 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2015-03-04 08:19
I'd just like to say that I personally think that the ESM MCK1 mouthpiece is wonderful!
I don't wish to launch into a full review as such. Although I've always preferred Vandoren 4 reeds (traditionals, V12s, Rue Lepic), I'd never found quite the right mouthpiece for me to do justice to the reeds, and I've most often made do with 3.5s on certain well-known mouthpieces. But the ESM is a great success with the 4 reeds, and in fact I also find it superior with the 3.5s. I won't specifically name the mouthpieces that I've used till now lest anybody think I'm denigrating them. They're good mouthpieces, no doubt about it, but for me personally the ESM MCK1 is even better. And another bonus: it's the first mouthpiece that I have found that Gonzalez FOF 3.75s work on (for me!).
It's wonderfully even throughout the range, has great ring and ping, such an elegant sound.
What works for me might not work for you, but I'd at least recommend trying the ESM.
Incidentally, I'd also like to take the opportunity to thank Frank Cotton, of the Madison Band Supply store, who sent me the mouthpiece. His service was excellent, very generous and helpful (far beyond the call of duty!).
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-03-04 14:21
The other wonderful aspect is that they ALL seem to be perfect clones of one another. If you need another down the road, it WILL be identical !!!
Did you get the "Blue Heaven," or standard black acrylic?
............Paul Aviles
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Author: faltpihl ★2017
Date: 2015-03-04 14:22
How are they tuned?
Could it be used for 442?
Regards
Peter
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-03-04 16:47
The ESM ride on the "higher" side much like the Portnoy, Hawking, Vandoren Standards or Vandoren Masters.
And for sake of our collective sanity, perhaps we can STOP using a designated pitch standard to describe mouthpiece pitch because the "misinformed" will actually think a mouthpiece will make them tune exactly to this number on their their cell phone APP.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2015-03-05 01:36
Paul, I got the standard black acrylic one. I believe that a slightly more expensive version of it is available with metal rings. Have you possibly had an opportunity to compare the ringless with the ringed?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-03-05 03:24
There are three versions: the standard black acrylic; back acrylic with a metal ring at the base of the tenon; and the "Blue Heaven" that has metal impregnated acrylic in addition to the metal tenon ring. I have both extremes and they do have different characteristics of sound. The "Blue Heaven" is a bit more 'subdued.' So playing side by side the "Blue Heaven" seems a bit more "serious." But they play (respond) identically.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-03-05 10:36
One place is Madison Band Supply of Madison Alabama run by our friend Frank Cotton.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2015-03-05 17:01
Yes, sorry, I didn't make that clear. Frank sells these mouthpieces. I think that perhaps they're not to be seen on the Madison Band Supply website, but just send him an email and he'll help you out with them, seems to have them always in stock.
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Author: MartyMagnini
Date: 2015-03-05 18:38
Paul,
I can't find an option on their website for the MCK1 in Blue Heaven. It looks as though the only facings available in Blue Heaven are the JP5, JP6, JP7 and the LD1:
http://www.esm-us.com/#!heaven/ca80
I have a JP7 in Blue Heaven and find it to be a very very nice mouthpiece.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-03-05 21:06
The website is really awkward. They also seem to suggest you can get any mouthpiece in any configuration and I don't think that's true.
Madison Band Supply usually has a bunch of "Blue Heaven" MCK1s in stock.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: TomS
Date: 2015-03-06 06:23
Been meaning to order one ... bought several other MPs in the last few weeks ...
I've not heard anything but great news on the ESM ... and, apparently a bargain!
Tom
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2015-03-07 03:43
Just call Frank Cotton at Madison Band Instruments in Madison, Alabama if you want an MCK1 EMS mouthpiece. He can let you pay a few moments later by PayPal invoice if you like and will put the mouthpiece in the mail normally at least by the next working day.
I have bought the black acrylic model with the tenon ring and the blue heaven model with the tenon from him by direct phone order with no problems whatsoever.
These pieces, as Paul says, are generally consistent, and play with a very smooth, pleasant kind of sound, not so aggressive as many of the Reserves do. Once people get to know the EMS mouthpieces, my guess is they will become very popular. They are free blowing and easy on both the embouchure and the air column. In timbre, they offer a distinctly different coloration than you will find in either Vandorens or Reserves.
Post Edited (2015-03-07 05:13)
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2015-03-08 05:01
Hello, seabreeze!
Could I ask, please: which reed works best for you on the ESM MCK1?
Thanks!
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2015-03-08 09:16
Short answer:
The Vandoren #3 traditional cut and #3 in the new Vandoren 21 cut work best for me on the ES MCK1's.
Long answer:
I play several different mouthpieces, depending on the music and the setting. Other than the ES MCK1's I play a Behn Vintage D, a Kuckmeier Play Easy B2 (refaced) if I want a covered quasi-Germanic sound, a Vandoren CL4 for a very focused, centered French-type sound. All these have been refaced to have close tip openings (1.01 mm or less), and medium-long facings, and I play double lip on them.
Years ago, I used to play heavy Moree (I think just 2.5 strength in those was stiff) and Vandoren #5 reeds, but I now find that method of production forced and use #3 reeds on all my mouthpieces. I've tried just about every cane reed (I've never used composites and know little about them), but I find myself returning again and again to the Vandoren traditional cut (#3) and, more recently, to the Vandoren 21 (also #3).
I use the Vandoren etched glass plate to fine tune the reeds pretty much according to Ridenour's ATG system. Even so, only about 4 or 5 of the Vandorens out of the box of 10 play the way I want to.(I can usually scrape the others to play, but I don't get exactly the sound I want). There are plenty of other reeds that seem to give a richer sound with more "haze" around the core, but Vandorens for me play with the most vibrant and lasting core sound--and that's what I most want in a reed.
This may or may not work for you--especially if you don't play double lip or you're not looking for a lot of core and center. The EMS pieces play very round and smooth, and I like to add more vibrancy while still keeping a modicum of cover and darkness on those particular pieces.
Hope that helps a little.
Post Edited (2015-03-09 00:19)
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Author: am0032
Date: 2015-03-09 05:28
I can't seem to find a price on these. What's the ballpark for them. Thanks.
Adam
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-03-09 06:37
I recall the "Blue Heaven" to be around $140 US dollars.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2015-05-05 04:47
It's not often that good luck comes my way, but here at least is one instance: I recently spotted an ESM "Heaven" mouthpiece [MCK1] offered on ebay, managed to be the only bidder and got the thing very cheaply indeed. I thought it might be handy as a back-up to my "proper" black MCK1.
Well, now it's round the other way. Despite the offputting (to me) appearance of this blue metal-impregnated acrylic thing, I can happily report that for me it's even better than the black one. I find that it has a tad more projection overall and is superior in the altissimo. It may seem fanciful, but I seem to feel a vibrancy in the mouthpiece itself as I play which is transferred to the tone. Unlike Paul's experience (see above) with it, I find it less subdued than the black MCK1.
Anyway, in short, if I happened to lose this blue Heaven or break it, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a replacement, even at the full retail price, which is still pretty reasonable. I think the extra cost of the blue over the black is worth it.
So how lucky am I! Two great ESM mouthpieces, I'm extremely happy (for once).
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Author: leolollo
Date: 2020-11-05 14:04
This is a wonderful thread.
I am a student in the Italian Conservatory.
I am currently playing with the Vandoren M15, but I am not very happy with this mouthpiece. In particular, I often find it difficult to find the right reeds for this mouthpiece.
I can play easily with this piece:
Vandoren Blue 3
Legere euro cut 3.75 (but my teacher doesn't like synthetic)
With Vandoren V12 3.5 (or 3.5+) I have a too muffled and not very versatile sound ... Same problem with Rico / D'addario Reserve Classic (3.5+ / 4)
Maybe I don't get along with the too long facing of the M15 ...
From the descriptions of MCK1 on this forum I got the idea that the ESM is a very reed friendly mouthpiece, and more flexible than Vandoren's "M" series mouthpieces.
In the past I had an ESM MA3 (an open mouthpiece, which I used for the klezmer), and I have very good memories of it.
An interesting fact is that in Europe ESM mouthpieces are quite cheap (95usd for one piece).
I would like to hear opinions of anyone who compared MCK1 vs VD M15
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-11-05 15:46
I have not played the VD version but I am familiar with the M15. That one is ok if you take in enough mouthpiece. You really have to snug up to the point where reed and mouthpiece come together with that one. If you pass that point all you get is a guttural squawk! But stay close.
Still, the facing is little too close for my taste.
I think the MCK-1 is closest to a Vandoren M13, but I just like the MCK-1 a lot better.
Your teacher may just want you to experience the full range of what cane can do. The bottom line with Legere is that you do lose just a little of the impact of the low chalumeau and the really crisp upper partials of the clarion............but they are so close now (particularly the European Signatures) that one can easily play them professionally (as many do) with no discernible loss of performance.
..............Paul Aviles
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