Author: 4accord
Date: 2015-07-28 17:49
I think this may be a more complex question than it seems. I have a whole collection of mouthpieces, most bought used. What I have found after playing with just about every reed-ligature-barrel- and body combination I had is that it's a highly personal thing. I was shocked to find that my runaway favorite is a Portnoy 3 that arrived unexpectedly with a used clarinet. For some strange reason, it just "has the magic" and produces the most wonderful tone and responsiveness in a way I can't get with any of my others. I'm reminded of the joke about "Before you find your handsome prince, you have to kiss a lot of frogs." I'm not at all sure I would get the same result with another Portnoy 3 but don't have another one to try. And I don't get quite the same result when I put it on another clarinet. And I feel certain another player would make a different choice. So, with all the variables, I don't think any one brand recommendation is necessarily going to be "best." On the list of issues are style of music, comfort, resistance, reed, tone, range...and after all that, look at intonation, because some mouthpieces sound fine till you play against a tuner. In short, you just have to find what works best for you, and buying new is the expensive route. Borrowing, try-before-you-buy, buying used and possibly reselling...those may be better options.
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