The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Keil
Date: 1999-08-19 15:00
I'm using my schools buffet R-13 Eb clarinet and the mouthpiece is a selmer HS** with a rovner ligature, i find that it sounds really bright! What setup would be recommended?
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-08-19 22:00
I played on my school's HS** Eb mouthpiece until i started trying out mouthpieces to buy. I found that Greg Smith's Eb mouthpieces had the best tone in all the registers and wasn't harsh or reedy (except with a bad reed). But i play on my own Selmer Series 9, i'm not sure about the R-13's. The ones i have played at conventions haven't impressed me at all. But i believe Greg plays on a Buffet Eb so i think is mouthpieces would probably be geared towards them. Clark Fobes makes good mouthpieces as well, but the two that he sent me on trial just didn't match the ones Greg sent.
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Author: angella
Date: 1999-08-20 02:33
daniel- don't greg's e flat's use b flat reeds cut off? do you find that to be easier than using e flat reeds on another mouthpiece? i've found with reeds (disregarding mouthpiece) that e flat reeds are just nasty little things. maybe it's just me... it could be. what are your thoughts?
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-08-20 04:11
I personally never use Eb reeds. They're most often too narrow for Eb mouthpieces... it's like playing White or Black Masters on Bb mouthpieces.
Actually, i sometimes use White or Black Master Bb's on Eb. Sometimes they work, i can't remember which one it was i liked better though. But for the most part i usually simply use regular Vandorens or V-12's and cut the heel off enough so that i can see the end of the table and line the reed even.
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Author: angella
Date: 1999-08-20 04:22
so, what other e flat mouthpieces would you recommend? i've tried a selmer, didn't belong to me, but i just can't seem to control the squeaking. sometimes i can, sometimes i can't. i can't figure out if it's me, the mouthpiece, the reed or what??! any suggestions. i hear the vandoren
b44 is pretty decent??
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-08-20 04:54
I am and have been for several years now, against manufactured mouthpieces. I only use and advocate hand faced mouthpieces. Even if only student level mouthpieces like Clarks Debut model or Pyne's Polycrystal (or whatever it's called). I'm not sure if Rick Sayre offers an Eb model. And i've never tried Richard Hawkins' or Ralph Morgan's Eb models.
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Author: Alex
Date: 1999-08-20 06:18
I use a Charles Bay Eb mouthpiece with Vandoren Eb reeds
or 3 1/2 Vandoren White Master reeds.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-08-20 16:57
I just don't like the quality of manufactured mouthpieces. As Greg said in one of his poasts last week or so, Selmer is about the only manufacturer that cuts their blanks from rod rubber. Everyone else molds them. And then tey are machine faced. If you've ever held an old "Oval Stamp" Selmer and a modern Selmer, you can see and feel the difference without even playing it. If you play three of Clark's, Greg's, Jim's, Charlie's or Rick's mouthpieces next to three Vandorens or Selmers, 95% chances is, you'll be able to tell a difference in the way they sound and feel (especially being as advanced of a player as you are).
I have to admit i don't think even the Zinner blanks that most of the custom makers are using now are anything near the blanks that the world had back 20-60 years ago. But Zinner makes the best quality blanks available today.
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Author: John Scorgie
Date: 1999-08-20 20:36
Keil -- all of the custom mouthpieces which have been suggested as replacements are closer facings than your HS**. An E flat clarinet is tough enough to control under the best of circumstances, let alone with an open mouthpiece such as the HS**. If you or your school cannot afford to buy one of these nice custom mps such as a Greg Smith or any of the others mentioned, you might want to contact these mp makers to see if any of them would consider doing a custom refacing job on your HS**. If so, I'll wage it will be a great improvement.
Don't force the sound on your E flat. Think of a small but steady airstream. As a great old teacher and player told me many years ago, "it should sound like the ringing of tiny bells".
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Author: angella
Date: 1999-08-22 02:34
does anyone know of other mouthpieces, in addition to greg's that use b flat reeds? i'd like to know all the options. i'm in desperate need of a mouthpiece!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks,
angella
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-08-22 19:34
You can use Bb reeds on pretty much any Eb mouthpiece. I've never used Eb reeds on any of the mouthpieces i've played (Selmer, Chedeville, Clark's or Greg's).
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Author: angella
Date: 1999-08-23 23:33
i'm playing on a selmer rignt how, as i said- it's not mine, but i just can't for the life of me get it to stop squeaking and chirping- regardless of the reed choice. though- b flat reeds haven't worked so well.... what causes squeaks and chirps? i don't even want to play the darn thing if it's going to behave like that! i have some mouthpieces on order which will help... any other suggestions??? thanks!
angella
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-08-24 00:07
angella wrote:
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i'm playing on a selmer rignt how, as i said- it's not mine, but i just can't for the life of me get it to stop squeaking and chirping- regardless of the reed choice. though- b flat reeds haven't worked so well.... what causes squeaks and chirps? i don't even want to play the darn thing if it's going to behave like that! i have some mouthpieces on order which will help... any other suggestions??? thanks!
angella
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1. Are you sure that all the pads seat properly and are in good condition? This is potentially a major source of squeaks.
2. Personally I couldn't get trimmed Bb reeds to work well. I use Vandoren Eb reeds.
3. Are you using the stock mouthpiece? This may not be suitable for you. Perhaps you need something better.
Here's my setup and it plays quite nicely.
Selmer Bundy Eb clarinet
Vandoren 5RV mouthpiece
Vandoren #3.5 reeds
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