 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Lisa
Date: 1999-08-10 04:09
Hello everyone. I just purchased a new clarinet and am trying to find the best set-up for it. My new clarinet is a Selmer Signature and has a beautiful dark sound. (It sounds gorgeous on the 3rd Movement of Saint-Saens Sonata.) Now I have several questions.
Mouthpieces: I tried a Richard Hawkins and thought it made the clarinet sound even better. Does anyone reccomend this mouthpiece or any other?
Ligature: I bought a Vadoren Optimum. I have two questions about it. Which of the three plates do most people prefer? I picked out one that I like best but I want to know what others think. And the ligature isn't inverted is it? I don't think it is but someone told me it was so I'm really confused. The picture on the box pictures it to make me believe that it is not inverted.
Barrels: Is a new barrel really neccessary if one of the barrels that came with the clarinet plays really well in tune? I am trying out a Pyne barrel but it plays as well in tune as does one of the Selmer barrels.
I believe that's all my questions. I'd really appreciate any respones even if you only comment on one of the questions. Thanks for all your time!
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Author: angella
Date: 1999-08-10 04:20
i have a hawkins and like it a lot. as far as everything- you need to try several for yourself and see what works best for YOU on your clarinet. what one person may love another will be totally against. it's personal preference. many people like the bay mouthpiece, greg smith, vandoren makes a couple of good ones- try several. i'm not sure about the barrel. i think if you like what you have and it's in tune, don't spend a lot of money on another- i'm not sure what barrels selmer players use- (you'll get more comments)
you can order things from muncy winds or the ww/bw on trial then send back what you don't like. it's best to try many before you buy, i think. also, if you can, have a teacher or professional listen to you if you want another opinion while you;re trying mouthpieces.
i have a bay ligature, and i love it, but i had to put leather on the inside so it doesn't slip- maybe he's making a new one now, i forget. i hear the vandoren you got is good, i've never played one. also, many like the bonade inverted ligature, but most cut the middle out (or have a jeweler or someone do it, rather) again, it's what you like and works best for you-
any selmer players have comments? im not one, but you'll get more replys. good luck
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Author: Phillip O. Paglialonga
Date: 1999-08-10 04:51
Personally I wouldn't worry too much about that set-up
I use a Vandoran Optimum and Richard Hawkins mouthpiece and like them both very much.. (Larry Combs and Julie DeRoche also use that combination)
As for a barrel.. on my R-13 I like a Moennig
phil
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Author: angella
Date: 1999-08-10 05:15
phil-
have you tried the cadash barrel? do you know the difference in moening and cadash with sound, volume or projection? or does anyone?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-08-10 12:16
I use a Hawkins on my Selmer 10G. All the Hawkins I tried flattened the Selmer vs. Vandorens & Selmer mouthpieces, but the intonation was slightly improved and the tone darkened.
NB: Richard Hawkins is a friend of mine and my son's teacher for the last 3 years, so I'm biased a bit.
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Author: William Fuller
Date: 1999-08-10 15:19
Have you considered a Winslow lig? Also, I recomend that, since your instrument is new, you play the original barrel until you are used to the "new" sound and tuning characteristics. I like the Bay mps, also. Tried, but did not like, the Pyne and Greg Smith. Good luck with your new instrument--I am planning a trip to the "factory" to try some. Let us know how yours works out.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-08-10 20:08
angella wrote:
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phil-
have you tried the cadash barrel? do you know the difference in moening and cadash with sound, volume or projection? or does anyone?
Personally, i don't amire the modern Buffet copies of Moennig barrels. They are rather inconsitant. The ones i have tried make my sound very bright and harsh. Not alot of focus. The Chaddash barrels, i feel are worth their cost. Much better projection, nice ring to the sound, tight focus. The Buffet Moennigs, i don't feel are worth what they sell for.
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Author: Keil
Date: 1999-08-10 21:33
Okay me personally I use a Vandoren M13 mouthpiece i love it. It made my plastic clarinet sing. I use a Rovner Ligature i think its an original. My barrel is the standard R-13 barrel however, my teacher got a Buffet barrel that had been augmented by Kadash (not spelled with a C or CH)! I'm going to talk further with my teacher and get more info!
I myself have a question though, how is the VAndoren Optimum ligature? I really think they might be good, i haven't tried one though!!
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-08-10 22:15
I've tried the Optimum and don't care for it.... especially for it's price. Atleast the price has gone down.
I didn't like the sound of any of the plates... most of them sounded muffled and my reeds didn't respond well... never felt like my sound had any zing and my articulation didn't have any ping... Also didn't like the way the plate sloped down when the ligature was loose...
A good ligature, thouguh a little pricy, is the Floating Rails Lig, from Peter Spriggs. It's the next best thing i've found to a Kaspar lig. 'round $75 from IMS. Very VERY good response, fantastic projection, focus out the wazoo and lots of ping, zing and pop...
For slightly bulkier mouthpieces, i like the Bay covered gold lig. Nice ring and focus to the sound. Not too dark but not too bright because of the rubber insert around the inside of the lig.
On my old Kaspar Ann Arbor, i used a Rovner Eddie Daniels II. The plate gave the lig alot more projection and depth to the tone than Rovner's plain material ligs. brightened up the sound a little too, instead of being so dark like the standard Rovners. Can't use it on new larger Kaspars or old blanks like the Buffets or Evette's, thick blanks get a lovely gouge out from the screw.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-08-10 23:37
Keil wrote:
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My barrel is the standard R-13 barrel however, my teacher got a Buffet barrel that had been augmented by Kadash (not spelled with a C or CH)!
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Then someone's trying to sneak something by you! The famous barrel maker's name is Guy Chadash (pronounced something like Hadash). Never heard of Kadash.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-08-11 02:25
1)Mouthpiece:I prefer Greg Smith Kasper style moutpiece he recently started to make.(Mine is numbered #100.)
2)Barrel:Chadash barrel setuped with his mouthpieth.
If you like a 'dark' tone you may prefer his Chedeville style mouthpiech with angled bore.How about consulting with him by e-mail?
p.s.Every time I read you Americans say 'dark' tone,I wonder you know the meaning of 'clarinet'.It means clair in French, clear tone.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-08-11 02:37
I bought one.There are three plates with vertical threads(good for staccatto playing),horizontal threads(good for melodic tunes), and with 4 points support(I forgot what they says).
I disliked it.It is designed to be supported one point arm to make reed vibrate freer.I felt it brings about an adverse effect.Tones became centerless I felt.I would take an inverted gold plated Bonade.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-08-11 02:51
Hiroshi wrote:
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p.s.Every time I read you Americans say 'dark' tone,I wonder you know the meaning of 'clarinet'.It means clair in French, clear tone.
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Not quite. From French - clarinette, dim. of clarine, little bell < M. Latin clario, trumpet < Latin clarus, clear.
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Author: Greg Smith
Date: 1999-08-11 04:46
William Fuller wrote:
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Have you considered a Winslow lig? Also, I recomend that, since your instrument is new, you play the original barrel until you are used to the "new" sound and tuning characteristics. I like the Bay mps, also. Tried, but did not like, the Pyne and Greg Smith. Good luck with your new instrument--I am planning a trip to the "factory" to try some. Let us know how yours works out.
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It's funny Bill that I have no record in my database of having talked to you and specifically sent to you any of my mouthpieces for you to audition. Am I mistaken? If not, with all of the different models and facings that I make, is it possible perhaps that you tried someone else's that was selected to fit them? If not and I've misplaced a record of your order, then my apologies!
Gregory Smith
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Author: Phillip O. Paglialonga
Date: 1999-08-11 05:55
I have tried a few Chadash barells but couldn't tell the difference between it and the stock
and I agree the new Buffet Moennigs are not as good.. although the price is much better and the availablity is much better
phil
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Author: Phillip O. Paglialonga
Date: 1999-08-11 06:01
Mr. Smith
How many mouthpieces do you make in an average month? And where did you learn to make mouthpieces?
I try to go to the CSO as often as I can and enjoy hearing you play..
phil
Music Major, DePaul University
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Author: Greg Smith
Date: 1999-08-11 17:04
Phillip O. Paglialonga wrote:
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Mr. Smith
How many mouthpieces do you make in an average month? And where did you learn to make mouthpieces?
I try to go to the CSO as often as I can and enjoy hearing you play..
phil
Music Major, DePaul University
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Dear Phil,
Thanks for the kind words.
I'm sure that you can understand why I and others, as a general policy, do not reveal sales figures....but it is certainly enough to keep me more than a little busy!!!
I consider my most important teachers to be Elmer Aiello (formerly of LeBlanc until 1984 when he suffered a stroke) and Everett Matson of New Jersey who is still going strong in his 80's... These are artist/craftsmen of the highest order in my opinion.
Gregory Smith
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Author: Greg Smith
Date: 1999-08-12 03:49
I forgot to add the names of my other two teachers from my prior post:
Trial and Error.
Greg Smith
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