 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rgoldem
Date: 2018-11-14 19:29
I find it much easier do play with small or medium opening mouthpieces. It is more comfortable and with better control. However, sound seems to be smaller and sometimes shrill. If I try harder reeds in order to compensate the matter I lose the free blowing characteristics of these mouthpieces. So, how can I get a fatter sound with a small opening mouthpiece and medium hardness reed? Is this a possibility?
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2018-11-14 19:53
There are all kinds of mouthpieces that come with small openings, and each of them plays differently. There's the Hawkins B model, the Backun Moba C model, the Walter Grabner Chicago model, the Clark Fobes CF San Francisco, and CWF, the Vandoren M13 and M13 lyre, the Reserve X0, the many models Behn offers (which he also offers in more open facings) and so on. Exactly which mouthpiece do you play on that you find "shrill"?
Do you do play mostly band music, orchestral, solo, chamber, classical, jazz, ethnic, pop music or what? Do you play mostly in amplified systems (microphones and loudspeakers) or un-amplified acoustic settings? All these factors will affect what kind of mouthpiece you will most probably want to choose.
Post Edited (2018-11-14 20:09)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2018-11-14 21:11
seabreeze wrote:
> There are all kinds of mouthpieces that come with small
> openings, and each of them plays differently. There's the
> Hawkins B model, ...the Walter Grabner
> Chicago model, the Clark Fobes CF San Francisco, and CWF
These were, AFAIK, still based on Zinner blanks until Zinner recently closed up shop. I wonder how these products will change, but I never found any of them to be inherently shrill or "small" sounding.
The Backun Moba, Vandoren and Reserve series aren't based on Zinners and are available in a wide range of tip openings and curve lengths. There are also mouthpieces with more closed tips being marketed by Bob Bernardo, Chris Hill and Brad Behn that are made from their own proprietary blanks. All of them are capable of supporting a full, vibrant sound without shrillness.
Karl
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2018-11-14 21:56
The secret (as always) is not get harder reeds but blow faster air.
Place an 8.5 X 11 piece of paper on a flat wall and be able to keep it on the wall by blowing fast air on it from 12 inches away. That is the way to play a clarinet. And yes, I hear some saying that is too loud - then hold the air back with a stronger (side pressure) embouchure, not with the jaw.
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2018-11-15 00:50
“The Backun Moba, Vandoren and Reserve series aren't based on Zinners and are available in a wide range of tip openings and curve lengths.”
Since when are Backun Moba mouthpieces not Zinners?
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Author: gavalanche20
Date: 2018-11-15 01:05
It does say right on the Backun website that the Mobas are Zinners:
https://backunmusical.com/collections/mouthpieces/products/moba-bb-mouthpieces?variant=804217743
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2018-11-15 01:07
As Seabreeze said, there's lots more to mouthpieces than just the tip opening. There are also a lot of good reed brands and models, and they all work better with some mouthpieces than others. Really, you try lots of stuff with as few preconceptions as possible and see what seems to work best for you.
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Author: Anonymoose
Date: 2018-11-15 02:28
There was a video on YouTube (that was later taken down to prevent any more confusion) saying that their Moba mouthpieces are CNC machined from their own solid block of material.
I think you can still find that video clip if you watch the Backun Factory Tour and skip to the mouthpiece section.
However, all the Moba mouthpieces I've seen are Zinner based so I sent an email to Backun and they replied that the videos represented early prototypes of the Backun mouthpiece 6 years ago, though they now use the CNC machines to finish the Moba mouthpieces from Zinner blanks.
edit: for clarity
Post Edited (2018-11-15 02:29)
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2018-11-15 06:41
I've found success with my Gennusa GE (not GE*) mouthpiece. I've never had complaints about playing too softly. I use a 4.5 D'Addario Reserve Classic and it plays great, and doesn't feel too hard either.
Try a few different ones, and see who'll be willing to send you a few samples. Good luck!
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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