 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2020-03-18 21:35
I'm quite pleased with the new Brad Behn Prescott mouthpiece I received today. Very mainstream in design--with medium rails, medium moderate A-frame chamber, and a responsive easy playing facing (mine is the medium 1.06/36), this mouthpiece does just about everything well. It has a clear, projecting tone that is not edgy but sounds with just the right amount of both ring and darkness and does not lose shape or become strident in fortissimo. The throat tones have substance and color and articulation response is quick, light and neither tubby nor picky. The tone quality and tuning are well balanced throughout the entire range of the clarinet. Mouthpiece finish and appearance--in the Behn proprietary rubber--are up to the usual high Behn standard. For me, the Behn Prescott is a winner--a bargain for anyone from student to pro.
Post Edited (2020-03-19 01:15)
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2020-03-18 21:57
seabreeze,
Thanks for the excellent report! Did you get it at the $79.50 price using the coupon code 50PRESCOTT at checkout? That sale price is good until the end of May.
Interestingly, gwie also prefers the medium over the others and recommends them to his students.
I hope Brad is turning them out fast enough!
Here's that Prescott website again: https://www.epic-cnc.com/
p.s. Just be sure to subscribe to his newsletter "first" at the bottom of the website!
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Author: Ed
Date: 2020-03-19 01:12
What reeds/strength have you used with this?
The is great to see. It may be a great choice as an alternative to Vandoren or other stock mouthpieces.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2020-03-19 05:04
I just ordered the close model.
I asked Brad why players were preferring the medium model. His response had to do with the smaller arc curve which added some resistance. This makes sense to me because I believe seasoned players are used to a certain level of resistance for them to play their best.
I'm expecting the closed model to be less resistant.
The ordering process went very smooth and I paid $79.50 plus shipping with PayPal.
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2020-03-19 17:14
Wow ! Thanks for the heads-up. I've been wanting to try one of his mps and this is a great sounding deal, so - done !
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2020-03-19 20:03
I bought the close facing Prescott on sale and received it yesterday. I've only spent a few hours on it, so I'm not going to give a detailed review, but I will say that I am very intrigued by it so far.
First impressions are that it is a cosmetically very nice-looking item, with clean machined lines and engravings and even-looking rails, to the extent that that can be assessed with the naked eye.
Intonation is quite good for me. About the same as my Fobes CF. Nothing unexpected there, which is about the most I can hope for, I'd say.
I found it to be a little bit more resistant than the Fobes, which is one of the least-resistant mouthpieces I've ever liked. I am using about a half strength softer reed on the Prescott than on the Fobes. For me, it takes about the same strength reed as a Vandoren 5RV.
Tonally, it's a bit mellower than my Fobes, which has a lot of color that can sometimes veer a bit into brightness. Compared to the B40 and Backun Vocalise, other mouthpieces I've spent time on in the last couple of years that have a mellower tone for me, I find it has a little more clarity and doesn't get as pillowy-dark as either of those. Notes feel well-defined and response is a bit quicker for me on the Prescott.
I am going to give it a shot over the next week or two (or longer) to see how it goes as my main mouthpiece. It certainly seems to have the potential. My only fear is that, since I will not be playing out for the foreseeable future, I'm going to choose an overly dark setup that sounds good in my room.
But maybe that's not a bad thing if I'm just going to be playing at home for a while!
I would say that, at a minimum, this is a great option to have at a reasonable price point. Vandoren has been dominant in this range for longer than I've been alive, so it's nice to see more options on the market now from D'Addario, Backun and now Epic. It's particularly interesting to me that these all are made with totally unique interior designs thanks to the availability of CNC machining at a price that it seems like manufacturers can swallow, rather than almost everyone having to use one of a small handful of available blanks.
What an interesting time to be a clarinetist!
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2020-03-19 20:08
Oh, I forgot to mention the O-rings. It took all of 5 seconds for me to be convinced that anyone doing anything else is doing it wrong. To be able to get a totally solid seal with so little friction is absolutely delightful. I guess we'll see how durable they are, but if all I have to do is stick a few extra o-rings in a plastic bag in my case, that seems like no trouble at all.
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Author: Gene
Date: 2020-03-20 01:34
I thought theses mps were around 1000.00????????
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2020-03-20 02:23
Gene,
Here's how I ordered mine for $79.50 plus shipping:
1. Click https://www.epic-cnc.com/
2. Scroll to the bottom and subscribe to the newsletter.
3. In the upper left corner, click on Prescott mouthpieces.
4. Click "Buy Now"
5. Select your facing choice
6. Click "Add to Cart"
7. Click "View Cart"
8. At the bottom, left of the screen...Click on "Enter a Promo Code"
9. Enter "50PRESCOTT"
10. Click "Apply"
11.You should see the new price of $79.50 plus the shipping charge
12. Click "Checkout"
13. The rest should be self explanatory. (I used PayPal because it was much easier for me.)
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2020-03-20 03:26
Just for interest: may I ask how much the shipping charge is for one Prescott mouthpiece within the USA? I live in Australia, and the shipping charge for one Prescott mouthpiece is, according to the website, $US73.00 - which is enough to make one hesitate, even with the nicely reduced price for such a good (apparently) mouthpiece.
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2020-03-20 05:27
According to my printed invoice, I paid $8.95 for shipping within the USA.
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Author: Brad Behn
Date: 2020-03-20 06:31
As seabreeze mentioned, USPS Priority shipping within the US is $8.95. And for purchases over $129, domestic shipping is free. Express is extra.
Vintschevski, for shipping to Australia, there's an option for Priority International shipping, which is considerably less expensive than Priority Express shipping. I think it's around $41. You should see the option during online checkout. Please contact us at epicprescott@gmail.com if you have any issues with the ordering process.
Brad Behn
http://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2020-03-20 08:06
Thanks, Brad! That does help, particularly as the Australian dollar is so weak at the moment ($US80 is now about 150 Australian dollars - when I last bought a Behn mouthpiece, the exchange rate was 1:1.)
I'd like to ask seabreeze a question, if I may: seabreeze, you would, I think, normally express a preference for a closer tip on the mouthpieces that you play. Is there some reason why you chose the medium tip for the Prescott mouthpiece? Had you already tried one with the close tip?
Thanks very much!!
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2020-03-20 09:12
Max S-D wrote:
"I found it to be a little bit more resistant than the Fobes, which is one of the least-resistant mouthpieces I've ever liked. I am using about a half strength softer reed on the Prescott than on the Fobes."
Max, the only thing that I can think of is the slightly wider tip of the Prescott, because the close Prescott is 1.01mm/36 while the Fobes Debut is 1.01mm/34. The medium Prescott is 1.06mm/36. I have no info on the open model.
My close model is on its way and I'm just a little concerned because I've always found the Fobes Debut to be resistant to me.
I will, of course, find out for sure when it arrives and I give it a trial.
Does moving the reed down to the middle of the tip rail have any affect?
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Author: gwie
Date: 2020-03-20 10:13
Since we've been at home so much given the current pandemic, I've had a bit of time to play on all three Prescott models some more. In every single one of them, the appearance and finishing is exquisite.
The close facing model is probably the most similar to what I regularly play on, close facings of the first Behn Vintage model and the more recent Epic HCV. It has a wonderful ping and immediate response. If I had to choose one to play on myself, this is what I would use.
The students I see who are used to playing on other mouthpieces generally do better with the medium facing model because most of them tend to work too hard to produce a sound in the first place. While it doesn't have anywhere near as much resistance as the mouthpieces they are coming from, it is an easier transition for them as they ease into the mindset of "less effort."
The open facing model might appeal to some--it's fun to play at incredibly high volume with it, and the character of the sound is quite full and broad.
I have students try all three with a range of reed strengths. It is a very eye-opening experience for lots of them! Bravo Brad, these are exceptional and I am so grateful that they are so affordable.
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2020-03-20 10:39
Dan, my Fobes CF is a particularly free-blowing one. I'm not sure what it is, exactly.
The tip rail is quite thin, the baffle area has a little bit more material, the exit bore appears ever so slightly larger to my naked eye. There are dozens of little differences that add up and interact in ways that I probably don't really understand.
I have had the chance to play on the Prescott some more today and I am still quite enjoying it. I think it's great to see so much competition in this part of the market.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2020-03-20 11:21
Max S-D, The "Fobes CF" was only mentioned once in your longer response while only Fobes was mentioned twice more. Somehow, my mind switched over to the "Debut" and I mentioned "Debut" twice in my last post to you. Sorry about that!
I do like reading that the Prescott is a bit mellower to you than your Fobes CF as I enjoy listening to a mellow sounding clarinet tone.
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2020-03-20 18:20
Vintschevski,
I wish I could say I had some grand theoretical or profound artistic reason for trying the medium facing, but the simple truth is I tried it out of curiosity. In a week or two, when my pocket book allows, I will order a close facing Prescott also, and I just might wind up preferring it. Who knows? Matson style close facings (1.00 to 1.03 mm) are what I grew up with and what I usually play. If this Prescott is a sign of more things to come from Behn's Epic CNC machinery, I would say we can look forward to some great new mouthpieces.
I agree with other commenters that the Prescott has a "built in" mellow component to the sound, which I believe is now expected of players in and auditioning for American orchestras. The old time "ringtone" was great but could be a bit buzzy and potentially annoying in the upper register. To my ears, the Prescott retains much of the old ringing sound but places it in a more mellow and soothing wrapping that conductors and contest judges now look for. Times change, and we change with them.
Post Edited (2020-03-20 18:34)
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Author: Chris Di Santo
Date: 2020-03-22 01:40
I would like to echo the wonderful accolades that have been posted re: Brad Behn’s new Prescott mouthpiece. This is a remarkable mouthpiece and value. I have been playing and rotating between two close facing (101-36) models over the past two weeks. To my ear the sound of the Prescott has marvelous resonance that balances warmth, tonal depth and ringing clarity with a well-integrated and rich overtone spectrum. The Prescott’s focus and supple flexibility respond well to a 3.5 reed, offering a cushioned blowing experience that eliminates tonal stridency and maintains a pitch standard well within current, contemporary standards (440 – 441). As I have become more and more acclimated to Brad’s Prescott model, produced in his state of the art manufacturing facility, I have discovered a product that is not only incredibly consistent from mouthpiece to mouthpiece, but it is also a tool that merges and celebrates an exceptional alliance of aesthetic and function. Bravo Brad!
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Author: TomA ★2017
Date: 2020-03-22 04:25
Well. I was excited to buy a medium facing Prescott mouthpiece. Received it today, very promptly.
I wish I could write accolades like others have. However, I found the mouthpiece to be surprisingly stuffy, especially in the lower chalumeau, and quite resistant.
On the positive side, I found it to play evenly across the registers. Altissimo spoke easily and clearly, and the clarion register was pleasing. And it did not require much embouchure pressure. Tonguing was clean and easy. But the resistance...
I tried a variety of reeds (Behn 3.5 plus others harder and softer, Legeres, etc), but every time I encountered stuffiness and high resistance, especially in the lower chalumeau. And to my ears the tone quality in the lower register was extremely covered in comparison to other mouthpieces.
My reference mouthpiece is a D'addario X5, also a medium facing. This is much easier for me to play and sounds more resonant and colorful in the chalumeau.
Maybe I need more time to get used to it. It definitely plays differently from D'Adarrio and other mouthpieces. But my initial impression was disappointment. Of course, I realize everyone is different...
Otherwise, it is a beautiful mouthpiece.
TomA
Buffet E-11 (Schreiber), Backun barrel.
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Author: Anonymoose
Date: 2020-03-22 05:48
I've tried various Behn EPICS from others and find them all too bright and too easy blowing for me. This Prescott mouthpiece seems to be mellower. Perhaps I should take advantage of the discount code to try them. How open is the open facing? I've been playing rather open facing mouthpieces recently.
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2020-03-22 05:48
Tom, do you have experience with any of Behn’s other mouthpieces? The reason I ask is because, yes, the resistance can be off putting at first. You kind of have to use a shockingly soft reed relative to what you were using. I would try going down an entire half strength. If a 3.75 is normal for me on some mouthpieces, I would even go to a Blue Box 3. It’s hard to pass judgement if you don’t at least give it that much of a shot.
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Author: TomA ★2017
Date: 2020-03-22 06:32
Hi J.J.,
It's my first Behn mouthpiece. I tried a couple of strength 3 reeds of various brands, but they didn't do it for me.
I did try some Forestone synthetic reeds that I haven't used for a long time. They actually sounded and played rather well with the Prescott. Very similar to what I am used to with my regular setup.
I'll keep trying other reeds. Thing is, even with Aria 3.5, the tip tends to close off even with moderate embouchure pressure. If I relax the pressure, the tone quality gets even worse. Maybe I just have to get used to the different feel.
I won't give up yet. Just wanted to share initial impressions.
Thanks for the tip.
Tom
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Author: gwie
Date: 2020-03-22 06:48
Brad's mouthpieces in general use much softer reeds on average than Vandoren or D'Addario. In testing I used a new Behn ARIA 3.5 on the close facing Prescott which was a tad stiff, and a broken-in Behn ARIA 3.0 on the medium facing Prescott which played wonderfully. Those reeds run a 1/2 strength softer than most other brands.
Post Edited (2020-03-25 03:20)
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Author: fernie121
Date: 2020-03-22 10:57
I have ordered a closed Prescott to compare to the Behn Sono. I too have found the Behn requires a very soft reed. The sound is almost comical at first because you really have to adjust your embouchure to relax and let the air do all the work at let the reed vibrate properly. Once you do that, what was at first a very bright sound becomes a very warm, complex sound that has resonance and tonal presence like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. If the Prescott works the same way I would be amazed considering the price point. But it is very different. The change can be a bit frustrating at times because letting go of bad habits, like unnecessary embouchure pressure, is always difficult. Btw, I also play double lip.
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Author: Chris Di Santo
Date: 2020-03-22 22:09
I agree with Fernie121:
"I too have found the Behn requires a . . . soft reed. . . . you really have to adjust your embouchure to relax and let the air do all the work at let the reed vibrate properly."
What one may perceive as a brighter sound initially does indeed become rich, resonant and warm. One has to be willing to take this journey, a journey that requires time to adapt to less jaw pressure and other unnecessarily aggressive methods of blowing and playing often inured by using heavier reeds. I relish the increased flexibility and tonal complexity that I have gained using my Prescott and Epic mouthpieces with lighter reeds. I feel more and more that this approach allows me to discover and draw upon broader tonal colors that increase artistic nuance in my playing. This is personally refreshing because the energy I expend in my playing is now much more efficient, allowing me to focusing on broader musical expression. I am much less aware of the clarinet than I ever was with former setups, notably minimizing mental and physical distractions that were primarily mouthpiece/reed driven.
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Author: TomA ★2017
Date: 2020-03-22 22:52
A new day has dawned.
The above advice has helped a lot. I tried some 2.5 and 3 Vandorens (BB, V12, RueLepic) with good results. I am happy with the sound and am gradually getting used to the resistance and using a reduced embouchure pressure. Even the wife said it sounded good (a rarity!),
Softer reeds are definitely called for. I like the RueLepic the best so far. Sounds like Aria 3's would be a good choice, but I don't have any at the moment.
I'll keep at it. I'm beginning to like this mouthpiece.
Thanks for all the helpful and insightful comments.
Tom
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Author: donald
Date: 2020-03-22 23:19
"Even the wife said it sounded good" ha ha, that's like me- my wife is a top notch player who has freelanced in Europe for 10 years etc and her ear is VERY hard to please.
When we first decided to live together, we were playing on quite similar mouthpieces - then i just made the swap so now we play on identical mouthpieces (there are many advantages to this, one being that when she gigs in Paris she can pick a new one out for me... you may guess we play Vandoren).
I was playing reeds half a size harder than her, and when I switched to her mouthpiece found myself for a while still preferring a slightly harder setup- for about a year I was looking for reeds at about "3.25" hardness out of a box of V12s.
Oddly enough the thing that helped me adapt to the softer reeds was doing lots of bass clarinet practise, and working on my articulation in the upper registers (bass clarinet being quite intolerant of too much embouchure pressure on the higher end). Also, working on relaxing my throat on the bass so that i didn't overblow low end articulation and big jumps also seemed to help.
Anyway, as I teacher I often find myself telling students they are playing on a setup that is too hard (the old "I need a harder reed to sound good" syndrome), but it took me about a year to really adjust to it and get comfortable.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2020-03-24 14:51
Brad has done a great job with these. It is very even and easy to play, comfortable from the lowest to the highest range. The tone has a very nice balance of overtones, giving it a colorful sound, yet with plenty of warmth and richness. I don't find the mouthpiece resistant, but it does have a good hold so that even large leaps and extreme altissimo feels very secure. This is a really well designed mouthpiece that should be on anyone's short list of things to try.
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Author: fernie121
Date: 2020-03-25 02:23
My closed model came in and I love it. At such an incredible price I can’t think of anything that beats it. I compared it to a Behn Sono (closed), an ESM Mck1 Heaven, Bernardo Cicero, and a Vandoren M13 Lyre. All mouthpieces that I enjoy. The Prescott is most similar to the Behn, but is a little bit warmer in sound. Like the Behn, it really requires a vibrant reed and proper embouchure. Meaning a flat chin, and absolutely no biting otherwise the sound just doesn’t bloom properly. If you are in the market for a mouthpiece, you really need to consider that Prescott. It’s fantastic.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2020-03-25 03:54
That is great to hear. The medium is a great mouthpiece, but I do regret not trying the close facing as that is closer to what I typically play. I think it would be a slightly better fit for me and my reeds.
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Author: RDS
Date: 2020-05-21 20:41
After reading all of the above posts, I purchased one of each of the new Prescott models. Wow! These are all excellent mouthpieces. Extremely well made. Each is different, yet with proper reeds for each, they play with good pitch, excellent sound and great articulation. My personal choice is the open model. It has a beautiful full sound that is warm without being too dark, and is very even from low E to C7 and above. I find that I can play that range with confidence at any volume from pp to ff and do three octave skips up and down with ease.
That said, I early on in my trial of these mouthpieces told a fellow clarinetist that I would be happy to play any of the three on any job anytime. I still feel that way and would recommend if you have a need, that you give them a try.
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2020-05-22 04:32
RDS, could you please tell us which strengths of which reeds you found to be appropriate for each Prescott model?
Thanks very much!
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Author: RDS
Date: 2020-05-22 05:41
I used Behn Aria 31/2, Rico Thick Blank 3, and Leuthner 3 on all models. Keep in mind the Aria runs 1/2 strength softer on average. I merely adjusted the reeds as necessary to meet my requirements on each mouthpiece. I live in a desert climate where temperature over the last few weeks has ranged from 90 to 105 degrees and humidity from 10 to 20%. These factors combined with our own contributions like type of embouchure, etc., will greatly affect your results. A recommendation would be 3.5 - 4 for close, 3 - 3.5 for medium, and 2.5-3 for open. Sorry I can't be more specific, but my go to reed is the Aria 3.5 which I use for everything.
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2020-05-22 06:37
That's very informative, RDS, thanks so much for that. What you say is basically what I would have expected. I have three Behn mouthpieces and the tone on all of them is very beautiful. I struggle, however, on all of them with softish reeds when I get to E6, F6 and above - I just can't get those notes up to pitch (so I otherwise use other mouthpiece-and-reed combinations). Harder reeds don't produce the same tone. How do you manage, particularly on the open model? (And by the way, if I may ask, have you played other Behn models?)
Thanks again!
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Author: RDS
Date: 2020-05-22 17:23
I have been playing Behn mouthpieces for many years. I play with a forward focused embouchure with as little pressure as possible, and an O-o-o-o vowel. With the bottom lip and teeth at the point where the reed actually meets the mouthpiece, or as close as possible, everything opens up and the need for pressure and hard reeds is reduced. The result is very much like playing double-lip with a single lip embouchure.
Hope this helps!
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2020-05-23 11:47
Thanks so much, RSD, I appreciate your taking the time to make your comments. I'd like to ask one very specific question: let's take, say, the note E6 - do you find that easier to play in tune, with full(-ish) tone, on the Prescott close model or on the open model? Or is it equally easy for you on each?
And a general question: are you perhaps saying that you find the Prescott actually better, for what you want, than all the other Behn models that you have played? (There's possibly an undercurrent throughout this thread to the effect that the Prescott is a great mouthpiece "for the low price" - is it just as great regardless of its price?)
Thanks very much again!!
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2020-05-30 13:06
I chose the closed model and have tried it witha Legere classic cut 2.5 for the moment, having just gotten it. It's pleasantly full and lightly resistant and works very well on my P series Centered Tone and B&H Emperor but does not work as well on my Buffets. Still fussing around with it but in general quite pleased, especially for the B&H that otherwise sounded rather mediocre. The Selmer packs a wallop with it.
Post Edited (2020-06-05 13:45)
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Author: Patrick
Date: 2020-05-30 20:11
I am a huge fan of Brad's products. I do have quite a few of his mouthpieces including the vintage, epic, song, and 2 of the Prescott. It might be a bit excessive, but I really feel there is a great deal of quality that he puts into all of his products.
I find I produce a nice sweet vibrant sound that will project easily. The key is finding a nice well balanced reed to get the most out of his products. I had trouble getting V12s to work, but had a lot of luck with the D'addario Reserve Classic 3.5 and regular 3.5. Sometimes going down to 3's work as well. The reeds he offers as well are fantastic.
The best part about Brad is that he will listen to you and work with you. There are many great options out there, but his are at the top of my list.
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2020-05-31 02:43
Patrick,
Since you have so many of Behn's different models, do you have a favorite?
I've owned at one time or another most of Brad's (usually bought second-hand) down through the Epic and the Prescott. He hasn't kept his homepage up to date on new models, but I've seen passing reference to a Vintage 3.0 and a Hero model, and now you mention a Song model I've never heard of. How does that one play?
Tonally, out of all the A, C, B, and D vintage models, the Concept II and the angled ones, and the Epic (both small and large chambered) and a prototype I don't believe Brand ever named, I am surprised to say that the close-faced Prescott is my favorite! It sits right between warm, covered darkness and vibrant brilliance, and I can switch from dark to bright more easily than on any of his other models. And for me, at least, it holds the tone better than the very narrow chambered Ched A or the Vintage Robert D and projects better than the wide chamber Ched C. I even prefer the tone quality of the Prescott to the rather more aggressive Epic (though other players may not have that preference.)
Post Edited (2020-05-31 06:25)
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2020-05-31 20:16
I got a Prescott close model the other day. It the best mouthpiece I’ve played in years. A Vandoren Blue box 3 works perfectly for me.
I’m coming from a Vandoren M13 lyre with a blue box 3.5. I fluctuate between the m13L and a Bd5. I know they’re drastically different but I just can’t get settled on either one. When the m13L gets too brittle I move to the bd5. When the bd5 gets too tubby and unfocused, I move back to the m13L.
Lately I’ve been playing a lot of double lip and trying my best to play with absolutely no biting. To help with this I’ve moved to the m13L and was using softer reeds, sized 3.0. I have a ton of rue lepic 3s and a few traditional 3s. I have always preferred the traditional Vandoren reeds.
From the very beginning with the Prescott, I knew the mouthpiece was well made. Every Behn mouthpiece I’ve ever played has a beautifully flat table and the reed just sort of snaps securely to the table. If you’ve ever refaced a mouthpiece you know what I’m talking about. Getting this right isn’t so easy.
I’m glad I was spending time using a double lip emboucher because on the Prescott you absolutely cannot bite. It requires the performer to be effortless. The sound is full and resonant. Not bright and not tubby. It reminds me of when clarinets sounded like a clarinet and not that tubby dead sound that’s so popular these days, especially in America. I’m convinced most young clarinet players today have no idea what a real clarinet sound is.
Anyway, the Prescott is an amazing mouthpiece. You definitely should buy one.
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Author: Patrick
Date: 2020-05-31 21:06
Seabreeze,
I really like my Epic medium facing large chamber mouthpiece. It seems to do everything I want right now in regards to projection, articulation, eveness of sound, and all the other stuff I want in a mouthpiece I apologize for the typo, I have Sono medium facing as well. I like that one as well, and could see myself going and playing on it for whatever situation I find myself in.
I can see where you would find the epic maybe more aggressive. I thought the same thing about the vintage for a while a ways back. I switched to Vandoren M30 for a bit because I thought it was smoother. I was playing on that and a M30 lyre. What I found was I could focus my sound, but my embouchure was pretty tired after a concert. I used a my Behn vintage and was not quite as fatigued. I eventually settled on what my Epic large bore medium and have been very happy since.
I do like the sound of the Prescott close facing mouthpiece. It is has a very dark, but also the ability to sound nice and clear. I highly recommend all his products.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2020-05-31 23:58
Quote:
I switched to Vandoren M30 for a bit because I thought it was smoother. I was playing on that and a M30 lyre. What I found was I could focus my sound, but my embouchure was pretty tired after a concert.
The difference in facing would cause some of that, but it is probably also that since the M30 has somewhat less of that focussed core concept that you were fighting against the tendencies of the mouthpiece.
Over the years I have found that I can always get my tone concept, but that in some cases I either spent a long time struggling with reeds or had to work harder to bring out certain qualities in the mouthpiece. It is always preferably to find a piece of equipment that allows you to get "your sound" with greater ease.
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Author: Patrick
Date: 2020-06-01 02:46
Ed,
I did like the results and my sound out of those Vandoren mouthpieces, but yes they were making it hard. The great thing about the Behn's is that it makes projecting in my brass heavy band much easier, and I can also play in my woodwind quintet, and still have a nice delicate sound without much work. It's a big win for me.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2020-06-01 03:01
Hi Folks,
Just a reminder...
Today, May 31st, is the last day for the special introductory sale price of $79.50.
There is a unique ordering procedure. See my response #10.
Happy tootin' and stay healthy!
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Author: gwie
Date: 2020-07-05 21:52
I recorded a number of backing tracks for public domain classical works to be used in online play-in sessions for violin and cello that featured a clarinet solo part in the mix all on the close-facing Prescott. It works wonderfully.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2020-07-06 00:01
These are very good mouthpieces and I can see them becoming a great choice for an "off the shelf" piece. In many respects I would put them above most stock mouthpieces out there. There is a certain amount of "hold" in these mouthpieces which can be good in many respects, but may require adjustment if you like something that is very free. It is most likely that you might use a slight softer reed than you might expect.
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Author: Patrick
Date: 2020-07-06 03:19
They are very high quality product for the price. I have not tried them out in my ensemble due to current circumstances, but have played on them and like the way they articulate and tune.
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Author: kj2008
Date: 2020-07-09 05:23
Instead of creating a new thread, I would like to ask the following question - not the mouthpieces, but barrels from Behn.
I would appreciate it if I could get some input (experience) on Svelte barrel model from this forum. I bought one two months ago and so far I do not see much difference between stock barrel (B12) and this one.
Thanks.
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Author: Robert N.
Date: 2020-07-09 18:24
I have a svelte barrel on my Buffet Prodige. I feel that it has helped in a few ways: better intonation, easier crossing the break, and better sound. I am very happy with the addition of the barrel.
Also, due to recent humidity in my area, I have been using the same Svelte barrel on my wooden clarinet and I have been very happy with the results as well. With my wooden clarinet I do not feel the need for a barrel upgrade, as the original barrel works very nicely, but with humidity issues, the Behn Svelte barrel works as well as the original barrel and avoids the problems I had with the wood and humidity.
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2020-07-10 07:39
I bought a svelte barrel, largely to try something new. I have played Fobes barrels for the last 15 years or so, so this was a bit of an adjustment.
I don't really know what the taper is like or if they are tapered (I suppose I could ask Brad), but I didn't get along with it on my R13 or my Selmer 10G (preferred the stock barrel), but I do like it on my older, pre-R13 Buffet.
I think the Svelte barrel has a bit more color in the tone, which feels a little bit strident for me compared to the Fobes, which has a clearer tone. Both have a bit more focus than the stock R13 barrel.
That slightly more colorful sound complements the pre-R13 nicely, so that's where I have been using it, though that clarinet doesn't get as much attention as the other two.
It seems like a well-made item, but I think my body is so calibrated to the Fobes barrel at this point that I am going to stay put on my main clarinet (R13).
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