Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2011-12-08 13:55
Hello Tetotem!
I played on a YCL-856/846 set between 1989 and 2002, and then switched to a Herbert Wurlitzer 187 set (with added low e/f-correction). I still have the Yamaha's and an easy and affordable way to improve their sound would be to use them with Wurlitzer barrels (which of course can be ordered directly from Wurlitzer). I would say that the degree of improvement would be comparable to that of a poor and good mouthpiece - at least in my experience.
I too have tried a lot of mouthpieces on the Wurlitzers through the years (mostly Wurlitzers own ones, such as M4, M5+, K4* and N1), and until just about two months ago I had settled on a Zinner M3R and Foglietta E* #3 reeds for the Bb-clarinet (thus the same mouthpiece that Yamaha delivers with it's 856/846-clarinets, nowadays called 3MR) and a Viotto N1+2 with Vandoren White Master 2,5 for the A-clarinet.
Then however, I tried out the new Vandoren M30D-mouthpiece ("D" for Deutsche, i.e. German) for a German bore but for regular French kind of reeds. Since then I have used it on the A-clarinet, and in time I will probably use it also on the Bb-clarinet.
On the A-clarinet I found the tuning to be quite equal to that with the Viotto N1+2 (even better in the highest register) and the sound to be less brazen or hoarse and thus clearer - especially in the low and middle register, while the upper register was quite equal.
Also on the Bb-clarinet the sound is generally less edgy and more round than with the Zinner, but at least for now the tuning in the highest register is somewhat troublesome for me - at least the same fingerings that I have used with the Zinner doesn't work very well with the M30D. Anyway, time will still tell where I will end.
Together with the M30D I also obtained one box each of Vandoren's regular, V12 and 56 reeds - all of #3. Until now I have tried 5 pieces of each, and all of the 56's were playable (thus quite remarkable, although some of them had to be cut for their softness), as well as two of the V12's, but none of the regular ones. I will of course continue trying also the rest.
I haven't still tried the new Wurlitzer 3WZ mentioned above (also for regular French reeds), but it will be interesting to compare it some day with the M30D .
Vandoren also have a new B40D model which I haven't tried yet. Their older VD2 for German bore I tried a few years ago, but it wasn't at all in my taste.
If you are going to try the M30D/B40D someday by yourself, please note that you need a special barrel to suite the smaller tenon of a French mouthpiece. Perhaps a quick try will do also with your regular barrels, despite a somewhat loose and short fit of the mouthpiece to the barrel, but at least if you consider settling on a French mouthpiece a special barrel would be recommended (these can also be ordered from Wurlitzer).
Finally I would just like to underline a fact that you no doubt are fully aware of by yourself, namely that since every player is an individual also the kind of equipment that suites one person doesn't necessarily suite someone else. But anyway, when you hear several people recommending something certain, it may at least be worth while trying it out also for yourself. At least that's my own philosophy.
Micke Isotalo (in Sweden)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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