 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2016-07-20 02:53
I also purchased a La Vecchia mouthpiece from Bob Bernardo and found him to be nice to work with. I like the intonation and mellow tone quality and plan to use it as a close miked recording mouthpiece for the samples I record of my arrangements. For orchestra playing, I felt it lacked enough of the power and ringing edge I need to be heard over a large group. This may have been a characteristic of this particular mouthpiece where I requested a 1.08 tip opening. Definitely worth your trying.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-07-23 07:05
Hi, You should be able to fill a concert hall with this. Send it back and let me see whats up.
Thanks,
Bob
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: fernie121
Date: 2019-08-13 08:19
I ordered this mouthpiece last Friday. Before it get here, does anyone recommend certain reeds for this mouthpiece? I currently have Arias, Vandoren V21s, and D’Addario Reserve Classics.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-08-13 14:41
You should be able to use most reeds. Even the Legere's but with the Legere's try to thin the rails just a tad. If you want me to do this I'd be happy to. You actually need to thin the rails/sides at a given point on ALL Legere reeds to get the best vibrations out of them - Regardless of what mouthpiece you use. Yes this is a factory defect! Shame on Legere. I offered to help but they completely ignored my phone calls. Yes I called them a few times.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2019-08-13 15:01)
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Author: DaphnisetChloe
Date: 2019-08-13 16:40
Are there any clarinet product making companies you haven't contacted to offer helpful advice Bob?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-08-13 17:02
Dear Bob,
So I've just been living the very "theory" I've arrived at concerning Legere strengths. If you are just slightly OVER your ideal strength, you cannot "muscle" the reed into playing properly. The reed will feel and respond like water-logged cane in that it sounds dull (if at all) then just closes up on the mouthpiece. Or rather we just push it closed in an attempt to get sound (the embouchure side of the equation of air/embouchure).
What happened to me is that I obtained a new mouthpiece whose dimensions where ever so slightly more open and than my current mouthpiece, and my current reed strength just made the system barely play. I found a batch of reeds in my drawer ONE QUARTER STRENGTH softer and all was right with the world once more!
Moral of the story:
Once you have the correct strength of Legere for your mouthpiece they play wonderfully (well at least the European Signature Bb clarinet reed and the Signature Soprano Saxophone reed).
That's a LONG way of asking the question: What does filing (or whatever you do to the "rails" of the Legere do for you that using a softer strength doesn't cure?????
.....................Paul Aviles
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Author: fernie121
Date: 2019-08-13 18:06
I recently had a recital and found the setup I’ve been using and sounding great in the practice room and during my lessons was hopelessly small in the concert hall. I do usually play in other environments but they all involve a mic.
My teacher, who was at the recital, said I should try going back to just cane reeds because he felt my sound was too covered and lacked overtones. I completely agree with him!
He uses a BD5 with V21 reeds on an R13 and has a nice ringing sound. I bought a new BD5, as the modified one I have is pretty worn from using Legere a every day, and some V21 reeds and though it’s better my sound is still a bit duller than I’d like. My teacher tried my clarinet and told me the sound is very dark, so I should look for a mouthpiece/reed setup that will give me more ring in the sound.
I will try my assortment of reeds and the new mouthpiece with him during my next lesson, but just wanted to know what others are using. Also, being a double lip player, I’m finding cane reeds more comfortable on the embouchure than Legere’s. Just wish they were more consistent!
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-08-13 19:15
I believe Legere tend to work out better on more closed tip openings(that explains the high success rate amongst Germanic players). HOWEVER, I am pretty sure Corrado Giuffredi uses a more open combination and he sounds pretty darn amazing.
Perhaps the Legere feel too slippery for double lip? I recall playing double lip for about two years in college and the "teetery" feeling (clarinet sorta wobbling side to side) was bad enough.
I have great luck so far with Fobes mouthpieces, RJ Music Group's Gennusa Retro, and an old (pre-Backun) Richard Hawkins. All pretty much 1.00mm tip opening with a 14.00mm facing. I pair that with Legere European Signature Bb clarinet reeds of 3.5 strength (mostly).
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: Erez Katz
Date: 2019-08-13 19:59
I have the Cicero model. I like the sound, it is different from what I am used to, It is a bit too closed tip for my habit, coming from a B40Lyre.
An interesting observation: I could never manage to double lip. For some reason, I was able to get the best results with this mouthpiece when I double lipped. It was like going to a embouchure gym - and the effect stayed with there after.
Bob is an *outstanding* person to deal with and he offered to send me a few mouthpieces so we can zero-in on what would work best for me. I live in Israel and import taxes plus international shipping delays make it a little difficult to pull. Had I been living in North America I would definitely take Bob on his offer.
In the meanwhile my daughter tried it, loved it and claimed it.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-08-13 22:31
DaphnisetChloe - Are there any clarinet product making companies you haven't contacted to offer helpful advice Bob?
Yes of course! Email me and I'll tell you a couple of the companies.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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