The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2018-03-26 23:13
As far as what's better always depends on the player's subjective preferences of sound and feel. That being said, here are my thoughts, coming from someone who does a fair bit of refacing work.
The M13Lyre and BD5 are both generally lower pitch mouthpieces (440-ish). The way designers accomplish the lower pitch, relative to their higher pitch counterparts, is a combination of a larger bore and larger chamber/increased depth of baffle. There are a number of effects this has on how the mouthpiece sounds and feels.
A mouthpiece with a deep baffle will generally have a sound with more depth and more emphasis on the lower parts of the sound. There are side effects of this, including the potential for increased dullness to the sound and decreased ring/projection. If the upper baffle is deepened, response can be adversely affected as well.
A larger bore and more open chamber will also allow for more quantity of air to move through. While this may seem like an advantage, it is important to note the potential problems this can cause. One issue is the loss of natural focus, the level to which the mouthpiece automatically focuses the sound. Also, while it allows for more quantity of air to go through, it can also require more air to attain a fundamental level of focus and projection.
The BD5 generally has a larger bore/chamber with increased baffle depth than the M13Lyre, so potential issues as described above will increase.
The internal considerations aside, there are differences in the facing curve/tip opening. The M13Lyre has a fairly traditional facing with a relatively close tip opening and medium long facing length. The close tip provides a quick and lively response and lowered resistance while the medium long facing provides a balance between vibrancy/flexibility and control. Essentially, this is a very efficient style of curve that requires relatively little embouchure pressure to attain good response and focus.
The BD5 on the other hand is a good bit more open, 1.13mm compared to the 1.01mm of the M13Lyre. The facing length is also a bit shorter than the M13Lyre. The more open the tip, the more resistance. The shorter the facing length, the more resistance. As far as the effect of the facing curve of the BD5, it will be inherently more resistant than the M13Lyre. The response will be slower due to this as well and require a lighter reed to compensate. The more open nature of the internal aspects of the BD5 could be seen as a compensation for the inherent increase in resistance from the facing.
What creates a good mouthpiece? I feel that a mouthpiece that responds quickly, has a comfortable blow-through, ample balance between stability and flexibility, does not require excess embouchure support in order to focus the sound, even tuning, and a good balance of the upper and lower portions of the sound. Many players gravitate towards a mouthpiece that will withstand excessive embouchure pressure without bringing too many of the upper partials, a mouthpiece that takes excessive quantity of air, and generally will allow a thicker reed cut. I don't think this is a good direction to go however, since it requires much more work to get basic functionality (response, clarity, focus, etc.) therefore limiting flexibility. Also, limiting or "cutting out" of the higher partials of the sound limits projection and makes it more likely to be dull.
Clarinetists should not be afraid of the word bright. There's nothing inherently wrong with bright, brilliance, and similar terms. The worst thing for a setup is for it to eliminate the ability to access these aspects of the sound. Having a setup that emphasizes the lower aspects of sound is one thing, but one that limits or eliminates access to parts of the sound is not a good thing.
The M13Lyre is a more efficient facing combined with more inherent focus, leaving the embouchure to be flexible in adjusting the sound for particular types of music. The more you have to use the embouchure for basic functionality and focus, the less flexibility you have to use the embouchure to attain a larger variety of tonal color and tuning.
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jeffyx |
2018-03-26 03:30 |
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NBeaty |
2018-03-26 23:13 |
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Bob Bernardo |
2018-03-27 14:23 |
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jeffyx |
2018-03-28 07:02 |
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NBeaty |
2018-03-28 17:50 |
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Dan Shusta |
2018-03-28 22:17 |
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GenEric |
2018-04-01 08:50 |
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NBeaty |
2018-04-02 20:12 |
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kdk |
2018-04-02 21:26 |
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seabreeze |
2018-04-02 22:16 |
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NBeaty |
2018-04-02 22:55 |
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brycon |
2018-04-02 23:03 |
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GBK |
2018-04-02 23:29 |
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NBeaty |
2018-04-03 00:53 |
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