 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-02-21 16:40
Hi
I need to get a mouthpiece for alto clarinet. I already decided on Vandoren and I'm not sure if I should get the B40 or the 5RV. I have a B40 on Eb clarinet and it is very good. I've tried a lot of 5RV Lyres on Bb and it is one of my favorite mouthpieces, but I never tried a 5RV (without Lyre).
What is the difference between those mouthpieces and what would you recommend? What strength of reeds would usually fit those?
Thanks.
Post Edited (2006-02-21 16:59)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Merlin
Date: 2006-02-21 17:01
I use a B40 with #3 Vandoren Alto clarinet reeds, though I'm trying to find a Legere I like for it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2006-02-21 17:18
I like the 5RV much better. Better tone, plays easier and has better tuning for me anyway. Selmer C* is my personal preference with altos. Also with vandoren blue box #3.5 or Gonzales RC alto sax reeds works for me (on 5RVs and C*s), most people seem to use a #3 though. still expierementing with the sax reeds, but so far so good.
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Stephane
Date: 2006-02-21 17:34
On my Bb, I've used both the 5RV and the 5RV Lyre. Personally, I found them both to be closed (too closed in my opinion) with the 5RV being more closed than the 5RV Lyre.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-02-21 18:38
My limited experience with 5RV and 5RVL on Bb is the same as Stephane, much too close for me. For my alto cl, I have tried a number of mps, the better ones were a Sel C* and a [DS] refaced Bundy 3 [very similar!], a good, little known, mp and FOR ME, my Pomarico #3 Mellow is the best. I like med or med-soft LaVoz reeds and am happy with my "poor-man's" Basset Horn [Sel-Paris]. Try many, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2006-02-21 19:02
I would definitely find the 5rv to be far too closed...I find the B40 has a much more appealling set of overtones without the airy sound one associates with 5rv's. So I personally prefer the sound of the B40 for all the lower harmony clarinets as well as the Bass.
David Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Shorthand
Date: 2006-02-21 20:45
Attachment: alto_mouthpieces.pdf (11k)
See attached chart to get a feel for the product spectrum out there.
I'd order from the US if you can - prices seem to be better here than in Europe.
If you're really looking to keep your budget in check, I'd think about the Bundys as they're essentially Selmer Paris deisgns with quick-and-dirty build quiality. Do you have some sort of time constraint that you need to buy locally in Israel?
Given the $100 US price point of the Vandoren and Selmer Paris alto clar mouthpieces, I would defintitely take a good hard look at Roger Garrett's offering in this area:
http://www.iwu.edu/~rgarrett/mouthpiece_info.html
Much of your decision needs to be based on the kind of playing you're doing and what kind of alto you have. If you want to approach the Alto as more of a basset horn sound / nice warm polite clarinet - just a little lower, then favor the 5RV or one of the closer faced Selmers (or Bundy).
If you are thinking of it more as a small bass clarinet that needs to project in a wind ensemble, the B40, the C*, the Garrett, and the Grabner should be in your consideration set.
I know they're a little pricey, but as for Bass, I would be remiss in not telling you to also consider Clark Fobes and Walter Grabner's offerings for the Alto:
http://www.clarinetxpress.com/altoclar.html
http://www.clarkwfobes.com/Low%20Clarinets.html
If the CF facing on his Alto mouthpieces behaves like the CF facing on the bass mouthpieces, both of the Fobes will have excellent response but won't have huge amounts of projection.
If you plan on keeping this Alto, the more expensive offerings are definitely worth considering as the Alto is a much-neglected instrument with generally poor mouthpiece choices outside of the three custom makers that also have developed serious offerings for the Bass Clarinets. (Fobes, Grabner, Garrett.)
Given what I've seen, Roger Garrett and Walter Granber are the ones who have put the most effort and time into the Alto.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bassie
Date: 2006-02-22 06:56
*Try them both*
I've tried an alto 5RV and it was very pleasant. I play 5RV on my soprano, and B40 on my bass. I'm with Shorthand - I'd expect 5RV to be more 'polite', and B40 to be 'bigger'. But I didn't like the Bundy that came with my bass - very harsh.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-02-22 07:16
I decided to go for the B40 and try it with Vandoren 3 reeds. On bass I play a pretty open mouthpiece (2.00mm) with Vandoren 3 reeds so I think it would be ok.
Trying them both is not an option unfortunately. We don't have any alto mouthpieces in stock here. I could special order one without being able to return it so I will not buy it here....
A friend is bringing it from Europe, and it will cost the equivilent of $100, just a little more than the price in the USA. Ordering from the USA will cost $130, and if I order two and return one then it is even more expensive.
Thanks for all the help!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2006-02-22 15:11
Just another note on a relatively cheap alto mouthpiece that has beautiful sound, the Hite alto. It is a little pricier than the Van Dorewn but not much and is not to far behind the Grabner in tone quality. Have used thgis on both the alto and the LeBlanc basset horn.
EEfer guy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2006-02-23 01:07
Hite alto mouthpieces are real hard to find these days. a couple of the big woodwind sites have them listed as backordered, but they've beeen back ordered since late 2003 if I'm not mistaken.
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
