 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: g81gr
Date: 2014-09-12 11:17
Good day. I am playing the clarinet for 18 years, and i have changed 4 mouthpieces 3 of the student's. The only real mouthpiece i ever used is the vandoren b45 which i am using the last 10 years. Since then, i am studing more, and have seen a lot of faults in this mouthpiece. First of all, it is difficult to maintain the pitch right, the staccatos are terrible and the amount of force i need to produce a sound is really much.
I am using a #3 vandoren reed which is the reeds the band i work provides.
I am in search of a new mouthpiece easier to blow, with great deapth in sound and nice staccatos and of course easy to maintain the pitch right. I have about 100euros (120$) to give, what do you suggest???
Thanks in advance!!!
p/s i am not a proffessional clarinetist, it is more of a hobby.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-09-12 11:45
You might try a Vandoren M30 or 5RV. I switched to an M30 and it works quite well for me.
Tony F.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-09-12 13:29
The short list would be: Vandoren 5RV Lyre, M13 and CL4
Moreover I'd suggest (if you have them lined up in front of you) trying them in that order, moving from least open to more open. Any of them will be much easier to play than the B45, but the initial transition will take a moment to get used to. Going DOWN in openness is actually a more difficult transition.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: g81gr
Date: 2014-09-12 15:23
Thanks for you answers!!!
The problem here in Crete, is that we don't have any shop with available mouthpieces to test, so we order mouthpieces due to their characteristics!!!
I wanted to try the 5rv and m30 but i was not sure about their long facing. Isn't this bad for the pitch and the staccatos???
I recently tried the Masters series cl5, and it was nice but its price is a bit higher than my budget... but the cl5 has an bigger opening and longer facing than the one i am using... Why it has to be so complicated...
Had anyone in here used the b45??? If yes, with which mouthpiece was it replaced???
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-09-12 16:58
Check to see if Woodwind Brasswind will work with you internationally. They have a policy of allowing you to return mouthpieces after light testing.
I had played the B45 many many years ago as part of my overly open mouthpiece fetish back then. Going down to a smaller opening is the best decision I could ever have made (for classical clarinet).
Specifically speaking, I do not like the CL5 either and though the CL4 is more open than the other two of which I spoke, it is still in the arena of mouthpieces that allow good control and center to the sound.
I would be a little less keen on recommending the M30 based on your desire for good staccato. The rails are designed to be thicker, which makes the response a little less quick.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: g81gr
Date: 2014-09-12 20:27
ok, so which mouthpiece do you suggest??? Or which do you use now or have used in the past and you liked???
The thing you recommend with this site, will not work... It will take months to choose the right mouthpiece...
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2014-09-12 20:38
The B40 is also a fantastic mouthpiece.
It is much easier to control than the B45, and I think it will be easy for you to get used to it.
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-09-12 21:17
If I were picking just one (given the CL4 is too expensive) I'd go with the 5RV Lyre.
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2014-09-12 23:54
To Paul and g8lgr:
I just called Woodwind & Brasswind. I was informed that Vandoren prohibits them from shipping their products to Greece.
I then called Weiner Music. They told me that they cannot ship to Greece and anyone wanting any of their products needs to sign up with www.Bongo.com/shopper as an intermediary shipper. When I put in that website address, it came back as invalid.
So, IMO, the problem is twofold: 1) shipping and 2) receiving a mouthpiece that is in its top playing condition.
There have been numerous positive reviews about the new Rico mouthpieces. However, everyone reports that they are resistant due to their wide tip dimensions. I understand that the Rico's sell for around $75 U.S. dollars and Brad Behn puts them in top playing condition for $50 U.S. dollars. That would be right in your price range. However, I understand that the average shipping cost to Greece is approximately 30 Euros or around $45 U.S. dollars.
Anyone have have any other ideas?
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2014-09-13 06:33
g81gr,
I went to the Vandoren website and found 5 distributors of their mouthpieces in Greece.
Here is the webpage: http://www.vandoren-en.com/GREECE_r104.html
Just click on the distributor's name and you'll get their address and phone number.
Perhaps one of them will ship you several mouthpieces to try.
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Author: g81gr
Date: 2014-09-13 09:06
Thanks for all the trouble!!! really thanks!!! I know i can find every mouthpiece i want here in Greece, but i can't test it, i have allready asked. i can buy the 5rv lyre for 104 euros, and i can buy it from ebay, 72 with shipping...Its like the Iphone. in usa it costs 550$ and in Greece it costs 750 euros, or 900$!!! So i want to buy a mouthpiece either from ebay, or amazon.
I found yesterday the vandoren cl4 110euros with the ligature and cap in Amazon, What do you think versus 5rv lyre???
also, which rico mouthpiece do you suggest???
Post Edited (2014-09-13 09:07)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-09-13 13:08
I kinda have a love affair with the Masters CL4 right now, so if that is possible I would easily recommend that mouthpiece. It is a bit more robust sounding. It's the only mouthpiece my wife specifically compliments for its sound!
............Paul Aviles
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