 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TomS
Date: 2025-07-28 06:16
I've a couple of Vandoren M15, 13 series MP for about 10 years. I rediscovered how well they play on my newest Yamaha 650/II clarinet, so I ordered a spare M15 the other day. I played the heck out of old MPs, in the distant past ...
I think the new MP plays better, for me, than the old ones ... maybe my imagination.
However, I noticed that the new "window" or "slot" is about 2-3mm longer than the old ones.
What's going on? Improvements? Different blanks? Mistake?
I also have a NEW B40-lyre, 13 series and the window is like my other M15s.
I haven't checked, but I suspect the new M15 is the only Vandoren with a long window in my collection of M13s, M13 lyres and 5RVs.
Tom
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-07-28 20:37
I have no idea Tom, but that's interesting. Not to hijack the thread, but I'd like to say that I haven't found any other mouthpiece in the Vandoren lineup that best fit my play than the M15, until the recent BD2 came along.
https://vandoren.fr/en/vandoren-mouthpieces/black-diamond-bd2-bb-clarinet-mouthpiece/
From what I understand, the BD2 is Vandoren's newest entry into their Black Diamond product line, and its specs closely follow the M15, as does, IMHO its play.
It hasn't caused me to move away from the M15, but I find that each mouthpiece has its pros and cons and they play similarly.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2025-07-29 07:30
Interesting about the BD2 ... however it looks more like the M13-lyre facing and not the M15. My M13s, M13 lyres and M15s play very differently.
I don't think the consistency is good in the Vandoren MPs ... I find large visible differences in the internal finishing and the side and tip rails. I have a number of plain M13s and I drove the local music store crazy, going thru the entire inventory in their selection.
I've entertained the notion of sending a couple of M15s to Dr. McClune for cleaning up the interior and touching up the facings ...
I wonder if the Black Diamond series are CNC blanks?
Anyway, I've played the Legere 3.5 and 3.75 French cut on the M15 with adequate performance. Now, I've been trying the new Vandoren VK1s with amazing results! I am about to bury a bucket full of cane reeds in the vegetable garden. I like the VK40 on the M15. You have to break them in, a bit. The Vandoren synthetics feel and sound more like a good cane reed, don't play as flat (especially in the altissimo) and articulate very crisply. Impressive!
Take care!
Tom
Post Edited (2025-07-29 07:32)
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Author: ruben
Date: 2025-07-29 13:32
TomS: I'm sure you're right about the lack of consistency that you have found in Vandoren mouthpieces. Yet the company has the finest, most precise instruments money can buy. They should maybe learn how to use them better! Quality control has become slipshod.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: kdk
Date: 2025-07-29 18:44
TomS wrote:
> I have a number of plain M13s and I
> drove the local music store crazy, going thru the entire
> inventory in their selection.
You have a local music store with an inventory of mouthpieces? I didn't think those still existed.
Karl
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-07-29 23:56
TomS wrote:
> Interesting about the BD2 ... however it looks more like the
> M13-lyre facing and not the M15. My M13s, M13 lyres and M15s
> play very differently.
Agreed...and yet it plays remarkably like an M15 IMHO. In fact, ironically enough, for me, it feels slightly more open than an M15 despite its narrower tip.
>
> Post Edited (2025-07-29 07:32)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2025-07-30 02:02
"Music and Arts" has a decent selection of various instruments and accessories. They let me try a BD5 just the other day.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk
Date: 2025-07-30 02:33
I was just looking there (online) and didn't see BD2 offered. Other Black Diamonds, but not the BD2.
Karl
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Author: TomS
Date: 2025-07-30 03:50
Our most popular Band and Orchestra store, here in North Little Rock, Arkansas, had a good selection of M13s and M13 lyre MPs. Apparently a local teacher recommended these and I would occasionally look for even side and tip rails and clean interiors. I'd examine 15-20 and buy just one, waiting a year and look at them all again ... usually most of them were new stock. Over 2 1/2 years, I'd found three each that looked good and played well.
I found the M13 was compact and bright with more resistance than the facing curve might suggest ... the M13 lyre was warmer and even more resistant.
The M15 (a good one) is, IMHO, exceptional in it's timbre and articulation.
I bought the M15s from Muncy Winds, a while back and played them a lot ... drifting to the Rico X0 and to the Evolution.
I'll probably pickup another M15 or two and continue with the Vandoren VK1s/40 for now. With the M15/VK1 combo, it plays like a more open facing. A big sound! The articulation is very clean and fast, better than my cane reeds ... usually. VK1s drift less than the Legere after warming up.
I'm 73 years young, and very lucky to perform in a local semi-pro Wind Ensemble, surrounded by people with Master Degrees and higher, as my training was very spotty and came later in life.
I'd recommend trying the Vandoren VK1s. They run harder than advertised, so don't be surprised if they play about 1/3-1/2 strength more than the conversion charts suggest.
Tom
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-07-30 04:55
kdk wrote:
> I was just looking there (online) and didn't see BD2 offered.
> Other Black Diamonds, but not the BD2.
>
> Karl
Please see the link I provided above. 
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Author: kdk
Date: 2025-07-30 06:03
SecondTry wrote:
> kdk wrote:
>
> > I was just looking there (online) and didn't see BD2 offered.
> > Other Black Diamonds, but not the BD2.
> >
> > Karl
>
> Please see the link I provided above.
Which link? The one in your first post? That's the Vandoren website. I meant that I didn't see it offered at MusicandArts.com after Paul mentioned finding lots of VDs in stock at a Music & Arts store.
Karl
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-07-30 19:37
kdk wrote:
> SecondTry wrote:
>
> > kdk wrote:
> >
> > > I was just looking there (online) and didn't see BD2
> offered.
> > > Other Black Diamonds, but not the BD2.
> > >
> > > Karl
> >
> > Please see the link I provided above.
>
> Which link? The one in your first post? That's the Vandoren
> website. I meant that I didn't see it offered at
> MusicandArts.com after Paul mentioned finding lots of VDs in
> stock at a Music & Arts store.
>
> Karl
The link I intended to refer you to, my only one of this thread was, yes, to Vandoren, not a vendor of the BD2, misunderstanding your desire to investigate the mouthpiece for purchase rather than simply for specs.
That said, since purchase seems more your goal:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=vandoren+bd2
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