 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Alexey
Date: 2024-04-01 00:14
Hi everyone,
I am looking for advice on the mouthpieces mentioned in the topic title.
I am looking for a new mouthpiece and want to try smth from the mouthpieces above.
I currently have M30 and BD5 13 Series among others. I like them both but prefer the M30 a tiny bit.
M30 it seems to me has a bit more multidimensional sound (if it makes any sense) but it's a bit demanding to reeds and my playing shape.
I like the depth of BD5 and the easiness and security of playing but it seems that it lucks smth in the sound.
Did someone have an experience with all 3 mouthpieces from the topic title? Can someone share their experience with any of the mentioned mouthpieces and share their feelings and how they sounded in terms of depth and projection?
Thank you.
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2024-04-01 13:44
My best advice would be to try to get your hands on all three and then compare for yourself - since every player is different (anatomy, embouchure, etc), our tastes differ, our horns are different, reed choices differ, etc.
That said, I could still add the following - since I have the M30D and B40D and also have play-tested the BD5D a few times.
The only one of these I actually played on for a while (but years ago), was the B40D - then preferring its sound over the M30D.
In 2020 I had a Schwenk & Seggelke model 3000 (German bore) A-clarinet for trial, provided with among other mouthpieces the M30D and BD5D (both tweaked for tuning at S&S). Compared to my own mouthpiece choice at the time, a Leitner & Kraus SZ (in their Zelltec material), the SZ sounded better than the BD5D on every single note of the chromatic scale. The M30D compared better, though not with any note sounding better, but with half of the notes (18 out of 36, low E to altissimo D#) of equal quality (my SZ is with German bore, but it's available also as a Boehm variant - tip opening 1.15mm, facing curve 25mm).
However, since 2021 I've moved on from the SZ to a Maxton Alban, and just lately further on to a Maxton Clara (both with Viennese facings) - both with a sound a lot more in my taste than I got from the SZ (still the SZ sounded better than all its "predecessors" I've played on, among them the Playnick Brahms which I had settled on before the SZ).
But, I would once again stress the importance of trying out by yourself.
Post Edited (2024-04-01 14:18)
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Author: Alexey
Date: 2024-04-01 14:58
Thank you, Micke!
I absolutely agree that the best thing is to come and test. However, I can't do this in my country, and I can't order and test and return. The only way is to buy and play. No complaints though.
That's why I try to gather as much info as possible via this forum as well as listening to clarinetists on YouTube.
I also realize that with any mouthpiece I will sound almost the same. I am just looking for the tiniest improvements in sound and feeling.
Maybe I'll end up eventually buying all these 3 mouthpieces for just collection purposes or for pleasing my gear acquisition syndrome. How knows.
Thank you again for your answer!
Post Edited (2024-04-01 15:09)
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Author: donald
Date: 2024-04-01 17:21
Played M30D extensively, BD5D less extensively...
For me- M30D a very flexible mouthpiece (I think you made similar comment), needs to be played with an embouchure that isn't applying much pressure to the reed. I'd say the facing is more similar to M15 (due to length of facing) that the M30 to be honest.
BD5D- shorter facing, more security but less flexibility. Facing requires more pressure on the reed which I personally find tiring and annoying. Facing numbers remarkably similar to M30D except for the shorter lay (so use reeds about 1/4 to 1/5 strength harder than M30D). The 3 BD5Ds that I have played had a much CLEARER sound than the M30D but this could have been more of a function of the reed selection....
Btw- I've measure about 10 M30Ds and found them to have quite consistent facings, but not close to the standard M30 in "numbers". However similar to M30 in "feel" to the point of almost being able to use the same reed. This is a brilliant illustration of how the measurement of the facing curve is only part of what creates "playability" and "feel".
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Author: Alexey
Date: 2024-04-01 17:53
Thank you, Donald!
I have M15 13 Series and like it.
Comparing M15 to M30 I felt that M30 had a bit thicker meaty tone but not that clear. Maybe due to its thicker rails and openness.
So preliminary it seems to me that M30D can be the right direction.
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Author: gwie
Date: 2024-04-02 04:05
I actually like the M30D quite a bit, and two of my recent students ended up with it after comparing it against the M13 Lyre, M15, regular M30, and the BD5.
I think it has a good balance between the compactness and focus of the closer-facing mouthpieces, and the cover of the BD5.
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Author: donald
Date: 2024-04-02 05:32
gwie- I agree with you. Me personally, I find my sound on it a little lacking in colour on the M30D- but my wife (we use the same mouthpieces and reeds) sounds AMAZING on the same setup (including when she borrows my reeds), so I think it's more to do with *ME* than the mouthpiece!
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Author: gwie
Date: 2024-04-02 18:52
My student and I recently found better results using Behn's ARIA 3.5 reed on the M30D, especially with a light ligature, like the Silverstein quattro.
I like my results with the Vandoren V12 3.0 on a BD5-13 and a metal ligature (Ishimori), but the V12's just don't play as freely as the ARIA does on the M30D.
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Author: Alexey
Date: 2024-04-02 22:56
BTW, speaking about reeds. What are the features of a good reed design for long-facing mouthpieces?
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Author: Alexey
Date: 2024-04-29 22:18
I ended up getting B40D.
Recorded a short video comparing Vandorens M15 13 Series, M30, B40D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIr8tv4fDJ4
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2024-04-29 22:27
For what my opinion is worth it sounds like you picked the best one for you! You get the smoother connection amongst notes of the more open mouthpieces with the "ping" of the M15
very nice sound
..............Paul Aviles
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