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 Vandoren Mpcs
Author: orchestr 
Date:   2008-04-21 18:23

My vandoren is starting to sound played out, and want to try some new ones. However, I want to avoid paying for shipping and "sterilization" fees from some of the major retailers if I'm only going to get everyone else's rejects. Any suggestions? Is there a way to buy untried mpcs directly from Vandoren? I'd rather buy 5 untried mouthpieces for $400 (and be able to sell the one's I don't like or use them as backups) than spend $60 on shipping when there is a high probability I won't like any of them.

I'm also looking for new Moennig barrels, and have the same question.

I don't want to seem bitter, but I've known people who have bought several mouthpieces from different retailers only to have them all play worse than the one they're trying to replace!

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: DAVE 
Date:   2008-04-21 19:49

I have bought many M30s over the years and in fact I just bought one the other day without a trial, straight off the shelf, and played it in a concert that night. In my experience they are very consistent and play amazingly well. No matter what mouthpiece I try, I tend to eventually come back to the M30. It just works for me.

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: rtmyth 
Date:   2008-04-21 20:16

WW&BB would send me three at a time. Before playing, check for symmetry, and ,if possible, the facing accuracy with a Morgan or other device. Many mpcs I have received over the years do not pass these preliminary tests. For those that do pass, I usually find at least one out of three to be acceptable.

richard smith

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: J. J. 
Date:   2008-04-21 20:29

Some people's rejects are other people's perfect fit. I have sent back many Vandorens that were fantastic but weren't quite as good a fit as others I tried. I have no doubt that somebody else would have found those mouthpieces to be just what they wanted.

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: Keith P 
Date:   2008-04-21 22:05

Have you thought about getting your current vandoren refaced?

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: DavidBlumberg 
Date:   2008-04-21 22:43

J.J. Has it right.

What I may not like could be perfect for someone else. What someone else didn't find workable could be perfect for me.

What if they sent you a reject from someone who didn't know what they weer doing? Someone could be trying a mouthpiece with a non compatible reed strength.

http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com


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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: BornAgainClarinetist 
Date:   2008-04-21 23:58

Hi Dave,

I feel the same way about the M30 as well. Most of the other mouthpieces Vandoren has doesn't work for me with maybe the exception of the m30. I'm about ready to get another m30.

Which one do you use? Profile 88? 13 series? just curious.

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: DAVE 
Date:   2008-04-22 03:59

Well I was going to buy a 13 series, but they did not have one. Profile 88 is all I have ever played from Vandoren. I think I might get a 13 series later...

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: Ryder 
Date:   2008-04-23 01:36

Muncy winds is good with trials. They will send three at a time for a two week period.

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: pewd 
Date:   2008-04-23 05:29

i guess i have no clue what i'm doing
(fwiw, i'm a symphony principal) (community group mind you, not a pro group)

i just order a vandoren from the cheapest mail order store every year or 2 and replace my worn out ones. when they get crusted up with scale, or start turning green, i just dump it on ebay and buy another one. for the most part , they pretty much play the same out of the box, at least for me anyway.

i did have a really good one a few months ago, one of my students tried it, announced it was now 'hers', and i had to buy another one ;) the next mail order one was just as good.

vandorens seem to be especially consistent. i play on vandy M15's. i think i currently have 3 or 4 of them. i can't tell much difference between them.

HTH,
-Paul

- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: D Dow 
Date:   2008-04-26 15:12

It seems alot of people are awfully hard on Vandoren for whatever reasons. I have found the M30, M15 and B40Lyre all exceptionally fine mouthpiece which students sound great on. Added to that if one plays really sharp they are a great find...remember no two mouthpieces play completely alike so players really have to play and try etc.

David Dow

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2008-04-26 15:16

...if you have one that plays really sharp, don't discard it. We 'pean players with our A=442 are always on the lookout for beaks that complement 'merican clarinets....

(fixed typo)

--
Ben

Post Edited (2008-04-26 15:16)

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: Bassie 
Date:   2008-04-28 08:59

Whenever I've played two of the same facing, they've been pretty much the same. But then I don't play B45... (way too hard 4 me - current fave raves are B40L and 11.6 [both of which are much harder than the M's]). Search around this site and there's a lot of talk about inconsistent B45's. Either the quality control of this particular model has been lacking at some point (due to volume production, perhaps?) or it's just a finnicky facing, more sensitive than most to defects.

If you want to try some different facings, try and find a shop that'll let you try-before-you-buy, or will do sale-or-return. Most places I go will let you try anything with a mouthpiece patch for a very small return fee.

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: Caroline Smale 
Date:   2008-04-28 17:52

It was my understanding that the B45 and B40 curves are identical, difference being in width of tip (and possibly side) rail.
The 11.6 I measured some years ago was again almost identical to B45 with just a fractional change around the "break" point.



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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: J. J. 
Date:   2008-04-28 17:58

All you really need to know is that the B40 Lyre is awesome and the B45 is not. Simple.

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 Re: Vandoren Mpcs
Author: Bassie 
Date:   2008-04-29 08:41

Norman -

B40 is indeed (as I understand it) a B45 with a bigger tip rail, making it /even more/ resistant to play. The B40L has been lengthened and closed up a bit (still keeping the monster rail) which brings it back into the range I can reach with a No.3 Traditional reed. It seems like a good move. I find the articulation in particular very easy.

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