 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2008-03-13 14:30
anyone play one? My teacher is suggesting it for me. I did a search for info here but could not find any or did something wrong. can anyone provide any info or links to info? thanks.
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2008-03-13 14:56
I did that. can you give me a link to one that has some good info on this mouthpiece (besides howarth) becuz that was all i find.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2008-03-13 16:29
Hi Janlynn - I may have posted earlier about my Johnston-Selmer, New York [H R] but will give you all I know of it here. The only other marking is 32109 on the lower right of the table {Help, please}. I have never given it a "full" trial, since it is quite a bit closer-tipped that what I like, and I have resisted the impulse [since it's not as "irresistable" as in "Anatomy of a Murder", my fav. movie set in Mich's UP {for you Michiganders} , my "aside", sorry] to reface it [slightly] myself, tho my last attempts have been quite successful !! I inherited this mp from a close {ChE} Texas friend who played it in the mid/late 1930's on his/my GM Bundy wood, a 17/7 ! , the only one I've ever seen !! I have no idea what a modern Johnston might be like, perhaps as good as my "quite-open" Gennusa Excellente [by Ben]. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2008-03-13 16:41
Hi Janlynn,
I used to live in Lowell, MA and also purchased a Johnston mouthpiece up there when he was visiting UMLowell and giving a clinic. At the time, I didn't know much about mouthpieces, only that the Johnston played well on the reed I had with me that day. However, after trying it off and on for several months, I decided I really didn't like it and have since lost it, so I don't remember what facing it was or anything, just that my newer reeds in my usual strength back then played hard on it.
My advice would be to try as many different mouthpieces as you can in one sitting with a professional listening. That's how I decided on what I'm going to purchase soon. I tried about 20 or more mouthpieces that my current teacher keeps around. Several were quite nice, but one stood out as best with the warmest sound. [It was a David McClune SPE 1.06L, if you're curious.] A little sharp though, so I may need a longer barrel soon. Everybody has different experiences on different mouthpieces. My teacher up there in MA sounded lovely on the Johnston with relatively soft reeds, but it was very different from what I played well on.
May I ask who your teacher is? I have fond memories of the nice clarinetists around there. Regards,
Lori
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2008-03-13 16:57
My current teacher is Nancy Ackerman.
Past teachers in MA were Ian Grietzer and Paul Surapine.
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2008-03-13 17:01
my teacher has been after me to play on a stronger reed. She said my current mouthpiece is limiting me (5RV Lyre). No matter how many times ive tried I cannot play anything harder than a 3. I love the response on the 5RV Lyre, but I dont love the sound. its o-kay but not great.
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Author: Ryan25
Date: 2008-03-13 19:49
I played a Johnston for a couple of years when I was just starting out in college. In general, they are very resistant mouthpieces which is what helps people get the sound they get on them. For me, the resistance also made playing with crisp articulation a chore and it became to much work to play the thing well as I progressed. I did get a big, rich sound on it though.
Some people like mouthpieces that have the resistance built in so you are less dependant on reeds for your sound and others like free blowing mouthpieces which puts more importance on your reeds for the sound you are trying to get. Neither school of thought is right or wrong. It just depends on what is good for you.
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Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2008-03-13 20:03
I presume we're talking about Dan Johnston?
I've played one for a while now...I was on a Lomax A4 for years before that but something very odd happened to it and my altissimo register became very flat. I expected to buy another Lomax, but tried a good selection of everything else and the Johnston suited me well.
I certainly don't find it resistant. I play on Vandoren Traditional 3s and like a free-blowing mouthpiece. I believe that some of the clips on my website are recorded on the Johnston...I can't remember exactly when I got it though!
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Author: Ed
Date: 2008-03-13 20:36
Some love them. Some don't. They use an asymmetrical facing. I had one for a bit many years ago and had a bit of a time getting reeds to work on it and had response trouble. I decided it wasn't for me.
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Author: Ryan25
Date: 2008-03-13 21:22
"I certainly don't find it resistant. I play on Vandoren Traditional 3s and like a free-blowing mouthpiece."
This is the point I was trying to make Daniel. Your piece would feel resistant with a Vandy Traditional strength 4 where as a Vandoren M13 Lyre with the same strength 4 reed would feel free blowing. Johnstons have resistance built into them thus requiring a lighter reed.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-03-13 21:55
I've tried them with Vandoren V-12 #3.5 reeds and find them like Morgan fairly free blowing but the sound was just too thin and weak for me.
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2008-03-13 22:54
You might want to talk to your former teacher, Ian Greitzer, about Dan Johnston's mouthpieces. When I studied with him from 2000 to 2003, that's what he was using. Incidentally, if you've heard Ian play, you wouldn't think the mouthpiece was resistant or cause difficulties in regard to articulation. The sound was just warm, beautiful, and full of energy. Of course, Much of that is due to his abilities I'm sure!
Christopher Nichols, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
University of Delaware
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2008-03-14 16:03
Janlynn,
I remember Nancy Ackerman's name, but I'm not sure if I met her personally. I used to study with David Martins, and he liked the Johnston mouthpieces. I did meet Ian Greitzer, and have similar memories as crnichols above. Great sound. It's true what Ryan25 says, the resistance is built into the mouthpiece. That's why they play better with a lighter reed. More free-blowing mouthpieces play better with a heavier reed. Like he says, neither style is right or wrong, different players have different preferences. I prefer the heavier reed with a less resistant mouthpiece, although I do need to work on my reeds a bit. Johnston did have several different facings, maybe some are less resistant than others. I'm not sure how a 3 plays on a 5RV, but maybe you can try some embouchure-strengthening and breath control exercises like long tones, or slow pieces of music with long phrases to build up some strength if you want to try a harder reed. It seems to me a little bit harder reed can play well on a 5RV, but of course it depends on the individual mouthpiece, reed, and player. Good luck.
Lori
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