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Re: J&D Hite D mouthpiece

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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Date

J&D Hite D mouthpiece new

SunnyDaze

2019-08-10 13:31