 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Matt74
Date: 2020-11-17 00:22
Sorry if I've asked this before...
Can anyone recommend a student mouthpiece specifically for Vito (or Leblanc) clarinets, for beginners?
***I'm primarily concerned with intonation on Vitos.***
I tried a bunch of pieces I have with a couple Vitos, and the best one by far was a Riffault N4, but I need something I can get now, like:
Fobes Debut
Behn Overture
Hite Premier
Yamaha 4C
Gennussa Mezzo
Must be under $40, they are to include with horns I sell.
- Matthew Simington
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2020-11-17 00:49
Yeah it’s hard to beat a Fobes Debut as far as cheap mouthpieces go.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2020-11-17 01:54
Matt,
Even though there is a Vito II clarinet mouthpiece, I wouldn't recommend it. With an advertised "tip opening of 1.1mm to provide good resistance to build a strong embouchure", I have not heard or read anything good about them.
Second, you stated: "***I'm primarily concerned with intonation on Vitos.*** Here's the problem as I see it: Vito clarinets go from 0.573" to almost 0.590". From my experience, the larger the bore size, the more problematic the intonation issues tend to be. I've played both large and small bore Vitos and I much prefer my current Vito Classic 7214 with it's 0.573" bore. Why? Because the intonation on it is pretty close to a straight line with just about any student mouthpiece except the Mezzo which, for some reason, always plays extremely flat for me. (They have a deeper baffle and that could be the reason why.) The Vito 7214 has a slightly higher resistance, but the intonation and the clear throat tones using standard fingering makes it easier to play in tune without having to resort to alternate fingerings. I believe this is a fairly common characteristics of small bore clarinets. (By the way, I just found 51, Vito 7214 clarinets on that auction site with around 90% of them under $100.)
As to precision quality of manufacturing, I really don't think the Fobes Debut can be beat. However, it may or may not resolve your intonation issues.
A few weeks ago, I bought a Yamaha 3C student mouthpiece for $29. I noticed my embouchure point was much closer to a 34 than the 38 which it is supposed to be. Here, again, quality control. It appears that a machine turned it out, whereas Clark personally goes over each Debut he turns out.
I would suggest getting a Fobes Debut and see how the intonation is on your Vitos. Better yet, why not just email him, tell him of your concerns and find out what he says. He's a nice guy.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2020-11-17 04:10
No question, Fobes Debut. I have students who have used them on Vitos (not sure which models) and they have worked very well
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