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Re: Anyone compare the B40 Lyre to the B40 yet?

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2006-02-20 22:03

I hate having to come back to the whole Vandoren thing after just having a revelation that made me humble and look like a total idiot, that is, I just tried one that plays better (for me) than any either of the two more "specialty brands" I currently use.

BOTTOM line, you simply MUST try the mouthpieces yourself, either in-store or trial via mail.

My B40 experience was that I went to a store based on the "numbers," the specs as Vandoren describes them. The only other mouthpiece they had for me to try was an M30. The B40 was ok, but the M30 played a little more like what I was used to. Both had a thuddy, covered sound. I would never have used either.

And still I purchased a B40 Lyre through the mail just to have the exact configuration that I wanted (Vandoren has sooooo many possible combinations of styles to each size). Despite the specs sounding better to me, the mouthpiece played like they described - VERY open, much more suited to softer reeds (I am a Vandoren Nr. 4 guy). I don't like it at all.

Comparison: B40 was open sounding and had no "ping" or supporting overtones to carry the sound. B40 Lyre is even more of the above.

But YOU MUST TRY these YOURSELF!!! Even the numbers tell you very little about how a mouthpiece will play. The mouthpiece I alluded to at the top is a 5RV Lyre Series 13 Profile 88 (possible M13). I have tried numerous 5RVs over the years and they were all stinkers (for me). Now I have to go soak my head.........the room is spinning.

...........Paul Aviles

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