 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-08-20 01:58
Hello
I have a mouthpiece that came with my LeBlanc Opus clarinet that has Larry Combs' signature on it. Has anyone on the BBoard played on r know of this type of mouthpiece. It was included with the clarinet when I bought it (new). Is it a typical "stock" mouthpiece, or is the mouthpiece custom made for the instrument?? Thanks in Advance!!!
Clayton
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Author: JessKateDD
Date: 2005-08-20 02:36
I have owned and played the LC1 and LC3 model Combs mouthpieces in the past. They are both professional mouthpieces, far superior to a typical stock mouthpiece. If you got one of these, then you are very fortunate!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-08-20 02:48
LC mouthpieces are marketed by leblanc. If I remember correctly, I read somewhere that the older LC mouthpieces were very good, but the newer batch (ie - the one that probably came with your clarinet) are not AS good, but that they're not a bad mouthpiece to play/start on. Kinda how Leblanc also holds the rights to market the Eddie Daniels mouthpiece too (they have the rights to use the names, although I think Eddie actually uses his own mouthpiece)
Also, I seem to remember hearing LC stopped officially playing them (I believe he used to play one of his older models)
Do a search on this board for LC's mouthpieces and you should come up with some info.
Alexi
PS - On a sidenote, didn't Larry Combs start endorsing legere reeds and using them for performance? Or am I thinking of someone else?
US Army Japan Band
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-08-20 02:51
sfalexi
Sorry, I bought the clarinet new 4 years ago. Is this when they were better than they are now (I know, highly subjective!!). Thanks
Clayton
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-08-20 02:59
Oh boy. Don't remember when this 'switch' that I'm thinking of happened. To be honest, I can't even be sure that it DID happen. I just seem to remember something about that in some post in the past. About him getting upset about the quality of the LC mouthpieces being produced at some point along the line or something like that . . . (boy . . . I hope my vagueness is a help to you!!!)
I'm sure it's backlogged here somewhere. Try searching larry combs mouthpiece, lc1, lc3, combs mp, etc. etc.
And since you already own it, take your time searching and finding the information. No rush, right?
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2005-08-20 04:30
sfalexi wrote:
"take your time searching and finding the information. No rush, right?"
Good advice, IMHO. Otherwise one winds up with posts like this:
I seem to remember that I may have read somewhere (but maybe I didn't) that older LC mouthpieces were very good but the newer mouthpieces aren't AS good (or maybe they are). This is because Leblanc recently somehow changed the LC mouthpiece (but maybe they didn't). Larry Combs used to play an LC mouthpiece (or maybe he didn't) but now he doesn't (or maybe he does). Also Larry Combs may have started endorsing Legere reeds and using them in performance (or maybe he didn't because it might have been someone else). ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
Best regards,
jnk
BTW, a search on "etc. etc." yields over 9,000 hits, few of which appear to have anything to do with Claribone's original question.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-20 05:48
The original post is interesting in that it raises the issue about how a mouthpiece performs vs what any writing on it says. If a mouthpiece works well for you isn't that all that counts!
Bob Draznik
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-08-21 04:13
Thanks to all who have posted!!
BobD
How true. However as you may recall from my original post, I was asking if anyone knew if it was a poorly made, mass produced mouthpiece with a Larry Combs stamp on it that they just throw in there to bedazzle the owner who has very little experience in testing mouthpieces, or whether it was a good quality mouthpiece that was recommended by Mr. Combs to be used on the Opus clarinet. As always, however, I truly appreciate your honesty.
Clayton
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Author: chito
Date: 2005-08-21 15:47
Hi when i talk to mr. larry combs last month in clarinet fest he used
a zinner mpc. and i heard also his concert his sounds is great . .
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-21 19:00
I am led to believe that Zinner blanks are the basis of many(most?) mouthpieces.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-08-22 15:58
I tried a Combs mouthpiece several years ago and liked it -- certainly a cut above the most stock mouthpieces, as you would expect at a $95 price. However, it was definitely not hand-made.
Ken Shaw
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Author: William
Date: 2005-08-22 16:20
During the mid 80's, I purchased LC 3s for my entire supply of student rental clarinets (25+) and noticed, upon playing on all of them, thagt not all were manufactured from the same blanks--and only two were what I would call "good" mouthpieces. Subsequently, after a clinic in Chicago, Larry Combs told me that had withdrawn his endorsement of Leblancs line of LC mouthpieces because of "quality control" problem. At that time, he was playing a custom Hawkins and his first Opus (with an Optimum lig). Hope this helps.
But really, any mouthpiece is only as good as it plays. So it is basically your call..........................
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-22 21:22
A L.Combs mp sold quite recently on eBay at less than a modest price.
Bob Draznik
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-08-22 21:49
Quote:
sfalexi wrote:
"take your time searching and finding the information. No rush, right?"
Good advice, IMHO. Otherwise one winds up with posts like this: lol!!! That was the whole point of that post! To get the original person to do some searches by confusing them! I remember very well the deal with LC mouthpieces, but it seemed like too easy a search to warrant giving up the information. I wanted to make them work for it, and hopefully, that person has! Glad to see you got it though, JNK
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2005-08-23 22:59
well i got a very good one a few years back and its still the best clarinet mpc i have ever played . but i havent played a "custom made " mpc. its the best stock mpc i have ever played i should say
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Author: William
Date: 2005-08-24 15:04
Although he wasn't talking about clarinet mouthpiecies (but rather, "good" classical music), Duke Ellikngton said all that needs to be said, "If it sounds good, it is good".
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-24 17:35
"What defines a "good" mouthpiece?"
A good mp is one that you could play if you had to but you'd rather play your excellent one.
Bob Draznik
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-08-24 23:23
lol @ Bob.
IMO, a good mouthpiece allows you to sound how you want to sound, but effortlessly. No extra pressure on certain notes, no being extra careful on where your lip contacts the reed for certain notes, no double guessing whether your tonguing efforts will work or not. On a good mouthpiece, it all just "works". So you can concentrate on keeping count of all the technical mistakes you're making in a piece instead of how you sound while doing them (or is that just me?)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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