 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: april
Date: 2003-01-03 13:29
Hi. I posted yesterday that I will be getting a used clarinet. I plan on buying a new mouthpiece next month but can't afford one at the moment. So, I want to still toot around on my 'new' used clarinet. The instrument is coming from a friend and she has been the only owner but I still want to sanitize the mouthpiece. Any safe suggestions? Kind regards....
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Author: Kim
Date: 2003-01-03 14:11
I wouldn't buy a new mouthpiece until you are comfortable with the clarinet's tone. I didn't. This is because until you know what your tone sounds like you will not be able to choose a compatible mouthpiece.
Kim
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2003-01-03 15:28
April,
Assuming the mouthpiece is relatively clean looking, a brief soak in hydrogen peroxide (5 minutes ought to do it) followed by a thorough rinse with cool water should do the trick. Don't use hot water because it can discolor a hard rubber mouthpiece.
I don't understand Kim's advice. Given you have played for 5 years, you should have a pretty good idea of how a clarinet should feel and sound. The month or so that it is going to take you to accumulate the funds should be more than enough time to reacclimate yourself to the instrument and decide whether it feels and sounds the way you want it to with the mouthpiece that comes with it. If, you don't like the way the mouthpiece that comes with the instrument works, why torture yourself any longer than you have to?
If you don't like the mouthpiece that comes with the horn, given that you are coming back to the instrument after a layoff, I would recommend you try a plastic "beginner's" mouthpiece. I saw the Hite Premier recommended in the previous thread. In your case, I suspect the Fobes Debut might actually work a little better (but try both if you can). In my experience, the Debut has just a little more resistance than the Hite Premier so you won't outgrow it as quickly. They sell for under $30 new from the mail-order houses. As a startup reed, I would suggest a Rico Royal #2. (A Mitchell Lurie 2 appears to be comparable but I have no experience with them.) Don't buy too many. I supect you will want a 2.5 fairly quickly. I agree with Dee that a 1.5 will likely prove too soft though I think she should have said it will tend to close up rather than down unless you play "Italian" style. ;^)
By the way, Brad Wong, the clarinet instructor at Western Michigan, has an outstanding reputation and, from posts he has made to the Klarinet list in the past, seems like an awfully nice guy. I would suggest you find out his office hours next semester and stop by. If you tell him what you are doing, he will probably be happy to give you some advice. If you can swing the time and money, you might also consider seeing if you can take some lessons from him to fill elective hours.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-01-03 16:50
April,
In your post yesterday, 'madvax' "assumed" that the mouthpiece that came with the clarinet is a "Vito with a medium facing" and people began recommending reed sizes on that basis.
Today, you are getting advice on buying a new mouthpiece on the same basis.
Please, tell us what mouthpiece the clarinet comes with.
It may well be a "Vito with a medium facing," chances are that it is, but for all we, or you know at the moment, it could be something better and usable.
I spent three weeks talking to diverse mouthpiece manufactrurers about acquiring a mouthpiece for an extinct, C Melody vintage sax I bought. I did this before I got the sax, acting on the information given me by the seller that the mouthpiece it came with didn't fit, didn't work and was not a good one, etc.
When the sax got here, it turned out that not only was the MP, surprisingly, the original, ca. 1920, mouthpiece the sax came with when it was new, but it plays absolutely great with it. I've already been offered $200.00 more for the mouthpiece than I paid for the saxophone, mouthpiece and case to begin with.
This doesn't always happen, it's only happened to me twice in many years, but it does happen and so:
After you tell us, for sure, what mouthpiece the clarinet comes with (make, model and any other markings or designations on it) I think everyone here should be able to give you more accurate advice, both on the reed and the mouthpiece issue.
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