 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mike
Date: 2001-12-20 05:32
Does anyone here play on a Charles Bya mouthpiece and have intonation difficulty in the top register? I seem to always run into problems past high E and the intonation seems to be very difficult to control between 12ths. Any suggestions from people who play on a Bay?
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-12-20 14:25
I would look to your instrument and possibly other aspects of your playing rather than the mouthpiece for the cause(s) of your intonation difficulties --- the mouthpiece alone won't typically be the cause, and Bay mouthpieces are generally quite good.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-12-20 15:49
I've had some problems with intonation in the upper register on a few Bays that I've owned. All I can say is you'll have to develop a good ear and adjust your playing to the mouthpiece quirks, or the instrument's quirks as David suggested, or get another mouthpiece. If you get another mouthpiece, play-test several for that particular problem before deciding on one. Mr. Bay will let you take several on approval and charge you for the one you purchase with a credit card.
But, as David suggested, check your instrument first. Then adjust your playing before spending the dough for a new mouthpiece.
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Author: B.F.
Date: 2001-12-20 17:06
This is that little something extra you get for the $200 price tag.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-12-20 19:22
I just checked my Bay mouthpiece against tuner. Spot on from low E to top A.
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2001-12-20 21:27
it's probably either you or the instrument. The mouthpiece usually isn't theproblem. My bay mouthpiece is fine.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2001-12-20 23:01
I use a Bay on bass and the pitch is right on.
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Author: mike (another lower case mike)
Date: 2001-12-21 00:05
I must agree with some of the others. I use a Bay on bass and find it to be nothing short of wonderful. I was so enamored of the bass piece that I picked up a used Bb soprano piece a while back. While I don't use it regularly, I don't remember having any major tuning problems with it.
How long have you been playing the Bay? If its a recent switch, what were you using previously and how different are they (tip and lay)?
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2001-12-21 02:32
My Bay bass piece was custom made to my specifications. It has a very open tip opening: .100". It is good and loud and very free-blowing. The next most open piece I have played is the Vandoren B46 (.081" tip). This is a very stuffy and anemic sounding piece. Not in the same league as the Bay. I would like to see more bass pieces made in the .085"-.100" range so players who want a big sound won't have to go the custom route like I did. The B46 is the largest piece currently available and it's much too small. Like trying to blow through a cocktail straw.
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Author: mike
Date: 2001-12-21 04:57
The bay mouthpiece I am using is an MO-M L and is fairly new. I like the freedom and sound of the mouthpiece however the upper intonation is suspect. I used a Hite before that and found it to be akin to blowing through a pipe (just my opinion all you Hite lovers!). I also find reed selection for the Bay to be a problem. Any suggestions? I rotate between V12 3-- 3 1/2(shaved down) or a German V12 3. Still can't seem to find a good reed combination for the bay either. Any suggestions?
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2001-12-21 17:10
I have had good luck with Rico Royals. Good response and good consistency (60%-70% are usable) but a little on the bright and edgy side. Vandorens are darker and richer sounding but it's harder to find a good one.
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2001-12-22 19:39
i use V12 4's. But that is now after a pretty drastic embochure change. I used to use 3's and 3.5's. But I find that the V12's work the best. You know Vandoren though...it's hard to find a LOT of reeds inone box. The 3.5's were the best in cosistancy.
Mitchel Laurie 4's are great too. A little bright, but they're nice reeds.
Good luck!!
Gretchen
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2001-12-22 20:59
My post above referred to bass. For soprano I use Mitchel Lurie Premium. I find I can use close to 100% of the reeds I put on. But then clarinet is a doubling instrument for me (no. 1 horn is bari sax) so I'm not too picky.
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