 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Roger
Date: 2002-05-09 19:54
Referring to my previous post about getting back into playing after 24 yrs.... I now found that both my clarinets (both my old Selmer and new Buffet) were playing very sharp. Then I realized that the old Selmer HS** Crystal m/p that I am using is quite a bit shorter than the one that came with the new Buffet. I tried the Buffet m/p, and lo & behold, I was in tune on both clarinets. It must be that the Selmer crystal m/p is pitched for A442 European ?? Funny though, It never played out of tune years ago, but at that time I was living on the east coast. I live in CA now. Could it have been the higher east coast humidity causing the clarinet to swell?
Anyway, I'm in the market now for a new m/p.
Does anyone have experience with the Selmer Gigliotti series? I'd like to give some of them a try.
Also, I noticed on the Vandoren website that their m/p's are available in both the Traditional and American Pitch 13 series. Are the Traditional ones pitched in A442? I want to make sure I get one that is pitched A440. Also, it appears that the 13 Series is avaliable only in the Profile 88, which has a smaller beak angle, which I'm not sure I would like.
Thanks,
Roger
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Author: Nick
Date: 2002-05-09 23:31
I have a Gigliotti mouthpiece (p facing), used to play on a VD M13. If you are adverse to the VD profile 88 thin beak, then you might not like the Gigliotti as its beak is substantially narrower and thinner than the M13's. I, however, like the thinner beaks and love my Gigliotti mouthpiece. I think there might be some difference in shape with the other facings (P34, 2, 3 ,4) but overall Mr. Gigliotti wanted that narrow chedeville-esque profile on all of them. Hope this helps...............Nick
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-05-09 23:40
Roger as you're new to this BB might I suggest using the Search feature, there have been some excellent mouthpiece related threads (millions of them) in the past.
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Author: Ken
Date: 2002-05-10 01:27
Roger:
I am kind of in the same boat, comming back after an 18 year layoff. About a week ago I got a Vandoren M15 in series 13 as well as a 5RV in standard. I wasn't sure if I would like profile 88 form factor or not. After using profile 88 for a little bit now I do like it. I can go back and forth between it and standard with no problem at all, acctually I don't notice a difference between the two when playing. I went with Vandoren because they have a good reputation as far as mass produced MP's go and are cheap. This lets me play with some different facings for a while and some time in the future when my chops toughen up a bit I will get a custom MP but for now I am having a blast experimenting with different combos of reeds, ligs, mp's.
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Author: William
Date: 2002-05-10 03:45
Do yourself a favor and check out Walter Grabner's ad in the Classifieds. I just purchased a bass clarinet mouthpiece that he customized and am very satisfied with how much better my new Buffet 1193-2 sounds and responds--even on the "problem" notes. And, his prices are reasonable. Good Clarineting!!!
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Author: RogerM
Date: 2002-05-10 11:38
Welcome to another Roger.
I suggest you add an intial to your name so that people do not get us confused.
I am 55 and started back on the clarinet in 1982---I had played clarinet from the 4th---7th grades and then switched to sax.
It is a challenge to go back to the clarient. I find I am challenged if I lay off for a couple of weeks.
Good luck.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-05-11 11:04
I finally settled on the vd 5RVlyre/88 after trying beaucoux others. Maybe someday I'll investigate a custom job
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Author: RogerWM
Date: 2002-05-11 14:44
It is obvious that the selection of m/p's is daunting. Thanks to everyone for the recommendations. I've already tried several new m/p's, and it seems that I'm OK with the profile 88. So that opens up alot of possibilities.
Roger
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Author: RogerWM
Date: 2002-05-15 14:52
All,
FYI, I tried a whole bunch of mp's, and I finally settled (at least for now!)on the V13, which is a Series 13 Profile 88. I found it had a nice dark sound in all registers, easy to control, and very nice around the throat tones. It also matched up well with the V12 3 1/2 reeds which I like to use. And I'm comfortable with the Profile 88 beak shape. It really sounds nice, so I'm quite happy with it. If in the future, I decide to go with stronger reeds, I would like to try the M15, which has a smaller tip opening.
I kept my Selmer HS**, but I think it needs a refacing, because it has a serious air leak on the right side of the facing.
Cheers,
Roger
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-05-21 11:26
I don't believe the West coast humidity is the problem with your sharpness...sometimes beginners have the same problem with sharpness and after a return to playing.... tuning is normally a little strange and weird at first...(against the grain of normal thought) try working on long tones and see where the pitch goes throughout the clarinet with a tuner...if the whole clarinet is sharpish then move towards a facing like the Vandoren 13 series offered by Vandoren. Note that some facings will play quite alot lower than others depending on the reed and way you play in that register. My sharp students have all went toward something like a m13 or m15 13 series design. Also a few of my students think the B40 13 is the best mouthpiece for tuning ever designed! So it perpsonal your choice and good luck!!!
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