 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetmc
Date: 2010-12-29 21:39
Hello!
Has anyone out there tried/play on the Backun Mouthpieces? I am very interested in trying the Legend and Camerata models. I currently play on a Vandoren M13 lyre and love everything about it except for the articulation. I am curious about what you all think about this product! Thanks!
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Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2010-12-30 02:48
I have tried and played on a Backun Legend for a very short period of time way back when. Too me, it just didn't play. I personally don't know anyone who uses them myself. But, I'm sure there are those who love them. I have also tried some out at various conventions like NAMM and some clarinet days, but I just don't like them. Have you had an opportunity to try them out yourself? Everyone's opinions are going to be different because of difference preferences. My opinion: they're overpriced, overrated, and just cannot play. However, someone else may think they're the greatest thing since sliced bread. Try em for yourself.
Post Edited (2010-12-30 02:49)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-12-30 03:15
I have two former students that play them and they sound very good. Like any mouthpiece, if it fits it's the right one. One person can play a given mouthpiece and find it excellent and another person finds it very unsatisfactory. The only way you will know is to try them on a trial basis. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: 2E
Date: 2010-12-30 03:28
I play and love my backun orchestral mouthpiece. Couples really well with my Fatboy and Ringed Cocobolo barrels.
2E.
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Author: clarinetmc
Date: 2010-12-30 11:37
I am just curious about the mouthpiece's responsiveness, flexibility, sound, intonation...I might order a few to see what the hype is all about...
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Author: 2E
Date: 2010-12-30 12:38
They play very similarly to a Viotto or Greg Smith mouthpiece. Didn't like the Backun Bass+ mouthpiece though, opted for a Charles Bay instead.
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Author: William
Date: 2010-12-30 15:29
Personally, I much prefer Walter Grabner's bass clarinet mouthpieces to anything else including Vandorans and Charles Bay. Walter is a great bass clarinetist and his products reflect that sensitivity or "knowing" when a mouthpiece is "just right". Clark Fobes and Gregory Smith are other accomplished clarinetists who sponser this BB and make excellant mouthpieces. They also are quite accessable and willing to work with you in your selection of the correct mouthpiece for you. I know how well Walter, Greg and Clark play, and I would trust their products accordingly--unlike Backun who, as a performer, I know nothing about.
My advice, trust the craftsman who is THE player--Walter Grabner, Gregory Smith or Clark Fobes. Their products are much more affordable and are just as good, if not superior.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-12-30 15:52
William, all those you mentioned are top quality but so are the Backuns, he makes quality stuff. I have a Forbes RR as my backup bass mouthpiece but I use, and love by the way, my Selmer C* voiced by Dave MCClune, he too makes quality mouthpieces. I've had several students use his clarinet MPs but he takes the Selmer bass MP and does a fantastic job voicing them. As I have said many times, every player has their preferences and what's good for you may not be good for me and visa versa. The point being, even though I do not use a Backun mouthpiece myself he make top quality products, as do many others. The only way to really know is to try them. No other opinion really matters. ESP
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Author: clarin-ed
Date: 2010-12-30 17:43
I tried Backun mouthpieces at a convention, along side many other great brands. What was striking for me about Backun's mouthpieces was the near instantaneous and perfect response I could get with them. It was rather astonishing. However (and results may vary), I just couldn't achieve the same variations in color that my Smith mouthpiece was capable of, so I stuck with that.
And of course all mouthpieces are not built the same, nor are humans. So go indulge and try out as many as you can get your hands on.
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Author: ddavani
Date: 2010-12-31 19:55
Those mouthpieces are all I can use. I've played on an L for quite some time and have been thinking about switching to an O+ to get some more sound. They have a dark, focussed, and luscious sound that makes the sound of the playing very desirable.
I give them my highest recommendation!
-Dave Davani
http://allclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-01-01 00:25
Backun mouthpieces are good. If they're right for you, then it's a great match. What I noticed most about the Backun mouthpieces (I tried a variety of them at clarinetfest 2010 and had my band order one for me a few weeks after), is that the facing measurements (at least by feel) don't seem to change much from mouthpiece to mouthpiece. What I mean is, when I picked up an L mouthpiece, it instantly felt like EVERY L mouthpiece I had tried. With other makers, sometimes I'd try their mouthpieces and some would vary so greatly that I they would feel almost UNPLAYABLE compared to others of the same model.
I'm not sure, but I believe the mouthpieces are faced with a cnc machine to keep them all within the same specs, and the only differences are the interior chambers from the cooling process. So while all of them felt comfortable to play, there were differences in color, dynamic range, basically the SOUND that came out.
I'd call backun and talk to one of their reps. They were very helpful in working with me. The customer service is VERY good from what I've dealt with. While you may not always get in contact with Morrie, the rep I talked to would let me know that they were simply awaiting an answer from Morrie and always got back to me and kept me informed on my questions.
That being said, like above, you can of course find great mouthpieces anywhere. My current instructor swears by the Vandoren M15. I float between a Backun mouthpiece (I think the "T"), and a walter grabner K11*.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2011-01-01 14:32
I personally like how Walter Grabner does the trial. If you know his pieces then you order a model from him and always get two to test. He makes sure that they are slightly different that is one a little bit more open than the other. Then you can choose one of the two or keep one for louder band/orchestra music and other for recital music or just to change between different acoustics. Then since Grabner mouthpieces have been very popular here in Iceland you can also be quite sure that you could sell the other one.
For example I got once two piece to try. Projection is no problem for me on my Buffet Festival Bb and R-13 Prestige A. One was too open for me and harder to control. The other one was a perfect match to me with very focused sound. Then the more open mouthpiece was a great match to another girl that needed to get some more air through her Buffet E-13 and was using 1/2 strength lighter reeds than me.
My teacher at that time would have liked even more open mouthpiece of the same model(as he had) to use in the symphony.
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2011-01-01 21:34
I have a MoBa or is it a BaMo I can't remember. It's old, so old there isn't even a serial number and hence I haven't a clue what model it is. It's the only MoBa I've ever blown or care to blow and was made for my teacher. He loaned it to me and never got it back, instead my teacher went back to Morrie and he found even a better one which I paid for. I don't care, I love mine. I plan on being buried with my MoBa no matter how dull, discolored and ratty it looks.
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: Dm Zisl
Date: 2014-10-06 02:16
Hello! Does anyone here have recent impressions on the Backun MoBa or MoBa+ bass clarinet pieces? By "recent" I mean, the impressions gotten on a recently manufactured equipment.
Currently using Walter Grabner LB bass mpc, pretty happy with it, but looking for something more open/ resonant. Any other options, please?
Thank you!
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2014-10-06 07:00
Bill28099. Your comments remind me of a very funny piece of writing by Jack Brymer in his Book 'Clarinet' pages 145-148 entitled The super-mouthpiece.
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Author: Intonation
Date: 2014-10-06 18:46
I tried one of their Eb pieces. I was borrowing a Selmer centered tone at the time that had a very feisty nature when it came to tuning.
When I threw on the mouthpiece it felt as though I were playing a Bb with how effortlessly it was to project in the chalemeau. The altissimo was less screamy. It was everything I wanted at the time... but the price was over 400$. I feel as though I could (and should) try out more mouthpieces before spending that much on a mouthpiece for an instrument that I rarely get called on to play.
Though that's just the Eb piece and I wouldn't take it as an on par review of the Bbs...
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2014-10-07 00:38
Barry, if you thought that mouthpiece looked old, dull, discolored and ratty 1/1/11 you should see it now. I am beginning to get worried about the traces of calcium which seem to be building up on the inside. It's fun to see how it used to look when one has to replace the mouthpiece patch, so nice, new and shinny underneath. Someday I'll have to email Morrie and find out if it is the oldest MoBa still in use. Mine actually says MORALES BACKUN
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: Dm Zisl
Date: 2014-10-07 01:39
Intonation, thank you!
I believe we should sound GREAT on any instrument we go and play professionally, no matter how rare we are being called to play on that particular horn. It's our reputation and face of professionalism, after all.
I do agree that the prices on these (Backun) pieces are somewhat questionable. Therefore I am always keeping in mind a possibility (and use it, too!) to pay visits to my old good mpc refacing guy who does great job and makes me happy.
That said, I wouldn't mind trying the Backun bass pieces. Or others, for one, too.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-10-07 04:08
" I am beginning to get worried about the traces of calcium which seem to be building up on the inside. "
Just soak the m/p in lemon juice for a few minutes and the calcium deposits will just wipe off.
Tony F.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2014-10-07 05:42
bill28099. The whitish material you have on your mouthpiece is most likely Calcium Carbonate ect. Same material that kidney stones are mostly made of so I've read somewhere. As Tony F as mentioned, just soak it in lemon juice or perhaps even white vinegar.
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