 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Susie
Date: 2001-08-14 18:14
Thank you for your help in previous posts...
I have another mouthpiece and ligature question. As I mentioned when I first talked about coming back to playing, I'm using a friend's old Normandy but felt that I needed a new mouthpiece and ligature. I tried some out yesterday for the first time. The local shop I went to only had some Vandorens, a few Bari's, and some Selmers. The Vandoren 5RVlyre and the Vandoren B45 seemed to play best for me... I used both a Rovner (ED) and Bonade ligature. But when I tried the 2 against each other, I expected the 5RV to sound better than the B45, but it didn't.
I used both 2.5 and 3 Mitchell Lurie reeds.
The best combination seemed to be a 2.5 reed, the Vandoren B45 mpc. and the Rovner lig. The Bari sounded terrible.
Can anyone help me sort out the main differences... I think the B45 is more open isn't it? Isn't the 5RVlyre supposed to be more responsive?
Also, the Rovner ligature made a HUGE difference.... why exactly is that?
I'm going to another store tonight and hope they'll have some other options but I was hoping to have a little more info before I go.
thanks,
Susie
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Author: Jerry McD.
Date: 2001-08-14 20:11
Welcome to the world of mouthpiece trials! You will find that every single mouthpiece plays differently and it can be very confusing. What you should do is try and avoid the paralysis from analysis. You'll have plenty of time for that as you regain your chops. At this point I would recommend (since you indicated that you liked the B45) chose the B45........now, go to every music store in town and try every single one. You will find that even though they all say B45, and supposedly have the same dimensions, they will all play differently. Pick the one that makes you sound the best, and is the easiest to play (check the pitch too). If your local music stores don't have a very large stock, try and get some from the big mail order houses. I would think that you should try at least 8 or 10. Also, some regular posters might have a stash they can help you with. IMO the B45 is a good middle of the road mouthpiece and will serve you well as you regain your skills. Don't worry too much about finding the perfect mouthpiece setup right now, because as you dust off the rust from your sabatical you will find that what you consider to be "perfect" will change. And in the grand scheme of things the mouthpiece and reeds are the cheapest pieces of equipment.......and the most aggravating, go figure!
Happy hunting
Jerry McD.
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Author: KevinS
Date: 2001-08-14 20:49
Welcome back to the world of clarinetting!
Be aware in your trials of Vandoren mouthpieces that the "M" series is designed for clarinetists playing at pitch A440. Other Vandoren mouthpieces may or may not result in your playing out of tune. Be sure to take your tuner with you when you go testing! The "M" series is made in the same facings as the regular mouthpieces. Check the Vandoren website for some more details on this.
http://www.vandoren.com
Good Luck
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-08-14 20:50
The Rovner emulates a German-style string ligature; essentially a Low Pass Filter.
This reduces the amount of higher frequency overtones the reed may make.
It is a dampening effect. I use the Rovner, Eddie Daniel version.
If you fiddle around with the position of the fabric flaps (inna instructions, too) you will find multiple choices. I use it without any plate, flaps in contact widda reed.
As far as the mouthpiece business goes, I recommend you contact the mail order houses and have them send you a sample of things not too open.
The B45 is a stumbling block to progress. It's easy now, but it is way too free blowing for an advancing player. Lookit the M13 lyre. It may feel a wee stuffy at first, but it will give you more control over dynamics.
With the Mail order places, you have a time limit for trials, must return the mouthpiece undamaged (no scratches, use patches!) and will pay a restock fee.
Unless you have a top-flight shop in town, this is really the way to go.
May I recommend you set your sights a little higher... get something from Greg Smith, Clark Fobes, Borbeck or Lomax. These cost a little more, but you won't go through ten trying to find something suitable.
Clark Fobes is especially accomodating. Try him in two weeks, after the ClarinetFest.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-08-14 21:31
The 5RVLyre mouthpiece requires slightly harder reeds than the B45 so perhaps that affected the response of the mouthpiece.
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-08-15 03:11
Ditto with the M series. I recommend the M series because it doesn't take a whole lot of air to use them. I played on B45's for about 3 years, until I tried a M13. Once I had been using the M13, I tried to switch back to the B45, and I had to use 2x as much air to get the same sound that I get with the M13.
Try them if you can.
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Author: Dave Beal
Date: 2001-08-15 18:18
Anji, I'm curious about your statement that "The B45 is a stumbling block to progress. It's easy now, but it is way too free blowing for an advancing player."
Do you mean that the B45 is better suited to a more advanced player or a less advanced player?
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Author: Susie
Date: 2001-08-16 15:44
I actually went to 2 more places. One is a woodwinds repair shop (Marsh Woodwinds in Raleigh, NC) where they do a really nice job overhauling instruments... almost all clarinets and saxes. Two acquaintances, both professional musicians, one an oboeist and one a clarinetist, both use them..... I tried more mouthpieces. The M13 actually sounded pretty good, but not really any better or worse than the B45.
I didn't know or think to take a tuner with me but I did have someone listen in. It still seems that the B45 still works best for now. It sounds like I may need to purchase something else down the line, but I'm no where near being an advanced player... I'm still re-tracing lost ground.
The choices and options are frankly confusing... but I really appreciate all the advice.
Susie
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