03-01 19:00
Dang...it would have to be total detrimental junk for me to suggest abolishing an entire line. When I was younger (High School), I played a B45 effectively....even reviewed it here a few years back:
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/2013/02/mouthpiece-review-vandoren-b45-c1985.html
Wouldn't use one now...but honestly, they've worked better for me than many "hand crafted" mouthpieces.
I'd be tempted to say abolish those plastic stock mouthpieces that come with Buffets, but even then my best bass clarinet mouthpiece is a plastic stock Buffet (an exception to every rule?)
I honestly can't think of a line so bad it doesn't deserve to exist. But then again I haven't played everything...
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: CEC
Date: 2017-03-01 20:27
What exactly is the point of this thread? There is no such thing as a bad mouthpiece if it works well for the player.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2017-03-01 23:08
My, my...such harsh words for the B45.
For me, they have always worked nicely on vintage big-bore instruments. Vintage Conn, Boosey & Hawkes, Pruefer, and the Bundy 1400 clarinets all simply sing with the B45.
Put one on a modern instrument such as the Ridenour 576BC or Backun Alpha in my studio, and it's a whole different story. There's something about the inherent resistance in these horns that pushes back against the B45 and destabilises pitch control, as well as making response somewhat unpredictable. I imagine it'd be the same case al with a B45 on an R13.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2017-03-01 23:17
To me, there's an analogy with dogs and their owners. There are not many inherently bad dogs, but a bad owner can turn just about any dog into a bad one by mishandling, lack of training or general neurotic behavior.
Substitute "mouthpiece" for "dog", and "clarinetist" for "owner", and you'll get my drift
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Author: NTSOG
Date: 2017-03-02 00:24
Recently I put a B45 on my Bb Selmer St. Louis after trying other mouthpieces, including the Selmer C85 [120]. I simply cannot play with the C85 - on any instrument. I have tried M15 and an M30, but I could not quite get them to work - for me. The B45 on the St.Louis is really bright, precise and a delight. As for Pomaricos, you have to go through them carefully. Some of the "closed" ones are really touchy. I think quality control is an issue for Pomarico; I have returned a few.
It's all about personal taste and technique and possibly oral structure and experience.
Jim
Australia
NB. I forgot that I have also been using a B45 on my 1954 Bb Selmer CT. Of my range of mouthpieces, it is the best for the CT as I play it.
Post Edited (2017-03-02 02:14)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2017-03-02 03:46
Quote:
What exactly is the point of this thread? There is no such thing as a bad mouthpiece if it works well for the player. For fun. And I agree. One man's junk is another man's treasure.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2017-03-02 04:54
The Grafonite Mouthpiece not coming in the Buffet student model Clarinet's (back in the 90's) I believe was from my suggestion to not use it. I think that they did take my note to them seriously, as 2 months later it was not being used anymore.
What a complete dog that was!!!
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: smokindok
Date: 2017-03-02 06:07
On the other hand, the Rico Graftonite bari sax mouthpiece has gotten pretty high praise from quite a few players.
John
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Author: TomS
Date: 2017-03-02 09:34
I'd vote for the B45 as well ... I've owned and played a few for a while, before the 13 series was available. I've also played the B44 and B46. The B45 is not unusable, but compared to other MPs in the Vandoren line (and production MPs like the Reserve, for example) IMHO, they can't compete. I've been spoiled by M13 and M13-lyre and VD 56s ...
Of course, some of the obligatory MPs packaged with new clarinets are pretty bad, like the Buffet MP that came with my E-13.
Tom
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-03-02 16:24
Buffet only put in a basic plastic mouthpiece to complete the outfit as it's a waste of money putting in a pro level ebonite mouthpiece in if no-one's going to use it.
Same with Yamaha who supply a phenolic resin 4C or 6C with their student and intermediate models, although they do supply an ebonite Custom series mouthpiece with their Custom series clarinets which hardly anyone uses.
In any case, there would be more complaints if clarinets were supplied without mouthpieces at all than if they put in a cheap plastic one.
Selmer supply either a C* or a C85 mouthpiece with their clarinets, but how many players use them? They should do a Buffet and bung in a plastic Bundy mouthpiece if no-one uses them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-03-02 19:09
It would be terrible if bad equipment, be it mouthpiece or clarinet or reeds, caused a student to give up on music. I'm sure that happens.
But, given a student is playing OK at some level, I would think an instructor would be thrilled to see they're using something inferior. Now they have low hanging fruit, so to speak. Let the student try something better (borrow if need be). If indeed student was held back by that B45 or whatever, instant improvement and the instructor is a hero. If not- well- maybe instructor's opinion about the equipment is inaccurate, or the student is an exception to the rule. It happens. Move on and teach another day.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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