 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clarsax
Date: 2024-03-28 02:41
Hello all,
I'm going to try a German bass clarinet mouthpiece on my Boehm bass clarinet (through the adapter created by Steve Fox...)
Because I don't know much about German facing bass clarinet mouthpieces and their reeds I ask a suggestion about a suitable reed strength
The mouthpiece I'm going to try is a Gleichweit JG5, tip opening 1,43 mm
(for the record I usually play with #2,5 reeds on 1,90mm tip opening French mouthpiece...)
Thanks
Post Edited (2024-03-28 02:41)
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2024-03-29 18:02
Maybe Mr Gleichweit could suggest a suitable reed strength, as well as a reed brand?
I hope you will report back here how you find the sound and other characteristics of that mouthpiece, on your Boehm bass.
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2024-03-31 20:37
I used to play a Foag German system+bore bass some years ago, and I played either a Wurlitzer M4*, Playnick Aida as well as prototype Pillinger piece, the latter 2 which share a similar opening to the Gleichweit JG6 (1.50, more open that your JG5). I used Vandoren Blue Box alto clarinet reeds (surprisingly also used by many German players) at Strength 3 and occasionally 3.5, and they competed well with few Buffet Prestige+Vandoren setups by other players. So I suggest you start with Vandoren Blue Box alto clarinet Strength 2.5s or 3s.
Josh
Post Edited (2024-05-26 13:58)
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Author: Clarsax
Date: 2024-04-01 01:17
Thank you HANGARDUDE,
It seems that JG6 is no longer available from Gleichweit, otherwise I would have chosen that one to try.
I don't have alto clarinet reeds, but I have alto saxophone reeds of many different strengths and cuts, I had already thought of trying them but I will try specific reeds first.
Then, it may not work for me as a setup.... we'll see.
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2024-04-03 00:01
I use a 2.5 with both Basso and Morre Sarastro reeds. They are a little on the soft side, but I like that.
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2024-05-26 14:32
Hi Clarsax,
You might be able to request Johannes Gleichweit to custom make a JG6 for you if you send him an email. Give it a shot if that's what you really want.
RE: Alto sax reeds- I've tried a few cuts on my German bass back in the day, and found the Vandoren V16s & D'Addario/Rico Hemke reeds to work well too. Also I recall Jochen Seggelke(who also makes his own German bore basses, one of which dorjepismo plays) telling me that the Vandoren V21 reeds work well too. However, I find the Vandoren Blue Box alto sax reeds to work well less than their alto clarinet counterparts, something I've also found between Blue Box tenor sax & bass reeds. Your mileage may vary though.
Josh
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Author: Clarsax
Date: 2024-05-26 16:01
Hello all,
I ended up trying a Gleichweit Jg5 mouthpiece with 20 mm bore using Pilgerstorfer reeds (#2.5 and #3) and various alto saxophone reeds.
I had a better feeling with the alto sax reeds, but the lower-middle and lower register was terrible, plus the overall sound was quite closed; when I went back to my Boehm setup it was much better throughout...so for me the experiment is closed
I still have the Boehm-German adapter which works very well, I can sell it to anyone who is interested, maybe he could have some fun....
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2024-05-27 11:30
Clarsax, your findings appear to be very similar to mine some years ago- I do own one of Steve Fox's adaptors myself, and despite his very fine work, I've still found German & French bore bass mouthpieces work best with bass clarinets of their respective bores, which partly led to my decision to play on an actual German bore bass(by Martin Foag) for a few years.
Josh
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