 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: nata
Date: 2015-06-11 20:50
Hello all!
I have been looking into the 5JB mouthpiece as an option for quite some time now... I ordered a Benny Goodman book and I am looking forward to working through some Good music when it arrives (yes, pun intended).
My questions are as following:
1) Can it take a size 3 V12 reed and perform well? A 3.5 bluebox?
2) Can it be used for classical music well, with a proper sound?
3) How easy is it to articulate, compared to commonly used "classical" mouthpieces (like M15/M13, etc....)?
4) Is it much easier to play in altissimo on a 5JB than on an M15?
5) Would it be a good option for someone who wants to play klezmer, jazz, and classical music, or is the mouthpiece a bit "lopsided" in its purposes?
I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.
Thanks!!
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-06-11 22:20
Ok, I am classically oriented but I think I can be fair minded about this assessment. You would be, as you say, "lopsided in purpose" going with a particularly open mouthpiece. Of course it depends on your emphasis. If you only dabble in classical music, you may not want to limit yourself if jazz and folk idioms are more your speed.
As long as you use a lighter strength reed, you should not have a particular problem with either articulation or range. The "issue" comes in with the 'sure-footedness' of timbre (mostly) and pitch (to a lesser degree). As a classical clarinet player I find myself "fighting" to maintain an even color (within a given passage of a given piece) moving from register to register. Whereas, the M15 you mentioned will almost do that automatically.
You have more 'options' on a more open mouthpiece. Think about it, you have more physical distance between the reed and the mouthpiece to control at will. I do feel though (and everyone who feels differently please jump right in) that you can easily play any style you want and also have much of the "looser" sound (and vibrato) with a 'standard' facing mouthpiece (ie M13, 5RV Lyre, Masters CL4).
Unlike many other highly touted jazz players, Benny Goodman really admired the sounds of great classical players and performed/recorded a fair amount of classical music (and commissioned a lot too......thank you Benny!). I don't KNOW what facings he used but I'd say his sound would make me believe he would have tended toward a medium facing at most (I do know he used pretty soft reeds. There was a TV presentation with him sitting with young students. He happened to ask one young girl what strength reed she used. She said number five. He appeared genuinely startled saying, "how do play on that thing?").
..........Paul Aviles
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Author: nata
Date: 2015-06-12 06:36
Many thanks for your informative reply.
OK... my main musical activities for now are playing in my high school band, and dabbling in klezmer and jazz.
I just like the sound effects that a clarinet can make, but that requires a more open mouthpiece... I am looking for a "jack of all trades mouthpiece."
So that would mean I am more lopsided towards classical?
Yes... but Jazz is more of my thing.
So what do you think of the 5JB in terms of playing classical music, and blending?
You said that you have to fight it in order to maintain tone color? How and why?
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Author: Wes
Date: 2015-06-12 09:37
You could consider buying the Omnibook for Bb instruments as a source of jazz phrasing ideas, as it has real transcriptions of Parker's solos. Some transcriptions in other publications seem to be created by someone other than the soloist, possibly a staff pianist.
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Author: Dibbs
Date: 2015-06-12 13:17
nata wrote:
>
> I just like the sound effects that a clarinet can make, but
> that requires a more open mouthpiece... I am looking for a
> "jack of all trades mouthpiece."
>
A B45 Lyre might be a better bet. Open but not so extreme as a 5JB.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-06-12 13:35
There is literally more physical space between the reed and the mouthpiece. With very little effort with the softer reed required, you can make that space smaller (higher pitch; more focused sound), or bigger (lower pitch; more diffuse sound).
I still feel that you can make all the "sounds" on a more closed mouthpiece. But if you chose to go a very open route you should be looking more in the realm of a strength number two reed.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-06-12 19:33
I fully agree with Paul: you can get all the "sounds" you need from a more closed mouthpiece.
There's a thread concerning Benny Goodman's mouthpieces here: http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=264795&t=257556
Note that Benny is known to have played Selmer HS** and Woodwind Company Steel Ebonite G7* mouthpieces. These are much more middle-of-the-road than the 5JB.
I have a modern Woodwind Company 2560 Steel Ebonite G7 and its voicing has a certain emphasis to the middle harmonics that is often heard in recordings of Benny's playing. It has a medium tip opening and facing length and is easy to control throughout the full range of the instrument. With a #3 V12 it is a fine classical mouthpiece, and quite nice for jazz with a slightly softer Rico "Orange Box" or La Voz reed.
That said, I've played jazz with really closed mouthpieces such as the Selmer HS* and Brilhart Ebolin 1. There's really no good reason you can't start your quest with an M15 and experiment with the types of reeds that were available back in the day: Rico "Orange Box", La Voz, Vandoren Traditional, and modern copies of the Morre.
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Author: Jim Harper ★2017
Date: 2015-06-15 23:35
Mouthpiece choices are so subjective! Many like using one mouthpiece for all styles of music. I prefer a more open mouthpiece for jazz and klezmer and a more closed mouthpiece for classical music. I find that open mouthpieces allow me to more easily make dirtier sounds, bend notes, and have more dynamic range (play louder!!!). I've liked 5JB and Pomarico Jazz** mouthpieces and am currently getting used to and enjoying a Clark Forbes Jazz mouthpiece. I use 2 1/2 V12's on the 5JB and Pomarico and 3's on the Forbes.
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