 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TomS
Date: 2014-03-22 18:46
I posted this on another thread ... probably the wrong thing to do.
This subject has been kicked around for years ... just thought a fresh start would be interesting.
Just seeking history/anecdotal stories/inside information etc. on the Vandoren line of clarinet mouthpieces, specifically the French style.
OK ... just to kick things off, this is what I (think I) know about Vandoren:
The 2RV, 5RV and 5RV-lyre were designed by (now deceased) Robert Vandoren
The B40, B40-lyre, B45, B45-lyre, B45-dot, B46 and maybe the 11.6 were designed by Bernard Vandoren
The M13, M13-lyre, M15, M30, M30-lyre and M30D were designed by (or with input from) Donald Montanaro.
The M14, B44, and 11.1 have been discontinued.
The internal geometry is different for these three families of MP. The "M" series shares similar internal dimensions to some of the old Henri Chedeville MPs. I don't know if the RV and B series have copied from previous art.
In addition there is a Profile 88 option, which just has a longer, slimmer bite or beak.
And we have the 13 series, which adds some length in order to play A=440
Also, where did the name "13 series" come from?
And, I think at one point, Vandoren switched from machining their "blanks" to molding them. I have noticed better consistency in their MPs the last few years, maybe because the molding more precise than Vandoren's early machining attempts ...
More stories, please ...
Tom
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Author: gkern
Date: 2014-03-22 15:16
I have read that Kenny Davern was involved in the design of the Vandoren 5JB mouthpiece. Some of his CD liners state that he uses the 5JB on his Conn 16 clarinet.
Gary K
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2014-03-22 21:50
The Vandoren Perfecta is the oldest and it's different from any mouthpiece made later by the company. Actually there was a thread about this. You can learn from that one. According to Brad Behn, the Vandoren company has only two style of blanks, the 13 and the non-13 series. Actually the 13 series plays lower not because of a longer body, but because of a deepr baffle. I always suspected that the only thing they change is just the facing curve and rail thickness. By the way I really doubt that the M series has the internal dimensions of any Chedeville mouthpiece (at least on purpose). However, I read that the M13 was created to duplicate some qualities of the great Chedeville mouthpieces, but they are as far from a direct copy as possible.
Other discontinued models are 3V, 4V, 5V, V360, 3UD, just to add a few.
Mark
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2014-03-22 22:15
Weren't there a few vandoren crystal mouthpiece models made back in the day (to add to the discontinued vandoren model list)?
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: GBK
Date: 2014-03-22 23:21
sfalexi wrote:
> Weren't there a few vandoren crystal mouthpiece models made
> back in the day (to add to the discontinued vandoren model
> list)?
Vandoren crystal mouthpieces A1, A2, A3
...GBK
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Author: TomS
Date: 2014-03-22 23:48
Thanks!
I forgot about the 3V, 4V, 5V, V360, 3UD ... that was a while back!
Tom
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Author: Wes
Date: 2014-03-23 01:03
A440 is still the international pitch standard, despite certain efforts in Europe and Asia. A442 does not sound better or more musical but it is a pain in the rear for oboists and may require clarinet players to get a short barrel.
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2014-03-23 11:38
>The M14, B44, and 11.1 have been discontinued
B44 is very much alive for eefer and bass
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Author: TomS
Date: 2014-03-23 17:39
OK ... thanks.
Yeah, I played a B44 on my E-flat instrument of torture!
Tom
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2014-03-24 19:33
Of course the CL series has a different blank than the traditional ones. Still, all Vandoren mouthpieces nowadays are molded and machined to their specs. Regarding material, I started a thread a few years ago, and Brad Behn shared interesting facts about the older and the current lineup of the Vandoren company.
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Author: Jimis4klar
Date: 2023-07-10 23:27
Anyone knows how 4V or any number of V plays? There's actually one on sale, probably needs little reconditioning by a refacer.
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Author: pukalo
Date: 2023-07-11 03:28
super20dan wrote:
> the b44 for alto clarinet is one of the best i have ever played
> .
I have one, but I eventually switched to the J&D hite alto clarinet mouthpiece, mainly because I've read good things about it and it is very affordable, and the table is designed such that it can accept both alto clarinet and alto saxophone reeds. I find I like the Hite a lot more than the B44.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2023-07-11 05:24
i have the hite as well but the b44 i have is just an exceptional example and i cant stop using it as it checks all the boxes for me. also the vandy tunes a little sharper and helps get up to pitch better on my bundy in cold temps. this is my rehersal set up. for concerts its a selmer model22 alto and mpc usually. i also often use a b44 on bass clarinet
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Author: Michael E. Shultz
Date: 2023-07-11 15:13
I have a V13, which has been discontinued. 116.5 tip opening (medium open) with a long facing length.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
Groucho Marx
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Author: johnwesley
Date: 2023-07-12 09:15
sfalexi wrote:
> Weren't there a few vandoren crystal mouthpiece models made
> back in the day (to add to the discontinued vandoren model
> list)?
Vandoren crystal mouthpieces A1, A2, A3
...GBK
Vandoren crystals were made by Pomarico.....johnwesley
Post Edited (2023-07-12 09:18)
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Author: JTJC
Date: 2023-07-12 13:26
I seem to remember Nathan Beatty made the same point - Vandoren only had two chambers, standard (442) and Series 13 (440). Given that, he didn't think Vandoren coming out with a new mouthpiece was difficult as it only required a slight adjustment to the table cutting machine, everything else was the same.
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Author: Patrick
Date: 2023-07-12 22:54
Did Vandoren just come out with a new mouthpiece at clarinet fest this past week? I am well aware of the synthetic reed.
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Author: donald
Date: 2023-07-13 05:12
The M30 was mostly developed with input from Jon Manasse.
The "D" series mouthpieces (M30D, BD5D and B40D are the ones I have played/examined) have quite different internal design/specs from "standard" and M series mouthpieces.
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