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Re: Wurlitzer Boehm clarinet mouthpieces

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-03-06 14:11

I cannot speak to the precise acoustic modeling of the Reform Boehm version, but I CAN speak to the German facing of the Wurlitzer mouthpieces and how that interacts with Boehm clarinets.

First and foremost...........GREAT!!

I had gone through a year of using either modified tenons of German mouthpieces or modified barrels to use unmodified German mouthpieces. My favorite was the latter and it was the Wurlitzer M3+ facing which is exactly what you describe.

https://www.thomannmusic.com/wurlitzer_m3.htm

The issue is not whether it works on Boehm but rather one of changing (presumably) your approach to playing. To quote Bas DeJong of Viotto mouthpieces, for traditional German playing (using the small tip opening, long facing you describe paired with a 2 1/2 strength German reed), "you just put it in your mouth and blow."

There are some caveats there, but compared to what 99% of us go through in the US over embouchure........that's it.

When first diving in you'll say to yourself.......this feels like when I first started in grade school, it's too flaccid, it can't be right. BUT, the sound will be authoritative and the dynamic range will be everything that is NOT present in a beginner scenario.

Key to getting this right is to make sure you are placing your embouchure as close as possible to where reed and mouthpiece come together (the point where you get nothing more than a horrendous squawky sound.......no tone at all). And you need to use the prescribed 2 1/2 strength German cut reed (preferably Vandoren White Master Traditional cut).

Then it's just a matter of getting use to the "feel."

The sound and dynamics are FANTASTISCH !!!!

..............Paul Aviles

Post Edited (2020-03-06 14:28)

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