 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Janey
Date: 2002-06-20 20:15
Hello everyone, and I am very, very sorry to plague you all with another mouthpiece question, but I really don't have anywhere else to turn...
The situation is that I just got a brand new Vandoren M13 mouthpiece for my Buffet R-13 to replace the Buffet mouthpiece that came with the clarinet. However, when I play with the M13 my tone is very harsh and edgy. My tone is much, much nicer when I play on the Buffet mouthpiece. To me this doesn't make sense as the Vandoren M13 is supposed to be a much better mouthpiece than the Buffet that came with the clarinet. I was thinking it might have something to do with the profile--the M13 is a profile 88 which I know is not the same as the Buffet mouthpiece, though I don't know what profile the Buffet mouthpiece is....but I'm not sure. Can someone help me sort out this enigma? Thanks very much.
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Author: Mark
Date: 2002-06-20 21:39
Janey:
What strength and type of reed were you using on the Buffet mouthpiece?
Buffet mouthpieces usually have much wider tip openings for starters. The change you have made is very drastic. You should be able to use a higher strength reed than you are playing currently on the M-13. If you don't, your sound could be very brassy at the very least.
One last question. Did you try this and other mouthpieces before you purchased the M-13? I play an M-13 but find, as with most mass produced mouthpieces, a great deal of variation from one mouthpiece to the next within a given model. You should really try before you buy.
Regards,
Mark
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-06-21 11:34
My experience has been that if one plays with a softer reed i.e. 2.5 then the mouthpiece supplied with the Buffet isn't all that bad.
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Author: Jeff Forman
Date: 2002-06-21 14:59
I use an M13 and have found that Daniels Reeds in the 3.5 strength and Pete Fountain Reeds in the 3.5 strength give me a great tone and it seems easier to blow. When using either Van Doren or Van Doren V12's with that mouthpiece I find the sound to be stuffier and the blow to be more difficult.
I agree that you should try different reeds.
Jeff
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Author: William
Date: 2002-06-21 15:16
My advice would be to play the mouthpiece that lets you sound your best. When selecting any mouthpiece, you should try as many different examples of the model (in this case, the M13) that you can as no two mouthpieces, even from the same manufacturer and of the same model, will necessarilly play the same. This seaarch is also--and unfortunately--complicated by differences between reeds. So, pick out your most reliable reed and try it on as many M13's as you can and select be one that plays the best. But, if that one is not as good as the stock Buffet issue mpc, play the Buffet. The bottom line in any mouthpiece search is in finding the one--no matter who made it or necessarily how it looks--that PLAYS THE BEST. Wheither it turns out to be a white Selmer Golden Tone or a vintage Cicero Kaspar, play the one that works for YOU--not the one with "the name."
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-06-21 18:11
What William said.
It is about the sound, not the logo.
If you have a doorstop that plays well, use that.
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Author: Herb Huey
Date: 2002-06-22 01:37
Janey
I had the same problem recently with an M15 mouthpiece on a 1972 R-13. Please read my thread on Buffet R-13 resistance.
Going to a softer reed on either your M13 or stock Buffet MP will lower the resistance and improve your playability.
If you still find the resistance to be objectionable, you might want to get a low resistance barrel model like a Pyne or Greogory Smith.
Happy Clarinetting because I am.
Herb
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Author: Signe Crawford
Date: 2002-06-22 20:39
I really like the Buffet student mouthpiece. I teach at a music store and like it so much that we keep it in stock for people who want a nice mouthpiece and don't have a lot to spend.
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Author: Dan Oberlin
Date: 2002-06-24 15:54
Janey,
David McClune has had a lot of success refacing M13's.
I believe Frank Kowalsky here at FSU is currently
using one. My daughter had hers refaced by McClune too.
It GREATLY improved her mouthpiece and was definitely
worth the $40.00. If you'd like his e-mail, contact
me at oberlin@math.fsu.edu .
Dan
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