 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: guyman
Date: 2026-03-07 18:11
My one off the straps on my case broke, and it landed right where the mouthpiece was. A large part of the tip was broken off, so i have to get a new one. i figured might as well get an upgrade. don't scold me for looking for the "best mouthpiece" I'm just looking for a similar enough mouthpiece, but maybe with a darker tone, and I don't really know what those mouthpieces are yet.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2026-03-08 03:51
I speak more for equivalents of the M13 (which is close but perhaps more free blowing). For that, I’d recommend trying the ESM MCK-1 or the rather new Vandoren BD2.
………..Paul Aviles
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Author: ruben
Date: 2026-03-08 11:06
Vandoren B40 lyre: a time-honored value: rounder, darker sound.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: JTJC
Date: 2026-03-08 13:23
The D'Addario Reserve Evolution is similar to the 5RV Lyre, in dimensions and feel, but less restricted. The B40 has a much wider tip.
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Author: donald
Date: 2026-03-08 13:53
I second the Reserve Evolution, but you'll need slightly harder reeds (very close though).
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Author: Ed
Date: 2026-03-08 16:18
Try a Clark Fobes. He makes an excellent mouthpiece CF+ or 2L facing might do the trick
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Author: kurth83
Date: 2026-03-09 06:30
Different is not necessarily better. I would go into it with specific ideas on what you want to improve and more importantly what qualities you wish to preserve. There are likely things you take for granted that other mouthpieces won't do as well.
Interesting that the 5RV lyre and the BD2 are mentioned here, which are two of my favorite mouthpieces at the moment. What I would love is one that captures the desirable qualities of each.
My take on the 5RV lyre is it has the best upper register (clarion and especially the altissimo) of any mouthpiece I have ever played, it has power and controllability, meaning I don't miss notes on it, if I try to play a high D, a D comes out every time. When on a high part it is my goto (I play piccolo trumpet parts on the 5RV lyre for example). But it is weaker down in the chalumeau, I have to compensate by blowing harder down there, since I get an airy tone and more difficult note starts down there.
The BD2 is more even in that you can blow the same across all three registers, and it is generally easier to do note starts which makes for a remarkably smooth and easy playing experience. It is also wide open across the entire range with a nice clear tone, so easy to go loud and soft, seems like a dream come true... But up high in the altissimo the notes are 'closer' together, meaning it's easier to miss a D and accidentally flip up to an overblown G. And that is the Achilles heel of the BD2 for me. Right now I use the BD2 for parts where there isn't a lot of high playing (I am on 3rd clarinet in a local band so the BD2 is perfect there). The BD2 is also pretty picky about what reed goes into it, it took me a while to find one that really worked. D'Addario organic reserve 3.5 is my current fave.
What I wish for is a BD2 that has the 5RV lyre's wonderfully controllable altissimo, and plays like the BD2 everywhere else, I would not ever consider upgrading from such a thing if I could find it. And I am actively searching for just such a beast when I noticed this thread.
Looking at custom mouthpiece makers, I find that to even get a sampling of their offerings would be prohibitively expensive for me. I am thinking maybe I could have a BD2 refaced actually.
Also, I am tempted to buy several more BD2s and roll the dice on manufacturer variations that maybe I could get a perfect one for cheap. :-)
My problem is I don't know why the BD2 does what it does, nor do I know enough to understand why the 5RV lyre does what it does.
I am hoping a good refacer could tell me what is the right thing to do here, or maybe here in this forum somebody might have some good ideas.
I guess my point is I do know exactly what I am looking for in a mouthpiece, I just don't know how to find it. :-)
Aging classical trumpet player learning clarinet as a second.
Post Edited (2026-03-09 06:41)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2026-03-09 07:43
Interesting comments on the BD2. I agree about the evenness of play across its range. Although I have no issues with the clarion at all. Currently using Legere Signature Soprano Saxophone reeds at a 3.0 strength. I can't say enough about it......... and it was just a whim based on the fact that I hoped the HD or Titanium will be available in the BD2. So far, Vandoren is being pretty firm about that just being a pipe dream.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk
Date: 2026-03-10 00:45
You might ask any of the mouthpiece craftsmen who post to this Bboard if they know why the BD2 altissimo feels that way and if they know anything to do to eliminate the problem. I've been playing on a M13 Lyre for a couple of years and have tried to move to a BD2 on more than one occasion, but I find I have pitch problems in the altissimo with it - not really terrible ones, but some unevenness. I think (it has been several months) I found that some notes from altissimo C# to G were flatter than others and I didn't fell like going to the effort to find alternate fingerings that evened the intonation out. The M13L is more even up there if I'm careful not to use too resistant reeds.
Karl
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2026-03-11 01:37
Paul, did I understand correctly that the BD2 is your current choice? For how long have you been playing on it?
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2026-03-12 02:16
Hi Karl,
I played an M13 Lyre for a while in college. It's a decent mouthpiece that I'm surprised not to see mentioned more often on the Bboard.
What reeds are you using on it?
My final university instructor was pushing me to use Vandoren 5's on it - which is pretty much when I lost faith/trust in her. I did try, but after a while it was obvious that her idea wasn't going to produce the result either of us wanted.
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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Author: David Eichler
Date: 2026-03-13 05:31
For a Vandoren mouthpiece that is in the range of the 5RV Lyre, I would suggest trying the M30 Lyre, which has a slightly more open and longer facing.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2026-03-13 07:11
I'd go to a Vandoren dealer and try as many as you can.
If you cannot go to a Vandoren dealer, many shops will allow a trial.
Clark Fobes allows trials and charges a very small fee if you return a MP. His would be an upgrade from VD (IMO)
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