The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Red Chair
Date: 2012-09-16 15:44
On my last trip to London I caught a train out of town to visit Dawkes music where Weinberg is based. The store is dissapointing, a very small stock but I did try a few Weinberg mouthpieces. To me they were fairly unresponsive and from the selection I tryed (4 or 5 from memory) the handfinishing was of a highly variable quality. I have no idea if Weinberg or an assistant at store made the pieces I tried. I was hopeful of much more, but unfortunately I found the visit dissapointing. I don't like to be too general when I've only tried such a small stock but apart from a lovely train journey I felt like I had wasted my time. My advice would be that if in London for only a short time, I would not bother visiting. If in London for a long time, I still wouldn't bother visiting.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-09-17 14:50
Mouthpieces a different for everyone. The only way you can possibly know if a mouthpiece is a fit for you is to try it. Doesn't matter if it's a custom MP for $600 or a mass produced one for $75. If it fits you then it's for you. Tone, feel, intonation and articulation. You just can't tell if you don't try. One person may sound great on Weinberg's and another may not be able to play it at all. I've experience that with many different moouthpieces in my days. And by the way, each one is different even if it's the same facing. They're like snow flakes, no two are exactly alike.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: prof anton weinberg
Date: 2012-12-25 21:49
i am sorry that you had such a lack lustre visit to Dawkes music--we usually expect our players to make an appointment. The reasons are simple--we offer a complete service in that i will ask you many questions about your playing and why you are seeking a new mouthpiece--what you expect to obtain from one, in your playing. We do not simply just stock up on a lot of pre made mouthpieces that are expected to be perfect for everyone, but like to empathise with the individuality of our instrumentalists and thus serve them. Consequently i am not surprised that your visit was unfruitful. This is why we have a mouthpiece museum and a library of over 500 facings from players world wide, past and present. Perhaps next time you might give the need to acquire a new mouthpiece, that will help resolve problems that you seek to overcome, a bit more consideration and allow us to do our job.
prof. anton weinberg: distinguished teacher: The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, Washington. ARAM:ARCM:LRAM
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Author: Red Chair
Date: 2012-12-28 05:32
Thanks for your reply Mr Weinberg. I will indeed book a visit with you next time. I would like to add that I did call prior to visiting and was told by the man who answered the phone that I was welcome to visit and test the stock. Until your post I, and seemingly at least one member of staff, were unaware of the 'book in or get very little to try' policy. I look forward to meeting you on my next visit in a few weeks.
Lauren
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Author: The_Clarinetist
Date: 2012-12-29 08:18
I thought of going there too as they have a youtube clip comparing a b45 and a c85 to one of their mouthpieces where their mouthpiece makes the other two sound like crap. I reconsidered when I saw their video with Michael Collins playing the yamaha csgIII. When he plays he uses a hamilton plated version and when he talks about the clarinet they have cut and edited the video so that he holds a silver plated csgIIIL instead...
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2012-12-29 14:13
It seems that mouthpiece makers these days can get away with "It's not me, its you."
I visited Dawkes earlier this year and took away a Weinberg mouthpiece to try. The problem must be with me because I had to send it back.
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Author: donald
Date: 2012-12-29 18:44
Michael Collins endorses Vandoren mouthpieces last time i spoke with him (in 2011). dn
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2012-12-30 15:31
I had a very positive experience with Prof. Weinberg. Although I don't use the mouthpiece he sent me I found it to be carefully crafted. It had more resistance than what I wanted. As I remember it was a 442 pitch level or at least it wasn't prone to playing on the low side. Given that I have tried and owned many, many mouthpieces it is quite possible I will return to it with success.
What he did offer was personal attention. My correspondence was by email and he took lots of time dealing with me and answering all my questions. I reface mouthpieces as a hobby and he was very helpful and encouraging. He's first rate in my books.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: martinw
Date: 2014-11-26 21:37
I use both the M3 and the 15G and am very leased with both of them. For me they seem to work best with Vandoren Traditional or Vandoren V12 reeds. The M30 is the easier blow but both work well across the entire range of the instrument. The 15 G sound is very sonorous in the low register.
Post Edited (2014-11-26 21:38)
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Author: derf5585
Date: 2014-11-26 22:26
Ed Palanker
"The only way you can possibly know if a mouthpiece is a fit for you is to try it"
Tongue in cheek
How long would it take (and how much money) would it take to try out every mouthpiece on the market?
fsbsde@yahoo.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-11-27 00:32
Oh let me answer that one, pleeeease!
The trick is to find a mouthpiece that works........and then stop looking.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: sax panther
Date: 2014-11-27 02:43
I had a zenith 15G for a bit. I loved the sound, but found it very hard to control in the altissimo. I ended up selling it. With regards to the service at dawkes, I've always found them very good.
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