The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2018-04-02 20:12
Generic,
Indeed, most American makers tend to make mouthpieces with closer tip openings, or at least relatively close compared to B40's and so forth. Most makers do have more open offerings. It's very possible to make a mouthpiece with a 1.15mm tip opening feel similar to a B40, especially given that all American mouthpiece makers are using something other than vandoren blanks to make their mouthpieces.
The B40 seems to me to be the "Functional B45". Vandoren certainly runs the gauntlet of facing options, but much of the time their more open tips are just too hard to play (for reasons previously described). The B40 (as well as the M30) are, relatively speaking, very open. The difference between the these two and the B45, which is in the same neighborhood of tip openings, is that the facing curves are quite long. This creates a flatter/straighter curve as well as allows more of the reed to vibrate more easily. Essentially, this makes a 1.20 feel more like 1.12 with a more standard facing length.
Sometimes people will choose these types of mouthpieces (B40/M30) because they prefer to play with excessive pressure/bite. Others may use these options to balance out the use of a light strength reed, although the increased facing length can make lighter reeds go a bit wild. There are also those who prefer to play with a very large quantity of air passing through the instrument. The larger opening does allow a higher quantity of air than a closer one in certain respects, but not without greater effort. Then there are yet more people who play like a "bull in a china shop" blowing excessive amounts of air with excessive embouchure pressure.
It's worth noting that the 13 series does tune lower than the standard version. However, it would be incorrect to ignore the large numbers of players who manage to tune with these mouthpieces quite well. It's also worth noting that if a 13 series vandoren is a favorite mouthpiece for someone but is a little low on their instrument, getting a shorter barrel by 1mm isn't the end of the world and will bring up the pitch particularly in the left hand.
Supposedly the BD5 is a modern adaptation of the Diamond Perfecta vandorens from the 1950's-60's. These were excellent mouthpieces and have a rich and chocolate-like tone that is very smooth. I don't think they really captured those qualities very well with the BD5, and it would be nice if they had a closer tip opening option, but there are players who use them successfully. I think it's a little bit closer to European tastes in some ways.
On a related side note about equipment in general, always ask why. I can't remember the teacher who said this to me, but he said "to be educated is to know why". Too many clarinet players are fantastic with repertoire, technique, practice methods, entrepreneurship, and many other aspects of music but will stop this intellectual curiosity with equipment. This isn't to say everyone needs to know everything about mouthpieces/barrels/instruments/bells etc., but everyone should have a basic understanding of these things. If nothing else, to be able to know when someone is trying to pull a fast one to sell them something. It will help you verify if someone's opinion actually makes sense, or even just be better able to understand when someone is just giving you their opinion.
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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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