|  The Clarinet BBoard 
 
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    | Author: TeeCeeGee Date:   2007-08-14 19:27
 
 Hi,
 
 Which model & make of clarinet mpc has the widest tip opening, commercially available, not custom?
 
 In other words, whats the widest mpc one can buy, off-the-shelf?
 
 5jb? Pierce?
 
 
 
 
 
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    | Author: GBK Date:   2007-08-14 19:41
 
 The Pomarico (crystal) Jazz** mouthpiece is 1.48mm
 
 The Andy Firth  jazz mouthpiece by Lomax also has a very large tip opening.
 
 
 ...GBK
 
 
 
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    | Author: SVClarinet09 Date:   2007-08-14 20:03
 
 I'm 100% sure Selmer has a 1.60mm opening but I can't remember if they have a 1.70mm. There new website doesn't have the tip opening charts anymore but I think there's one that goes to 1.70mm
 
 
 
 
 
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    | Author: martind Date:   2007-08-14 22:26
 
 Vandoren make a jazz mouthpiece that has a very open tip.
 Yes, I have one and it takes some practice to get use to
 the open tip.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Clariphant in Bb Date:   2007-08-15 02:24
 
 I'm not sure about the tip opening on it, but...
 Here
 
 This one certainly seems like it would be wide...
 
 I'm not sure if it's available anymore either.
 
 
 
 Post Edited (2007-08-15 02:31)
 
 
 
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    | Author: BobD Date:   2007-08-15 09:33
 
 I think LeBlanc's Pete Fountain (wood) comes with an open tip mp.
 
 Bob Draznik
 
 
 
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    | Author: Ed Date:   2007-08-15 12:52
 
 In addition, Berg Larsen, Jody Jazz and Runyon have some very open mouthpieces.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Dano Date:   2007-08-15 15:55
 
 Widest tipped mp I have ever played was the Runyon #8.  I don't have numbers on it but it is much wider than a Vandoren 5JB which I think is 1.47mm.  The John Pierce jazz mp is also quite a bit more open than the 5JB.
 
 My Pete Fountain (glass) was a surprise.  It was very closed.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Ed Date:   2007-08-15 20:47
 
 Check this for reference:
 
 http://www.runyonproducts.com/clarinet.facings.html
 
 I think some of these are saxophone mouthpieces masquerading as clarinet mouthpieces!
 
 
 
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    | Author: redwine Date:   2007-08-15 21:31
 
 Hello,
 
 Any custom mp maker can make any tip opening you desire.  For clarinet, it is my opinion that anything above 1.25 is just too open.  This, being with a 34 length.  I play a 1.17 for what it's worth.
 
 Ben Redwine, DMA
 owner, RJ Music Group
 Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
 Selmer Paris artist
 www.rjmusicgroup.com
 www.redwinejazz.com
 www.reedwizard.com
 
 
 
 
 
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    | Author: john gibson Date:   2007-08-15 21:54
 
 TeeCeeGee
 
 To my knowledge the most open MPC on the open market is the Pomarico crystal Jazz** as GBK mentioned.  I have one and it is excellent.  Great sound and not as hard to play as the Vandoren 5JB.  Give it a try.  As for all the others mentioned in this thread, I have no idea.  I will say I've never encountered a Selmer of any model with a tip of 1.60 or 1.70.
 
 John Gibson
 
 
 
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    | Author: Firebird Date:   2007-08-16 03:54
 
 Vandoren 5JB?
 
 What's your definition of 'buy off the shelf' anyway?
 
 Chan
 
 
 
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    | Author: TeeCeeGee Date:   2007-08-16 17:50
 
 Thanks all,
 
 "buy off-the-shelf" means just that, a production model, not a custom order.
 
 Maybe this belongs on the ethnic clarinet board, but my idea is to try an open mpc, for playing greek music. Seems like most of those cats use 5jb, but Im not a big vandoren fan & just wonder what else is out there.
 
 
 John Gibson: are you the John Gibson of Philip Glass fame?
 
 thanks everyone!
 
 
 
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    | Author: john gibson Date:   2007-08-16 21:58
 
 TeeCeeGee
 
 Sorry, don't know Phillip Glass.  I'm the John Gibson of Phoenix radio fame.
 By the way you can contact Riccardo Clericci at Pomarico Italy for the scoop on open MPCs.  Really nice guy and can help a lot.
 
 JG
 
 
 
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    | Author: TeeCeeGee Date:   2007-08-17 18:04
 
 Thanks John--you share the same name with Glass's long-time woodwind player. (I hear he plays a mean arpeggio:)! )
 
 I tried a Selmer "E" today & found it to be close to the sound & feel I want for the greek clarinet thing. I'd like to try an "F" but no one seems to have one.
 
 I also tried a Pomarico Crystal, I think it was the Open/Mellow model--had a great sound & was fun to play but seemed like it would be great for Jazz, but a bit to smooth sounding for greek music.
 
 
 thanks everyone for your comments! Much appreciated!!
 
 
 
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    | Author: Gertz Date:   2007-08-20 20:53
 
 Actually, the greeks don't necessarily play on wide open mouthpieces - the B45 is apparently quite popular there.
 
 I have tried to get a bit of a "greek" sound as well. I tried to go the "wide open way" with a Selmer "G", which is more open than the 5JB, as far as I know. I used it on my plastic Yamaha, and it was like a decent approximation to what I wanted - but not more than that.
 
 What made me get that sound I wanted was an Albert system clarinet. It is an ongoing discussion among those into Balkan folk music whether it makes a difference if it's an Albert or a Boehm. I think both are fine - the Greeks tend to play Alberts, but most Albanians and Macedonians play Boehm, and they do it well - but I think there is a subtle, but noticeable difference in sound, and I personally prefer the Albert sound. When I got an Albert, I instantly got that "Ah - now we're talking" feeling.
 
 
 
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    | Author: BobD Date:   2007-08-21 12:09
 
 Have you tried a  1 1/2 reed and a looser embochure?
 
 Bob Draznik
 
 
 
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    | Author: Gertz Date:   2007-08-21 20:03
 
 Sure. That's pretty much what I have used all the time. It still takes an Albert to get that particular sound from it that I want. The difference is particularly noticeable in the low register. It's like that dry buzz from a soft reed is only that on a Boehm - a dry buzz. On an Albert, it sings.
 
 
 
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