 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: crvsp
Date: 2020-09-17 09:04
Hi all, has there been any word as to when the 13 series for the BD4 and BD7 model will come out? Sorry if there is an obvious answer to this question. Haven't really looked around on the internet.
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2020-09-17 21:38
I have played a BD5-13 on-off for several years, but require a 1mm shorter barrel (on my Yamaha CSGs) to get it up to pitch. Several months ago I ordered a BD7 that, while it plays well, requires a significantly softer reed than my other go-to mouthpieces. However, despite the lack of any "-13" designation, I find that it does play more easily at A440 than the BD5-13. This seems a bit odd as the very open mouthpieces seem to be favored more by European players who might have to play at A442. Perhaps the BD7's facing allows more pitch flexibility based on one's reed choice than most facings. If so, Vandoren may not be working on a BD7-13 variant.
I do not have experience with the BD4 since I already have a great Kessler-Backun III that has a similar facing and plays easily at A440+.
Bob Barnhart
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2020-09-17 23:17
Aren't the 13 series BD mouthpieces identical to the non-13 series, just longer? I thought I had read on this board that, unlike the other 13 series mouthpiece that have differences in the bore, the BD5 uses the same bore, but longer.
So maybe it's just a matter of picking the right barrel?
Apologies if I am spreading misinformation, but that is what I recall reading here.
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2020-09-18 02:35
Yes, the BD5 is [said to be] identical to the BD5-13, just shorter. As my BD5-13 is just a "tad" low, I play it using a barrel that is 1mm shorter. I thought I would try a "regular" BD5, so I ordered one a couple of weeks ago and indeed it appears to be perhaps 1.5mm shorter that my BD5-13 and does tune to A442+, actually higher than I can tolerate even pulling out a longer barrel and between the upper/lower joints, so I think the BD5-13 is, for me, closer to what I'm looking for.
Now this may be just the normal variation in Vandoren mouthpieces, but my BD5 and BD5-13 feel quite different, and in recordings and according to my wife, they sound a bit different. The BD5-13 "feels" very dark, almost Viennese, has a bit more resistance and seems to be more reed-friendly. In contrast, the BD5 (regular) feels brighter and has less resistance, yet it still has a very mellow sound. However, there is something about its table (possibly the location and degree of concavity) that makes it a bit more particular about reeds.
Based on the intonation and the resistance, I think I'll stick with the BD5-13 and use the BD5 only if I'm in a situation where I need to tune very sharp.
Bob Barnhart
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