 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Robert Dunn
Date: 2019-02-05 05:26
I'm a brand new to the clarinet (and to music). I'm considering either the Debut or Nova mouthpiece for a Jupiter 931 I picked up used and in great shape. Since I'm a little older (much older!) a free-blowing mpc is somewhat important. Are both of these free-blowing? What other attributes does the Nova have over the Debut? General comments on these mpc's?
I just want to play for my wife in front of the fireplace, and have no greater aspirations (but I do appreciate quality instruments.)
Thanks,
Bob
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2019-02-05 08:06
On the face of it and by Clark Fobes's own descriptions on his website, the Nova is a better quality mouthpiece than the Debut. The Debut is intended for beginners and might be fine for your needs as a brand new player. As you gain experience, you may find the Debut limiting. The Nova is made of more workable material (hard rubber), allowing for more hand finishing. It may come down to how much money you want to invest at the beginning. The Nova is significantly more expensive.
I'm puzzled by your concern that the mouthpiece you buy be "free-blowing." With no experience in playing the clarinet, I'm wondering where that idea came from. Or maybe what you mean by "free-blowing." Clarinetists don't all agree on what that means. In any case both of these mouthpieces come in either of the same two facings (which contributes to ease of blowing, if that's what you mean). You may find it useful to buy one of each facing, keep the one you like and return the other. You'll probably have to buy from a retailer (probably online). Clark Fobes's website says they no longer accept returns on any of their products and suggest finding a retail source if you want to try their products on an approval basis. Some online vendors allow returns of undamaged merchandise.
If you want to ask questions about the mouthpieces, Clark Fobes is very helpful if you email him at his web site.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-02-05 08:20
I cannot speak to the Nova but I have two San Franciscos (slightly customized facing), a Blue 10K, and I have tried two of the Debuts which play just about as incredibly well as my three personal Fobes.
At $44.00, just buy it, and if you love it, you can always add a Nova or higher at a later date. The Debut has got to be the biggest bargain in clarinet world right now.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: Robert Dunn
Date: 2019-02-05 09:49
I got an F3A 125 mouthpiece with the clarinet. It takes all my strength to get a squeak out of it. I know it's been called a doorstop, but I don't want to buy a "better" mpc just to find that it's just as difficult to use.
So, by free-blowing, I mean something easier to play without pausing after every few bars to catch my breath (btw, I am in good health).
The experience should be a calm, relatively quiet time for me and my
wife. (Not a struggle)
Bob
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2019-02-05 10:34
I agree with Paul above. I've had several Debuts and I recommend them. they are probably as good as a student mouthpiece can be and a whole lot better than a lot of very expensive alternatives. Buy it, you'll love it.
Tony F.
Post Edited (2019-02-05 17:36)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-02-05 15:38
There are two issues with your current mouthpiece. The first is that many of the stock Buffet mouthpieces were just not fabricated well. On rare occasion I would run into one that played really well, but a majority are just not even worth trying. The second is that you say you procured a used instrument. There is no way to know what your current mouthpiece has gone through in its former life. It could have been thoroughly abused by its former owner, or even used...........as a doorstop.
That said, once you have a decent mouthpiece, what makes it "free blowing" or not is the combination of the reed and the reed strength that you use. I'd start out with a 2 1/2 Vandoren standard cut (blue box).
......................Paul Aviles
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Author: Robert Dunn
Date: 2019-02-05 17:48
Thanks Paul,
The mouthpiece looked new, and I was using a Royal 2.0 reed.
I have talked to Clark Fobes and bought a Debut from him. If everything works out, perhaps I'll upgrade to a Nova or SF one day. He said he could modify them slightly to make them a bit easier to blow.
I'll report on the Debut when I receive it, and I'll try the Vandoren recommendation.
Thanks, all.
Bob
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2019-02-05 19:11
On bass clarinet, I owned a Debut, Nova CF and San Fran AP. The Debut did not have a great facing on it. When I copied the Nova facing over to the Debut it was great like the Nova. I play the San Fran because I like the more open facing.
Many rave about the Debut so I think most of the facings are probably better than the one I got.
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: RKing
Date: 2019-02-06 01:25
The Debut is a plastic mouthpiece, but it comes with one of Fobes' great facings -- and you can't beat the price for the quality you get.
The Debut was my introduction to Fobes mouthpieces and when I bought my first San Francisco mouthpiece, I got the same facing. I used that mouthpiece for a few years until I discovered one of Fobes Cicero mouthpieces and fell in love.
I have now been using that Cicero mouthpiece for a number of years, but I still have my other Fobes mouthpieces, including the Debut.
It doesn't matter what your ultimate goal is, the Fobes Debut is a great place to start.
Ron
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Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2019-02-07 03:39
Just be way of information, these mouthpieces are all quite different, but also all very good.
I have SF, Nova and Debut mouthpieces and they all play very different. They have different facings and different blanks as well. All of them are lower resistance (?free-blowing?) than most of my other mouthpieces
Debut - Large bore (15.15mm measured) means that it is likely to play a little flatter than most mpcs on your Jupiter. The facing on all of these is Clark's CF+ (17mm lay, .0394 tip opening as measured)...middle-of-the-road facing, that is reed-friendly (small tip medium lay) most everyone can play
San Francisco (I have a 4L facing and a JAZZ) - this is a Zinner blank, but the bore is 15.02mm, larger than other Zinner pieces I have measured. This is at the high end of the 'normal' range, although this piece plays a little flatter than the Nova below
Nova (I have a 3L facing) - This is a very well-behaved piece with good intonation, similar to mainstream Vandoren pieces, but more balanced and even through the scales and more reed-friendly than the B45s and 5RVs that I have in my drawer.
I agree that the Debut is a great piece for a starter. I also think it is very nice that Clark gives them to music teachers for their students (does he still do that?)
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