 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SonicManEXE
Date: 2015-10-08 02:11
Hey all,
Haven't posted here in almost four years. Anyway, I have a little story to tell:
When I last posted, I was afraid my clarinet was wood and I had marched with it in eighth grade with my high school in the rain (turns out it was composite and miraculously no pads were ruined). I am now a senior and one of the clarinet captains of my high school, as well as principal player of our highest level band. Recently, my band director asked me to play contra-alto clarinet in the second band because I'm in both band classes. Of course, I agreed. I decided that I'd like to sound somewhat decent on it and, if possible, I'd like to not use the gross mouthpiece that came with it. The problem is that Vandoren's mouthpiece for contra-alto/bass (the CM370) is just shy of $500. Maybe if I were serious about playing this thing I'd consider shelling out the cash, but it's for a LeBlanc Vito contra-alto and I'm going to be playing music that won't be too terribly difficult for me.
So, my question to you all is do you know of any cost-effective mouthpieces on the market, or may have one laying around you wouldn't mind giving up? On my regular instrument I play on a 5RV with 3 1/2 V21 reeds, if that's anything to go by.
Thanks all,
Jared
Jared
Ft. Lauderdale & Tampa, FL
Post Edited (2015-10-08 02:12)
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2015-10-08 03:44
I play a fobes debut and love it. I liked it so much I sold my Vandoren Contrabass mouthpiece. I think you can get them for under $100 if you shop around.
Btw make sure you get a CONTRABASS mouthpiece and not a contralto. Otherwise it will not fit on your Vito.
Hope this helps!
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Author: William Hughes ★2017
Date: 2015-10-08 21:50
That being said, I have used a Selmer C* refaced (to open the tip) by Dave Spiegelthal for more than ten years. I have been entirely satisfied and am frequently complimented on my tone.
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Author: cearnsh
Date: 2015-10-12 15:38
Before getting too carried away, have you tried out the mouthpiece that came with the contra - after giving it a good wash and checking it for damage?
I play Vito contrabass and contraalto clarinets and found - much to my surprise - that the original Vito mouthpiece plays very well. Certainly better (for me) than a Vandoren replacement.
Chris
Chris
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Author: SonicManEXE
Date: 2015-11-07 00:50
I know it's been a few weeks, but I figured some of you may want to know that I went ahead with a Fobes Debut mouthpiece which I managed to find online for $99, $26 off the retail price.
I discovered (after promptly forgetting the advice you all gave me) that the bore of the Leblanc contra-alto is the same size as a contrabass, therefore it requires a contrabass-size mouthpiece. I wish I had figured that out before bringing the neck to my local music store to try contra-alto mouthpieces, but I ended up going online and now the rest is history. Thank you all for your help.
Also, Chris, the reason I had to get a mouthpiece of my own is that one of my bass clarinets doubles on the contra in our top band. I am playing it for our middle band as per request of my band director. I forgot to mention that in my initial post.
Jared
Ft. Lauderdale & Tampa, FL
Post Edited (2015-11-07 00:56)
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2015-11-09 22:39
Clark Fobes plays great Contra in San Francisco! Plays it, makes the best Contra mpcs on the market today.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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