 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2019-08-10 13:31
Hi,
I wondered if anybody else here plays a J&D Hite D mouthpiece? I'd be interested to compare notes on reeds with someone who uses the same mouthpiece.
Thanks!
Sunny
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2019-08-10 19:47
Hi,
Thanks for asking. I'm trying a few things at the moment.
I started on 1.5 classic Vandoren reeds in Grade 1. Then I moved to 2.5 V12 in grade 2.
Working towards grade 3, I have now moved to using Rigotti Gold light 2.5 for crossing the break legatto and Vandoren V12 2.5 for tunes with a lot of high notes and articulation.
Just this week I discovered that I really like Bravo 2.5 synthetic reeds, but I'm still using all three different kinds to compare.
The more I read about it, the more I think that the choice of reed may be a lot to do with the kind of mouthpiece that I have.
I use a siverstein A-frame ligature, and my clarinet is a new Yamaha Custom CX.
Thanks!
Jen
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-08-13 14:25
I think a V12 might be a tad bit too heavy for just starting out on the clarinet. This can add resistance to any mouthpiece because the reed is thicker than most. However these are very good reeds if you know how to adjust them and are willing to dig through 10 to find 1 good one. I would encourage you to try thinner blank reeds that may respond better.
In another post you talked about the Bravo reeds. If they feel lighter and are more responsive play on these for a bit, before you invest into a new mouthpiece.
As far as mouthpieces go the Hite mouthpieces are very good. They were or are made by Babbitt in Indiana. Before buying a mouthpiece try to find a mouthpiece around a tip opening of 1.03mm's. For now don't invest a lot of money into a mouthpiece, because your embouchure will change a lot during the next 5 years or so. Just have fun.
I started out on a Selmer HS* which is about 1.01mm's and I used it for the first 9 years until I found a Chedeville at Peabody Conservatory. Now I use my own of course, but the point I'm making is the tip opening. Try not to go over 1.03mm's for now. Keep things simple and don't make a lot of changes.
Actually, a post about the great Harold Wright with the Boston Symphony played on a Chedeville also and the tip opening was about 1.01mm's. Yet he could be heard very well in this famous hall.
When players first start, for the first 5 years or so, the upper registers are generally flat, because of weak embouchures. This is very normal, but avoid the Vandoren M series mouthpieces, such as the M13, because they tend to play flat in the upper register, the mouthpiece is too long in length. I don't think this is a good match. Vandoren does make a decent mouthpiece called the BD5 but sadly the tip opening is 1.13. Even most pros can't handle this open of a mouthpiece. It's possible the BD5 stands for 1.15mm's, because I've refaced several for players and brought the tip opening down to 1.08 or so. Then they are actually pretty fun to play on. So I'm not picking on Vandoren. Just their ideas and concepts are wrong.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2019-08-14 10:08
Hi Bob,
Thank so much for explaining that. I just looked on the website and it says this about my mouthpiece:
Model D
Facing: Medium length, .041" tip
Our "D" model mouthpiece is the original (ca. 1980) HITE interior design which is closely aligned with the traditional classic orchestral facing. The mouthpiece balances well with a Vandoren No. 4 or Vandoren V-12 No. 3-1/2 reed (or comparable). Compared to the "M41" model which has the identical facing, the "D" internal dimensions tend to produce a darker, rounder tonal character.
If .041" converts to 0.104cm does that mean that I'm in about the right place, close to your suggestion of 1.03mm? I'm not quite sure what "open" means, or what these dimensions refer to.
Would you mind my asking how I can find a thinner blank reed? I'm not quite sure what that is. Are there some specific brands that sell blank reeds?
The Bravo reeds are really helping me very much, as I don't need to think about tone, and can just concentrate on breathing and fingering, which is great. I always warm up and practise on a Bravo reed, and then to a final play-through on a cane reed, and my efforts on the cane reed come out so much better for having practised on a Bravo reed.
Thanks so much for your advice.
Best wishes,
Jennifer
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-08-14 12:16
Hi Jennifer, 0.041" is at 1.04mm's as you said. Yes you are on the right track in fact if you order the mouthpiece it may read 1.03 to 1.05. It's hard to make these exact. For example the BD5's (Vandoren mouthpieces) can run from 1.13 to 1.19 mainly because these are machine made and I don't have a problem with machine made mouthpieces. They cost is less and if you find that gem you are all set.
The V12 reed blanks are 1.25" thick on average. The Vandoren regular reeds are about 1.05." That is a heck of a lot. Imagine the difference of a 2X4 piece of wood and a 1 1/2 X 4 piece of wood. In karate needless to say the bigger piece of wood is more resistant and harder to break so the idea is the same with cane.
Back in the days when Morre' made reeds some were too think for the pros and measured 1.35." That actually is sooo close to 1/32," thicker than a blue box of Vandoren's.
I'm a firm believer that clarinet playing at the beginning through most of college should be easy and lots of fun. Such as playing in local orchestras and community bands, after about a year or so of practice. This is very fun. No one wants to mess with reeds and waste your time from practicing. So I don't mind seeing players use plastic reeds.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Ed
Date: 2019-08-14 17:44
I played a Hite a number of years ago and found the styles of reed that Bob mentions with somewhat thinner blanks worked well. You might try Brad Beh's Aria reeds, which are a very good reed and nice and responsive.
https://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com/behn-aria-clarinet-reeds
Traditional Vandoren and D'Addario Reserve would also be a good choice.
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2019-08-15 18:20
Hi Bob,
Thanks, that's really great to know that I am on the right track. I have been playing the Hite mouthpiece for about 8 months now, and I really like it. I live cycling distance from a really great woodwind shop and they let me try a whole tray of mouthpieces, with lots of Vandoren ones and Selmer, and several other brands. The Hite one was clearly much less resistant and produced a lovely sound for me (I realise that this varies from person to person, so it may just be me).
I've changed clarinet since I bought the mouthpiece, but I went back and tried the whole tray again and I still fit best by far with this one mouthpiece.
It's great to know that you are okay with beginners using plastic reeds. I just had my first lesson today since trying the plastic reed and my teacher was really pleased at how much progress I had made. I'm even playing much much better on cane reeds, for having practised on the plastic reed.
Yay!
Jen
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-08-17 09:49
Hi Jen, I'm OK with pro's using plastic reeds as well! I just can't use them as a double lip player. Maybe if I didn't play for so many hours they would work well.
I think some of the pro's that use them include Ricardo with the Philadelphia Orch. David Shifrin at Yale and several others. Another friend who is very talented but unknown is Joe Bonfiglio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8zFW4t6GRQ
Went to Peabody with me and then to Juillard with Drucker. He could have sat in pretty much any orchestra, but chose to teach, which is surely fine with me. He does a lot of quintet type of work.
As for David Hite, he's a very nice man. I'm not sure if he is still alive. I last talked to him about 15 years ago, sadly to say. He treated me with much kindness as he did with all of his clients and friends.
Another very kind man just like David Hite is Tom Ridenour who also makes very nice mouthpieces as well as very good clarinets.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Ed
Date: 2019-08-17 16:05
Hite passed away 2004. He made some great contributions to the clarinet world.
Post Edited (2019-08-17 16:07)
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2019-08-17 21:27
I'm sorry to hear that. I really love my clarinet mouthpiece that he designed.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-08-23 02:11
Well that's a shame about David. That puts me right at the 15 year mark. At the time of his passing. A great loss for sure. Thanks for the update Ed.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Ed
Date: 2019-08-24 01:54
Bob- I know you will appreciate this one. In a conversation I had with him, he was talking about how the clarinet used to be such a central voice in the orchestra and that a current trend in tone has made it into a secondary instrument. He felt that its unique color was getting buried in the wind section through this change in concept.
Post Edited (2019-08-30 02:36)
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-08-30 00:10
Hi Ed,
Such an interesting topic! Yes I have to agree with him! That must have been a fun conversation. Thank you for sharing this story with me. I feel honored that you thought of me! Take care - Bob
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-08-30 09:49
David - Hite, Charles Bay, Jim Pyne, Matson, and a few others such as Kaspar whom really broke through as mouthpiece makers and gave us all something special to improve our sounds with. Then some other gifted people came along as well. But these were the true pioneers. Also articulation became a whole lot easier with the correct facings. Please forgive me if I didn't state all of the talented mouthpiece refacers and mouthpiece makers.
I had no idea about the Jokes of the Day with both of you! That's really special. This Clarinet Bboard is really fun. Thanks for sharing.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2019-08-31 03:00)
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2019-08-31 18:50
Hi David,
Thanks for mentioning that you played that mouthpiece and which reeds you used with it. That's great to know.
Jen
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