 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Jimis4klar
Date: 2020-06-23 20:00
Anyone ever tried them? Your impressions,please.. Which strength of V12 reeds matches best each one?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2020-06-24 04:04
I bought a BD7 a few months ago and was really impressed although it seemed a bit resistant with the Pilgerstorfer 3.5-4.0 Dolce reeds I use (like a V/D Traditional 3--V12 3.5). Despite the radical facing, it is a very responsive, consistent and reliable mouthpiece. It has a big, clear sound over the entire range of the instrument that is probably not quite as dark as the BD5. The intonation was just fine (on my Yamaha CSGs). The only unusual thing was that, unlike the BD5, it has a "Traditional" beak which is not as slender as, say, the Profile 88 beaks on most V/D mouthpieces. This is rather different that all of my other mouthpieces, but I certainly could get used to it.
Ultimately, it was just too much work compared to the other mouthpieces I like. However, if I were to switch to it, I would probably use reeds about 1/2 strength softer and try something more like a VD Traditional 2.5 or V12 3.0.
I have lost interest in the BD4 because (1) I couldn't find any, (2) I have a Backun Zinner mouthpiece with almost the identical facing and (3) I have heard comments that it has a somewhat brighter sound, perhaps with more "ping", if that is what you are looking for.
Bob Barnhart
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Yavapai
Date: 2020-06-24 14:16
I got the BD7 a few months ago, switching from the BD5 on my pair of Buffet RCs.
I find this BD7 excellent: the big opening (1.33mm) doesn't have to scare you, because the mpiece isn't that resistant, probably thanks to the facing geometry (the shape of the curve is important as the tip and lenght numbers).
Compared to the BD5, I use reeds about -1/4 strenght: I'm ok with 3.5 Blue Vandoren (chosing the softer ones) and 3.5 Rue Lepic, I'm gonna try soon the V12 3.5.
With the BD5 I used most 3.5+ V12, Rue Lepic and 3.5 Blu (choosing the hardest ones). Tryed also V21 an they felt harder than V12 or Rue Lepic.
Tone is dark (I'd say that the BD5 is a bit darker), robust, with a big, round sound...but control is good and pianissimo is easy as well.
Intonation is easy, maybe a little bit harder than the BD5 on the altissimo, but perfeclty manageable with not issues for me.
Blowing is free, and you feel the reed vibrating.
Very reed friendly, and the reeds seems like lasting very long.
The pitch is imho somehow between the standard series and the 13 series, just like the BD5. In the past i used the B40 and the pitch was a little bit sharper.
With this BD7 I finally got a universal mpiece for everything I need to play.
I agree about the traditional beack, it's kinda weird that they didn't put a P88 profyle, I can't tell if there's a technical reason for that.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2020-06-24 19:31
I think the tip 1.33 opening may require a beefier tip structure to keep the facing stable. The only other mouthpiece I have like that is an OLD B46 (which has a 1.17 opening), but I know the original line of Vandoren mouthpieces came that way.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gatto
Date: 2020-06-25 04:00
I like the BD4, maybe even a little bit more than the BD5, which I also like very much. Compared with the BD5 I downgraded from strength 3.5 to 3.0 (V21). I find the BD4 maybe a little bit less dark and more flexible than the BD5. Altissimo range works quite easy.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Yavapai
Date: 2020-06-25 11:53
About the Profyle 88 shape missing on the BD7...Yesterday I took a look inside the moutpiece and I noticed that the chamber is very deep with a sort of big "cavity" that I can't find on other Vandoren mpieces ; I'd suppose that this is the reason for not having the p88 profyle, because there's not enough material to cut on the sloped plan of the beak.
Anyway I feel confortable with this traditional shape and the more I play this mpice the more I appreciate its qualities.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jimis4klar
Date: 2020-06-26 20:28
OK! Thank you all for the information and your experiences! They are very helpful!
Now, my next question is If any of you have tried the BD4 and BD7 mouthpieces with Legere European reeds? Maybe they are more compatible on these mouthpieces than on BD5? I have tried a European 3.5 on my BD5 and It was not very good.
Post Edited (2020-06-26 20:44)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: echelonphoto
Date: 2020-08-06 22:59
I have been playing on the B5 for two years and really like it. I have had good luck with both vandoren and olivieri reeds. Just got the bd4 and my first impression was wow! But after going back and forth with the 5, I still like the 5 better because it is less work and can sound darker with the right reed.
I am friends with Ricardo Morales and actually asked him about the legere's with the BD series mouthpieces and he told me they just don't work well with this series because of the longer lay and recommended the rue lepic reeds...I bought 3.5's and , sure enough, they work great, esp with the bd4. They tone down the brightness somewhat.
Ricardo carries mouthpieces like other players carry reeds...I did a session with him where he had at least 4 different mouthpieces laying on his table all setup with their own reed and silverstein ligature. He does like the B40 and B40D with the soprano sax signature legere 2.75 to 3.25 reeds, but also uses a BD5 and BD5D of all things. Never mind, he sounds great on all of them and is a great mentor. I am not his student, just a personal friend.
I am a retired music teacher still actively performing with an MM in music. Live near philadelphia.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EricBlack
Date: 2020-08-07 03:43
Echelonphoto that’s really interesting that Ricardo suggested the Rue Lepic’s with the BD5! I recently did a full review/comparison of the full Vandoren lineup, and was shocked to discover how well the Rue Lepics played on my (slightly refaced) BD5. I hadn’t played on them for 4-5 years at that point, but they really seem to fit well with that mouthpiece. I hesitated to make a judgement in case my refaced mouthpiece differed too far the norm, but I’m glad to hear it isn’t just me!
Here’s the video for anyone interested!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N_t_QeXae4Q
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jeroen
Date: 2020-08-07 13:43
Nice video Eric! May be a bit long but very informative. I will be happy to see your video on breaking in reeds when it is ready
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EricBlack
Date: 2020-08-07 15:47
Haha yes, I definitely got a bit carried away! In hindsight I don’t think going into depth about how every single reed broke in over the course of the process was necessary, but for this thread it does have the benefit of showing how well the Rue Lepics played with the BD5 straight out of the box. Done filming the break-in one, just need to edit!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: echelonphoto
Date: 2020-08-08 22:06
Hi Eric.
Liked your video. I def. like the sound of the rue lepic the best...had a more covered, round, germanic sound that I prefer. The very first cut with the v12 sounded really bright, but they got better as the video moved along.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EricBlack
Date: 2020-08-10 16:53
echelonphoto wrote:
> Hi Eric.
>
> Liked your video. I def. like the sound of the rue lepic
> the best...had a more covered, round, germanic sound that I
> prefer. The very first cut with the v12 sounded really bright,
> but they got better as the video moved along.
Thank you, I definitely agree with your assessment, the Rue Lepic definitely tends to gravitate towards a more covered, pure sound. You mentioned that it worked quite well with the BD4, but I wonder if they work equally well on the BD7? Can anyone playing this mouthpiece weigh in?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gatto
Date: 2020-08-11 19:00
>Here’s the video for anyone interested!
>
>https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N_t_QeXae4Q
Dear Eric,
I liked your video very much. Great work! Many thanks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gatto
Date: 2020-08-12 18:51
Yesterday -- after the many recommendations -- I bought for my BD4 a box of the Rue Lepic 56 (I never tried them before). Strength #3.0. Yesterday they (two of them) only had (short) contact with water. Today I played both each for 2-3 minutes. Wow! If one needs a reed for a concert but has forgotten the box with broken in reeds, then you can start immediately with a fresh one. Very clean, lovely sound, no (reed) noise, very consistent, very good response. I will be more than happy if they will stay in this condition after broken in. I hope that they will not become too light.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jeroen
Date: 2020-12-18 18:48
Yesterday I received a BD7 to complete my range of the Black Diamonds. During the last few years the BD5 was my main mouthpiece. I tried the BD4 but despite the better articulation I found it too limited in sound and dynamics, so I still continued to play the BD5.
My first impression of the BD7 is that it is a large version of the BD5. The same sound quality but with more volume and flexibility. Articulation is very good, not as crisp as the BD4 but imo better than the BD5. However, the very open tip and steep beak angle takes some time to get used to. I only can use soft V12 3.0 reeds now.
Compared to a B45Lyre the BD7 feels even more open. But with easier articulation and control, especially at low volumes. I cannot remember I have played a mpc with such a large range in dynamics while keeping control on sound and articulation. So, the BD7 seems a really good mouthpiece!
The only problem I can think of now is the effect of the huge tip opening on my embouchure. I wonder when Vandoren will bring out a BD6 with a tip opening between the BD4 and BD7, that would be really interesting...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2021-04-13 20:48
Over the past 9 months, since the pandemic has pretty much shut down playing with others, I've been practicing, experimenting with equipment and recording the results.
During this time, I acquired a second BD7 from my best friend and finally purchased a BD4, which I liked so much I purchased a second one!
Based on practicing with several mouthpieces including the BD5, BD4 and BD7, I find that the BD4 is my favorite among these: it has a round/full/dense/focused/resonant sound, marvelous response (both articulation and range up to C7 with no problem), great intonation and flexibility (soft/loud, warm/brilliant, glissandi, ...). Like playing on my old B40-13, it just lets me play without thinking about it. Finally, it has a bit less resistance than my BD7s which make it more comfortable to play for long periods.
Unlike some others who have commented that the BD4 has a bright sound, I would say rather that it is capable of brilliance and sparkle when you want it, or a warmer, more mellow sound, when you want that. For me, unlike the BD5 and BD7 which seem to produce mostly "their sound", the BD4 is more neutral and amenable to a wider variety of tone colors.
Having said that, I still love the BD7 when I am playing (along with) more popular music or I want a bigger/darker sound for certain literature (e.g., Brahms). I am still impressed with its intonation, reliable/quick response and focused tone quality over all dynamics (especially for a very open mouthpiece). For me, the main drawback is the extreme altissimo: B7-C7... do not response as well unless I have a very mature reed.
Speaking of reeds, I play Pilgerstorfer 3.5-4.0 reeds on all the BD5/BD4/BD7 mouthpieces, with reeds that are ~3.75 being optimal for me. Since these reeds are a bit softer than others, this would probably be similar to a 3.0-3.5 V12.
Bob Barnhart
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2021-04-14 02:38
If clarinet playing was pole vault and mouthpieces were the poles, I'd take the BD7 for the world record attempts. For 6 m and above.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jeroen
Date: 2021-04-14 16:03
A little update after an idling period during the current lockdown. I slowly started up playing to build up embouchure.
Now, the BD7 is much too open for me. I really have to build up embouchure again to play it with some comfort.
The BD5 is still a good option. However, it still has the same problem as before lockdown: dull sounding. Switching from V12 to blue box reeds helps a bit.
Then I put on the BD4 and to my surprise everything felt in place. Before the lockdown I didn't like the BD4 as I found it too restrictive in tone. But now I think it has a very good sound. The extra focus that the BD4 provides certainly helps in this weak-embouchure period. And articulation and control is much better compared to BD5 and BD7. It is also very reed friendly and works on all my clarinets.
So, I prefer the BD4 for the moment. I am curious how it will behave in coming period.
Post Edited (2021-04-14 16:10)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
