 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Beau
Date: 2026-04-07 16:11
I play Albert clarinets exclusively (just my preference) and recently read somewhere (can't remember where, sorry) that although the Albert bore size is more similar in many respects to a Boehm clarinet, an Albert player might find they get better intonation and response from an Albert using an Oehler mouthpiece.
I primarily play a 1926/27 Penzel-Müller Albert Improved (so about as modern and close to an Oehler as you're going to get without it being an Oehler), but use either a Vandoren B40 or 5RV mp.
Do we have any Oehler players (or otherwise) who might have personal knowledge of using an Oehler mp with an Albert horn?
I'm looking to improve the overall intonation across the horn as it suffers from the usual issues of flat lower notes (bottom E especially) and sharp throat tones (G# and A in particular).
I'm new here and this is my first post, so if I've missed something obvious in researching this on the forum, please be kind. My digging around on the internet and asking German friends who are players hasn't really delivered anything that convinces me one way or the other.
Thanks.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2026-04-08 01:32
Have you tried a mouthpiece designed for the system?
While the B40/5RV may "work" with your clarinet, a MP designed for it "should" provide better tuning. I am sure you can find something similar to those two in terms of tip and length openings.
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Author: Beau
Date: 2026-04-08 17:28
I honestly wouldn't know what constitutes a mp designed for use with the Albert system.
Jesper Capion Larsen quotes the following regarding this Albert horn:
https://capionlarsen.com/g-bardelli/?utm_source=perplexity
"The pitch is A=440 with a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece."
I'll email him and see he says.
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2026-04-09 02:43
I play an 1898 Albert (and have for decades). I've never heard of the Oehler mouthpiece idea before...though I've often wondered if an 1890s mouthpiece would make a differrence.
Frankly, I've come to believe that most of it is simply a limitation of the Albert design itself.
However - if you find something that works, please let us know!
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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Author: RBlack
Date: 2026-04-09 05:20
I wrote a whole big post and then the computer ate it. Oh well.
The short version is I reccomend measuring your instruments bore, usually going by the bottom of the upper joint.
No point getting a German mouthpiece if your horn has a more French bore.
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Author: RBlack
Date: 2026-04-09 05:20
I wrote a whole big post and then the computer ate it. Oh well.
The short version is I reccomend measuring your instruments bore, usually going by the bottom of the upper joint.
No point getting a German mouthpiece if your horn has a more French bore.
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Reply To Message
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Author: RBlack
Date: 2026-04-09 05:20
I wrote a whole big post and then the computer ate it. Oh well.
The short version is I reccomend measuring your instruments bore, usually going by the bottom of the upper joint.
No point getting a German mouthpiece if your horn has a more French bore.
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Reply To Message
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Author: Beau
Date: 2026-04-09 10:41
Thanks, m1964
I'll have a look at those links.
I contacted Jesper and he said my two Vandoren's should be fine, but perhaps I want a longer barrel. I feel I've accomplished the same thing by using an O-ring between the mp and barrel, but I need to discuss this further with Jesper.
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Author: Beau
Date: 2026-04-09 10:45
Fuzzy wrote:
>I play an 1898 Albert (and have for decades). I've never heard of the Oehler >mouthpiece idea before...though I've often wondered if an 1890s mouthpiece >would make a differrence.
>
>Frankly, I've come to believe that most of it is simply a limitation of the Albert >design itself.
>
>However - if you find something that works, please let us know!
>
>Fuzzy
>;^)>>>
I tend to agree, but does that then mean that all these horns were slightly out back in the day and people just coped?
I'd really like to try an Oehler one day to see what that's like.
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