 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DTrinh09
Date: 2006-05-16 07:19
So an older friend of mine is offering his Evette/Schaffer Chedeville C clarinet mouthpiece for me for under $100. Granted that I'm quite the amateur at this of things... I wouldn't exactly know if this is a good bargain or not. He said the face opening is .048'', but i have no idea how the larger or smaller the opening is will affect the sound produced.
I don't have any real access to professionals that'd know about this stuff, so I was hoping you guys would have the answer. Uhh, first off, this would be compatible with a Bb clarinet, right? Anyway, he showed me a picture of it and it has the "three stripes" at the bottom that supposedly indicates that it's a Chedeville [blank]. (All I really know about Chedeville mp is that they're supposed to pretty darn good. -_- haha). I don't know exactly if those specifications would appeal to my needs, either.
My current setup:
-Buffet E11
-Zinner JC Series JC1
-V12 reeds sz. 3
-Vandoren Leather ligature with black leather patch
Maybe I'm fine with the way I have it, and I just need to practice. Nonetheless, I'm quite envious of professional clarinetists recordings(haha, obviously I'm nowhere near their caliber). It's running late, and I have school work to tend to, so I won't dive any further. Thanks for any replies and tips!
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2006-05-16 14:18
To play well 99% of these Evette & Schaeffer mouthpieces need a new facing and baffle work. Blank is excellent but it is not a mouthpiece until it's finished correctly.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: martinbaxter
Date: 2006-05-16 14:34
You don't say whether the bore of your clarinet is compatible with the m'piece. You must check this as there seems to be quite a variation between makers. One of my C's works well with my Bb/A mouthpiece (an old unnamed crystal} but the other (which has a far better sound) is an old Lyons which uses an Eb size m'piece and reeds. An old BHawkes I once had was different again; in fact I got rid of it because I couldn't get suitable reeds and was rduced to making my own.
Phone 01229583504
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2006-05-16 15:31
Probably DTrinh09 means by the "C" in the mouthpiece description that the facing on the Evette Schaeffer mouthpiece is a "C", marked to the right of the table, rather than the mouthpiece being for a C clarinet.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2006-05-16 21:18
IMO, whether it's a good buy depends on how much under $100 your friend is asking. I've had several of these and my experience is the same as Vytas' -- they don't play very well as is for me, though they appear to be high-quality blanks. FWIW, according to Dave Tuttle, who has sold innumerable mouthpieces on eBay in the past, Chedeville-made soprano mouthpieces with the Buffet Crampon label - destined for the R13 (and perhaps other professional models) - were refaced by Buffet, to their detriment. The ones labeled Evette or Evette & Shaeffer, and the mouthpieces made for Eb, alto and bass clarinets, were not refaced, i.e., they have the original Chedeville facings - but, from the ones I have, it doesn't appear Chedeville put much of a facing on them. Thus, I think it's likely you would need to have the mouthpiece refaced to work for you.
While these Buffet mouthpieces may be Chedevilles, the market, at least as represented by eBay, doesn't appear to view them as such. It's well documented that "Chedeville Chedevilles" bring fairly high prices there. On the other hand, in unrefaced (if that's a word) condition, "Buffet Chedevilles" generally sell for under $50. A nice-looking one sold recently for around $21 (plus shipping). (Some years ago, I did see one sell for over $500 but that was a major anomaly.)
One other thing: it's not clear to me that the "one line up, three lines down" always signifies a Chedeville blank. I have seen two different versions on Buffet mouthpieces. On the ones I believe to be true Chedevilles, the three lines are spaced fairly closely together. There are others, however, that may be more recent, (post Chedeville?) where the spacing on the three lines is somewhat farther apart. It's not clear to me that these latter are, in fact, Chedevilles. Perhaps someone who knows more about these mouthpieces, such as Vytas, might be able to clear this up.
I just searched eBay's "completed auctions" on "Buffet mouthpiece" without the quotes to see what the current price range was. The second and third mouthpieces that showed up in the list illustrated the difference -- the three lines on the first one are clearly more widely spaced than those on the second, which fetched a higher price.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: DTrinh09
Date: 2006-05-16 23:11
Douglas: Yeah, the mouthpiece is marked with a C.
Jack: Should most local music shops offer those kind of services? Refacing and baffle work? How much would that go for?
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2006-05-17 03:14
*****One other thing: it's not clear to me that the "one line up, three lines down" always signifies a Chedeville blank.*****
Riffault also made mouthpiece blanks with "one line up, three lines down" Many people confuse them with Chedeville mouthpieces. Indeed these blanks are very similar but not identical. Both have "France" marking on the left side but the letters on the Riffault blank are taller. All ("one line up, three lines down") Riffault mouthpieces I've seen had "Steelite Ebonite" marking on the bottom. (Some older Chedeville mpc have "Steel Ebonite" inscribed on the top). Lelandais and latter Lelandais/Chedeville companies supplied mouthpieces to Buffet since about 1920 (maybe even earlier). Earlier versions had the logo on the bottom. The older mouthpieces are somewhat better that those made in the 70's but I've never found one that played well without re-facing and baffle work. Mouthpieces where the spacing on the three lines is farther apart may or may not be Chedeville mpcs. Those I've seen had "France" missing on the left side. So, I'm not sure.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
Post Edited (2006-05-17 03:18)
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Author: DTrinh09
Date: 2006-05-17 03:19
what would it mean if it didn't have steel/steelite ebonite inscribed on the mouthpiece at all? just "FRANCE" at the bottom?
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2006-05-17 03:35
On Evette & Schaeffer/Chedeville mouthpieces "France" appear twice at the bottom of the logo and on the left side on the bottom (opposite to C) If you have one with the three lines farther apart and no "France" on the left side the mouthpieces may or may not be Chedeville.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2006-05-17 04:18
Some local music shops might have someone on hand with the tools and skills but not likely most local music shops -- at least not the ones I've dealt with. Generally, this kind of work is done by someone who specializes in repairing and refacing (and often making custom) mouthpieces.
But I don't think $100 for a Buffet Chedeville mouthpiece is a particularly good deal in the first place unless you get lucky and it plays well for you as is.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2006-05-17 05:11
JC1 and E&S/Chedeville are two very different mouthpieces. JC1 has close (0.039" or 1.00 mm) tip for use with harder reeds. Definitely 0.048" or 1.22mm tip opening on the E&S is not original and, in my opinion, too open for you. I would not pay more than $20.00 for this mouthpiece that requires a new facing and baffle work.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2006-05-19 20:54
At the $100 price point, it will be worthwhile to consider the products of our sponsors. I have a lovely piece refaced by Walter Grabner, and the mouthpieces he makes "from scratch" are exemplars of the deed...
You may also want to consider "Vandoren Roulette".... some of their pieces are terrific, right out of the box.
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Author: SVSorna05
Date: 2006-05-21 23:19
[ Edited - GBK ]
How much would be reasonable for a refacing job done by a professional. THanks for the info.
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2006-05-22 00:41
SVSorna05,
1. About $40.00 - if a mouthpiece requires only a new facing and balancing the rails.
2. About $75.00 & up - for a new facing, upper baffle work, some chamber work, flattening the table and balancing the rails.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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