 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ttay1122
Date: 2011-06-28 01:23
I have a Yamaha CSG custom with hamilton plated keys. I currently am playing on a Vandoren M13 which works pretty well. But considering the CSG is based off the German smaller bore I was wondering if a different chambered mouthpiece might be better for my set up. Also. I need help with reeds, I have been using Vandoren V12's which I like. Right out of the box they are ready to play and have the sound Im looking for but after a day or two of playing I find they quickly feel thin and sound thinner to where I need a new reed quite often. I was wondering if maybe Rue Lepic 3.5+ would be a good option or no?Would they stay consistent for the 2 weeks like reeds should?
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-06-28 02:26
I don't know anything about your question regarding the CSG's bore size and mouthpiece chambers, but I have a couple of reactions to your questions about reeds.
ttay1122 wrote:
> ...I have been
> using Vandoren V12's which I like. Right out of the box they
> are ready to play and have the sound Im looking for but after a
> day or two of playing I find they quickly feel thin and sound
> thinner to where I need a new reed quite often.
Reeds undergo very noticeable changes over their first few days of playing life. Lots of people have lots of theories about why (do a search in the archives on "reeds" or "reeds breaking in" or something similar). Most players like to do some kind of "break-in" process to let the cane acclimate more gradually to the effects of alternately soaking and drying. What almost all of these processes have in common is to use new reeds for only short periods of time at the beginning - a few minutes at most. Playing on your new reeds for any length of time over the first couple of days may have more to do with their breaking down than the choice of reed itself.
> I was wondering
> if maybe Rue Lepic 3.5+ would be a good option or no?
The best way to tell would be to buy a box and try them. No one here can tell you with any certainty whether you'll like them more or less than you do V12s. Both Rue lepic and V12 are good quality reeds.
> Would they
> stay consistent for the 2 weeks like reeds should?
There is no rule that says a reed "should" stay consistent for any specific amount of time. Every reed is different. Some will last weeks, some will change to a point of uselessness in a few days. Some are useless (without major adjustment) right out of the box. It depends somewhat on how much you know about adjusting the reed to control the changes that take place in the cane over time. (I don't think any of my reeds would last even a week in playable condition without some adjustment and balancing.) It also depends on the quality of the cane from which the reeds are made, the climatic stability of your environment, and even your technique in controlling the reed with your embouchure.
I personally doubt if you'd find Rue lepics any more consistent or long-lasting than V12s. But you might (or might not) find the response more comfortable or the sound more pleasing. It really depends on what you're looking for.
Karl
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2011-06-28 16:18
I've played CSG-Hs for over 3 years with several Van Doren mouthpieces (M13 Lyre, M30, B40 Lyre) and they all played fine and in tune, other than with the M30 (13) which can play a bit lower than other V/Ds. I didn't have a bore gauge, but I visual inspection suggested that the Van Doren mouthpieces had a slightly larger bore than the CSG barrels.
I have recently switched to a Greg Smith "Personal" mouthpiece (Zinner blank) that seems to have a bore that is closer to the size of the CSG barrels. It plays/tunes wonderfully and is remarkably reed-friendly.
I also have an old Kanter AA mouthpiece on a Riffault blank that plays/tunes fine on the CSG.
With the exception of the M30(13), I've found the CSG to play well and in tune with pretty much any conventional "French" mouthpiece. If there is a small intonation adjustment required, there are "CSG tuning" barrels available that can both provide intonation and tonal alternatives for you.
As far as your M13 goes, it is a fairly close/long facing and I suspect it would play better with at least a V12 (or Rue Le Pic) 4. As noted above, playing a new reed continuously will probably (1) alter/ruin its [ultimate] playing characteristics and (2) drastically shorten its life. I play a new reed for 1-2 minutes the 1st day and gradually increase the playing time to maybe 15 minutes over 5 sessions during a 5-10 day period. During that time I will polish/adjust the vamp using reed rush. While other techniques can be used, it is important to gradually seal the vamp so that the reed gradually converges on its ultimate performance profile. Reeds that are broken in over 5-10 days will be more stable and last much longer.
Bob Barnhart
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Author: Alex Eich
Date: 2011-07-01 10:50
Here are my thoughts, just so you get a range of experience (myself having considerably less by the sounds of it).
Have been playing the CSG's for almost 2 years and still love them to bits.
I do play the aforementioned M30 and it's very true - they are consistently flat with it. However, I love the m'piece and the feel of the setup, so I just play it with the shorter barrel and warm up thoroughly before playing. Worth it? At the moment, certainly.
The response of the instrument with the Rue Le Pic reeds, which I personally have found much more consistant and full-bodied than the V12s, coupled with the full, round sound I've been able to create have made it all worth while. Playing the classical concertos, you can create this beautiful, clean, clear sound which makes the Mozart and Krommer concertos sound amazing. However, it can just as easily sound angry and forceful for Romantic/Contemporary or take on a sweet singing tone when turned to impressionistic pieces.
When I have some more cash available I'll go about fixing the minor tuning problem, but I'm quite able to perform well with it in its current state. Would highly recommend giving the m'piece a try just to compare others with, if nothing else, as I for one found it miles better than the others I tried (albeit out of a somewhat small range - yay for living in a small country). The only other type that stood out to me was a BG (B2?), but this didn't have nearly as warm a sound (was quite... sterile) aaand was nearly twice the price, which didn't help it's case. Would have been perfect for Wind Band work though, where a clear, loud, big sound are important.
Also, definitely give the Le Pics a whirl. I can't express in words how glad I am that I did.
Also, to add a little more weight to the previous arguments (though not much more - very well described Bob), I too play my reeds in over a period of time.
I tend to take them out of the pack, (effectively) lick them, then leave them for a day on a very flat surface (a piece of glass is very good for this) to prevent warping (touch wood). Then, give them only a couple of minutes of play a day for around 5 days (with MINIMAL high note work on them). The majority of the R le P's I find are ready to play out of the box for me - those that aren't I just bend (carefully.. ) and use very fine sandpaper on if needed to knock them into shape.
So basically, Bob and I dod the same thing, though I do it a little more low tech by the sounds of things :P
So there you go.
Good luck
Alex Eichelbaum
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Author: CocoboloKid
Date: 2011-07-02 03:09
I can't help but wonder what the CSG would sound like with the new(?) Vandoren B40D or M30D German-style mouthpieces. I'd imagine it would be something akin to nirvana (The place, not the band...)
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Author: pplateau
Date: 2011-07-03 02:54
I have had a CSG with silver plated keys for over a year and it works, tunes fine with David McClune SP and/or SPE mp's
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-07-03 21:37
The only way you will know which MP plays best on any clarinet is to try as many as you can. No matter what clarinet you have, everyone is different in their approach and physical makeup.
As far as reeds go, I'm a Rico performer, I suggest you try several of their cuts. No matter what brand you use you need to break them in properly and then you have to keep them humidity controlled. The Rico Vitalizer kept in an air tight bag takes care of that. Read my reed pages on my website for information on how to break in your reeds so they last and don't change so much once you have them broken in. ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: gwie
Date: 2011-07-05 00:10
I play Walter Grabner's K11* on my CSG's, with Vandoren V12 or Rico Reserve Classics at 4.5 strength.
Works great for me!
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2011-07-05 16:18
I use a M13 and Vandoren V12s with my CSG with Hamilton plating and my tone is like liquid gold (after 2 or 3 Margaritas)!
I think maybe you need to break in your reeds over a week or so...playing them a few minutes each day etc. My experience has been playing them for any length of time right out of the box frazzles them.
Clarinet Redux
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Author: klarinetkid
Date: 2011-07-07 16:03
I tend to agree with Mr. Palanker on this one- the only way you'll know if a mouthpiece works with a particular clarinet is to try it and see. I've been playing my CSG-H's for over 3 years and initially used a Hawkins B and now an R mouthpiece, which I love. I really loved the Rue Lepics on my B mouthpiece, but found they didn't work nearly as well on the R, which was a bummer. I've been using Rico Reserve Classics on the Hawkins R for quite some time now.
The "Germanness" of the CSG is really negligible IMHO when it comes to trying mouthpieces- just try whatever you would for any other clarinet and pick one that feels good, tunes well and and offers good response.
Good luck!
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