 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-03-04 16:31
I was wondering if anyone has any opinions about the walter grabner (pro) mouthpieces... I was considering buying one... specifically either the CXZ_K13 or the K11 (I tend to like close tips, but who knows?)
thanks
-Lindsie
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Author: Bradley Wong
Date: 2005-03-04 16:52
I have just started using a K11, and have been extremely happy with it. Very reed-friendly (V-12's and FOF's), excellent sound and response. I have used it for solo performances (Scott McAllister's Black Dog), wind quintet, orchestra, and mixed chamber music. Walt is very easy to work with - I suggest you give his mouthpieces a try.
Brad Wong
Western Michigan University
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Author: Brent
Date: 2005-03-04 18:23
Lindsie,
I have tried many different kinds of mouthpieces, and have found Walter's to be the absolute best for me. As you'll read over and over on this board, everybody has a different experience, but i have several of his mouthpieces, each better than the last. I use 'em for bass, Eb, jazz, orchestral, chamber music--his alto sax piece is great, too!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-03-04 18:28
I haven't tried his Kaspar style mouthpieces, but I have tried a chedeville style of his. And it was excellent. Top-notch. And even though the Kaspar styles are a relatively new addition to his line of products, I'm inclined to say that they're probably also going to be phenominal.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2005-03-04 21:44
A while back a wrote my impressions of his MPs after trying three. The thread is at:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.htmlf=1&i=125765&t=125765
Since I wrote that my impressions have just gotten better and the only change is that I'm now playing FOF's 3.75's instead of 3.5's.
Definately worth taking a look see.
Best
RW
Best
Rick
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Author: Erdinet
Date: 2005-03-04 22:18
While I do not know much about Mr. Grabner's work first hand, there is another m.p. guy to check out if you are in the market. His name is David McClune. You can find him at mcclunemouthpiece.com.
His work is great and he is a really fantastic person to deal with. And like any good m.p. tech he will customize further to your specs. (For a small fee of course.)
I am using both Bb and Bass Clarinet pieces by him. Really great stuff....
Adam
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Author: BassClarinetPlayer
Date: 2005-03-04 23:25
I have one of his personal line Bass Clarinet mouthpieces and it is wonderful. Walter is a great person to work with! I am in the process of looking at one of his Bb mouthpieces for my soprano.
I recommend giving him a try, as long as you take care of the mouthpiece and send it back in the shape that you received it (he is very clear about how to send stuff back to him on his web site), he will refund your money if you decide that it's not the mouthpiece for you.
Everyone has a different way of playing so there is no way to have one mouthpiece that fits all. Good luck in finding one that works for you.
Ledonna
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-03-04 23:58
I also highly recommend Greg Smith. That's the one that I settled on using. He also does top-notch work.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Julie
Date: 2005-03-05 01:50
hmm, rick- the link doesn't work on my computer- I'll just do a search. thanks
ah! people suggesting other MPs?! oy! that's all I need! more selection! I am very indecisive and rather picky... lol. perhaps I will try those others out. But right not Grabner sounds good. (sounds better than my current vandoren mouthpiece)
Post Edited (2005-03-05 19:38)
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Author: sdr
Date: 2005-03-05 02:11
I have one of his klezmer MPs and it is FABULOUS.
-sdr
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-03-05 02:14
Quote:
ah! people suggesting other MPs?! oy! that's all I need! more selection! I am very indecisive and rather picky... lol. perhaps I will try those others out. But right not Grabner sounds good. lol. Yeah. I hear you there (with the other mouthpieces comment)
Walter Grabner's work is great. I was able to try a few of his mouthpieces (via woodwind and brasswind) and thought they were great. He's also (from my limited experience) a good guy to deal with. Answered my emails very promptly and cordially. And eventually I plan on trying out a barrel of his, but it'll all come in due time.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: nickma
Date: 2005-03-05 16:42
Here, here: Great guy to deal with.
Worth mentioning however that you can't buy mouthpieces off a spec sheet - the only way is to try them, over a couple of weeks. I beleve he allows for this.
Nick
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-03-05 19:09
nickma wrote:
> Worth mentioning however that you can't buy mouthpieces off a
> spec sheet - the only way is to try them, over a couple of
> weeks. I beleve he allows for this.
yes, he does- a fellow clarinet-player friend has a grabner MP and was sent two (I'm supposing this was all he wished to try) for a trial period. I believe it was the same for my teacher as well. Though she was probably sent more than 2...
-Lindsie
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-03-05 21:18
MIL,
Walter's current policy is to send two mouthpieces at a time for you to try. You pick the one you like more, and send the other back. Or if you don't like both, you send them both back.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Kalakos
Date: 2005-03-05 22:35
Hi: I already posted my great satisfaction with Mr. Grabner's mouthpieces. It was a pleasure working with him; he was very helpful and cooperative. My fovorite mouthpieces for my Albert Buffets are the Borbeck #16 and #14. I tried Walter's "jazz" mouthpiece and one of the others. I bought two (2) "jazz" mouthpieces. They really sounded good for our Greek music which is always played with softer reeds and Albert clarinets (especially in C). His work is excellent, and so is his service! I recommend him absolutely!!!
Thanks.
Kalakos
Kalakos Music
http://www.TAdelphia.com
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-03-06 02:11
ah, yes, alexi, i e-mailed my teacher and she infromed me that he sent her 2. sorry, I was just making inferences. he sent her the K11 and K13 and gave her a week to try them out.
-Lindsie
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-03-06 19:53
Lindsie,
Go ahead and give it a shot whenever you're ready. I have a mouthpiece that was refaced by him and it's phenominal.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Brent
Date: 2005-03-07 13:28
The biggest problem with Walter sending two mouthpieces from which to choose is that i want to keep them both. That policy of his has const me more money...
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2006-12-11 23:53
My teacher wanted one or two new mouthpieces from Grabner and thought he was getting 2 to try out but he got 4 and didn't want to send them back so he ended bying 4 pieces.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2006-12-12 02:30
Count me in, too, as a Walter Grabner fan. I'm using his K14 and LB mouthpieces. They just keep getting better and better for me. I recently discovered what a remarkable difference the Vandoren Klassik string ligature makes on my K14. My only wish is that I could have had this set up YEARS ago. Thank you Walter!
Roger
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Author: Baz
Date: 2013-07-06 08:35
Somebody mentioned using Grabner mouthpieces on Albert clarinet, I play both Bb & C, I currently use a Vandoren 5JB, have done for years with the odd venture into other makes, I thought I had settled but after doing some searching the Grabner sounds worth trying, I can get one OK in the UK from Howarths, ah well! back into the the clarinet minefield I venture once again!
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-07-06 15:02
Baz -
Get in touch with Walter directly. He will know which of his models will work best for jazz on your Albert.
There's nothing quite like the Vandoren 5JB. Why do you want to change?
Consider going upmarket for a Wanne, horizontal for a Morgan, downmarket for a Runyon, or WAY downmarket for a white plastic Buescher. Great players have used each of them.
Ken Shaw
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Author: JamesOrlandoGarcia
Date: 2013-07-06 15:22
Walter's mouthpieces are excellent and used all over the world. He is also a Buffet dealer whom hand selects clarinets. His studio in his house is pretty awesome. I had the opportunity to go there to select Muncy barrels a few years back.
He's a really nice guy to work with. I suggest getting in contact with him and I'm sure he will be more than glad to set you up with the right choice for you.
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Author: William
Date: 2013-07-06 15:40
Ken wrote, "Great players have used each of them," which leads me to what the great clarinetist, Daniel Bonade, is rumored to have once said about selecting a mouthpiece-Take all the mouthpieces you find, put them into a boat and row to the middle of the lake. Put on a blindfold, select one and throw the rest overboard. Then row back to shore and learn how to play your new mouthpiece". I think what he really was saying is that it is not so much the mouthpiece as it is the players ability to play as a result of diligent practice and experience. If your good enough, any mouthpiece will probably do. It is also rumored that Artie Shaw used to go into the local music store, select the cheapest mouthpiece available and then work on refacing it until it played for him. Stories for thought regarding finding your "one and only" mouthpiece.....
I have had personal experience with both Gregory Smith and Walter Grabner and own find mouthpieces made by both. I use a Grabner bass clarinet mouthpiece--now discontinued, CX_BS model--on my Buffet 1190-2 and keep a Smith "Cicero Kaspar" model as backup to my preferred original Chicago Kaspar #14, which I have played since the late 1960's. Why???....I simply like it's response and flexability and the tone I can get from it. But with the proper reed, my Smith "Cicero" does the same and if my beloved Kaspar is ever destroyed, that's the one I will go to.
From personal experiance, both Gregory Smith and Walter Grabner will work with you until you find a mouthpiece that works. Also "out there" is Clark Fobes who also makes (according to many reports) fine mouthpieces. All are personally good clarinetists and know when "it's right". Or, if you so desire, you can simply rent a boat and..........you know the drill. LOL
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-07-06 16:46
William, I agree as a general principle with Bonade's prescription as you've interpreted it - that the player makes the sound. But keep in mind that when and where Bonade wrote that, if he did, he may well have been talking about a boatload of Chedevilles or, at the broadest, Cheds and Kaspars - pick any Ched and learn to use it.
The world of clarinet equipment has gotten more complicated and some mouthpieces certainly make it easier than others to get the result we want. It's mildly interesting to wonder if he would have said the same thing today.
Karl
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Author: William
Date: 2013-07-07 15:53
Karl, I think Bonade would have essentially said the same thing today, maybe: "play the mouthpiece, don't let the mouthpiece play you". (paraphrasing a quote by clarinet teacher William Stubbins). Too many of us wannabe virtuosi gravitate towards relying on the quality of the equipement rather than the quality of our own playing skill. And, it is often noticed that many really good players use stock equipment--barrels, ligatures and bells as well as "big four"--Selmer, Buffet, Yamaha & Leblanc--mainline model clarinets. Remember that excellent soundtrack from "The Terminal" recorded by the late, great Emily Bernstein?? It was done on a stock Woodwind G8 mouthpiece. And I have never heard a live jazz clarinetist sound better than Milwaukee's Chuck Hedges playing a stock Selmer BT instrument. Local legendary jazz clarinetist (virtually unknown outside of Madison) Earl Smith played marvelous solos with the Doc DeHaven combo on a clarinet made up from sections of different Albert system clarinets. He simply made them work together and played them in tune. I think Dan Bonade would have approved.
However, Karl, I also somewhat agree with you, I'm just saying...........
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