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 Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: Katie15696 
Date:   2007-02-26 14:30

Hello - I've been trying to order a Bay Bass Cl. mouthpiece without much luck. All of the retailers are out of stock, the bay website doesn't work, and Bay's email address doesn't work either. Anybody know what's going on, or bet yet, how to contact the company? Thanks.
Katie

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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: pabstboy 
Date:   2007-02-26 16:13

Katie
I understand he has a new business phone number. Have you tried 818-706-3309 ? Good luck !!!

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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: Brenda Siewert 
Date:   2007-02-26 16:17

Bay-Gale Woodwind Products
Charles Bay
PO Box 3935-C
Westlake Village,CA 91359 USA
Email: cbay@baywoodwind.com
Tel: (805) 497-8161
Fax: 805-497-8208
Barrels, Ligatures, Mouthpieces, Accessories

Here are some more numbers. I highly recommend calling. The number mentioned above by pabstboy might be newer.



Post Edited (2007-02-26 16:18)

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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: William 
Date:   2007-02-26 16:21

Sorry I can offer no help in contacting Charlie, but this may be of some interest to you. Although I play (and like very much) one of his Ithica clarinet mpcs, I had an opportunity--five yrs ago--to play one of his bass mpcs (& lig) which I bought via eBay. After playing with it for a couple of weeks, I just could not make it work for me. It was stuffy and did it respond well even with a variety of different reeds. So I sold it (but kept the lig). Currently, my bass mouthpiece of choice is the Walter Grabner CXBS model, which is basically a customized Selmer C*. Compared to the Bay and my old VanDoran B45, the CXBS repsonds well in all registers and plays with a vibrant warm sound with either VD 3.5 or Legere #3 reeds. FYI--my bass is a Buffet Prestige low C and I use a VD Optimum lig. I would recommend you give Walter a call and try a couple of his models. His website:

http://www.clarinetxpress.com/



Post Edited (2007-02-26 16:28)

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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2007-02-26 16:54

Google does reverse searches on phone numbers. Both Brenda's number and pabstboy's number show up.

There's a rudimentary site with pabstboy's number at http://www.baywoodwind.net/, with an AOL email address that might work.

Charles Bay has always been difficult to reach, though.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: Brenda Siewert 
Date:   2007-02-27 21:25

You're right, Ken.

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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: LarryBocaner 2017
Date:   2007-02-28 12:48

"Katiel" wrote:

"Hello - I've been trying to order a Bay Bass Cl. mouthpiece without much luck."

Having taught numerous bass clarinet students over the past 40+ years I can unequivocally state that I have never seen a Bay bass clarinet mouthpiece that I considered even adequate for classical playing!

Maybe Katiel's bad luck is good luck! There are better choices for far less $$$.

Larry Bocaner
National Symphony Orchestra (retired)



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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: Gobboboy 
Date:   2007-02-28 13:24

Larry,

I would be interested to know what you think IS a really good Bass MP for classical playing?
I currently use (just purchased) a Clark Fobes of Sanfransico MP and the jury is still out on it!

It seems to be ok for pit work but am not totally convinced in Orchestra - I have tried many MP's in the shop (spent all day!) but couldn't decide on one that hit all the requirements.....

Any suggestions??


Ben


http://innercityfour.com.

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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: Ed 
Date:   2007-02-28 14:04

I think the Fobes is a great mouthpiece. Years ago I played a Bay, but switched to the Fobes. It is a very refined easy to control mouthpiece with a big beautiful sound. I have not had any problem with it in orchestras, but perhaps if you feel that you need something a bit more open you might go up a notch to the RR facing.

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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2007-02-28 14:11

Years ago I went down the Bay path for bass clarinet mouthpieces and never found one I liked. IMHO their facings are too open and the curvature is not right, making them stuffy and resistant with a hard edge to the sound. They force you to use too soft a reed and are difficult to play with a centered sound at low dynamic levels. Caveat: this is based on my experience about fifteen to twenty years ago, with maybe a dozen of his mouthpieces.

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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: William 
Date:   2007-02-28 15:10

I noticed that Walter Grabner is offering a new bass clarinet mouthpiece that Lawrie Bloom of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra has endorsed--and may even be using. His CXBS model (my current mouthpiece, but now discontinued) was/is excellant and this is supposed to take its place. I am certainly going to check it out.

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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: CEC 
Date:   2007-02-28 18:08

I had the same experience as Dave around the same time period.

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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: LarryBocaner 2017
Date:   2007-02-28 20:58

Ben,

In response to your question: I play a Roger Garrett Zinner-based mouthpiece which I believe is his "MO" facing. I have heard good things about Fobes and Grabner mouthpieces, although I have not played either. I had a student bring in a Zinner-based mouthpiece faced by Dan Johnston (in Buffalo) which I liked alot! Many professionals have played on Selmer C*'s, still the industry standard although quality control is so spotty that I can't recommend it unless it is "touched up" by a talented mechanic!

Above all, mouthpieces are still "individuals" -- items with the same nomenclature by the same maker are often widely variant. In a perfect world you would have a large selection to choose from, back to back!

Larry



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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: Gobboboy 
Date:   2007-02-28 23:13

Thanks Larry,

It's interesting this! as my Bb MP is a Dan Johnston!! I'm finding it really good too, I find a much quicker articulation due to the thicker tip rail and an over all darker much more manageble sound. I had tried just the Zinner blanks whick I alo think are a very good MP but eventually settled with mr johnson


as for the Bass, the Dan Johnston didnt cut it for me, I need a smooth consistant sound and that was just too unfaithful for me! the fobes has a soft tone that is enjoyable to play but also can be a little unreliable when you need to hit low notes hard out of nowhere (maybe thats just me) but Im still searching! -

I have not heard of roger Garrett (maybe I should have) but i will investigate because i have a lot of respect for any Zinner based MP and will be sure to give it a try! you gotta try em all right?


http://innercityfour.com.



Post Edited (2007-02-28 23:16)

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 Re: Charles Bay mouthpieces
Author: Ed 
Date:   2007-03-01 20:30

Try contacting Clark directly to see what he suggests.

http://www.clarkwfobes.com/Contact%20page.html

He is a professional bass cl/clarinet player in the San Francisco area, so he has a great perspective. He also is very helpful. He makes 4 facings on bass-

CF 1.70mm
RR 1.80mm
AP 1.90mm
HB 2.00mm

So one of them is bound to meet your needs. I imagine it may be a reed match or a case of needing one of the more open tips.

Good luck!

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