 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2022-04-01 19:32
G’day everyone,
Up until about 10 years ago I played on Gregory Smith mouthpieces, very happily & with great results! My mpc no longer suited me and I’ve been on the B40 since. Again, very happily! Out of curiosity today I tried my old Smith mpc and I forgot what a beautiful mpc it is.
My questions is, if I were looking for a mpc that is somewhere between a B40 and a Gregory Smith (Chicago model), what would I be looking at? Preferably a Vandoren as I like how easily replaceable they are.
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2022-04-02 04:29
I have a Smith 1+ which is excellent and free-blowing but takes a slightly different reed than my other favorite mouthpieces. I find that the Vandoren BD4 is an excellent mouthpiece that tunes, sounds and performs well (much like when I played a B40-13) but is also free-blowing with better focus and resonance than BD5s I’ve played. Finally, they’re rather inexpensive and pretty consistent.
Bob Barnhart
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2022-04-02 16:11
Thanks for the suggestion Bob. I have indeed played the BD4 on and off for the last year or so. I do love it but I feel the sound is too “simple”, but the trade off is the easiest to play setup I’ve ever had. Recordings I’ve heard of myself on the BD4 make it sound like a toy instrument, is the best way I can describe it!
Donald, I’m thinking the M30 is probably the closest thing, you may be right.
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Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2022-04-07 01:20
Although Gregory Smith no longer markets his mouthpiece, I believe you can still contact him, and possibly send him your GS piece for a reface.
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
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Author: donald
Date: 2022-04-07 04:26
I didn't mean to suggest that the M30 was similar to a Greg Smith, but know how you felt about that mouthpiece would give me an idea about your preferred facing. I think the B40 asks for a bit more pressure on the reed than the M30 - the M30 encouraging a more lighter, open, embouchure. If you were comfortable with the M30 there are a couple of options with a similar "resistance profile" that I would suggest. I have to say, and I'm not alone in this, that I've found the tip opening on its own doesn't really give much info at ALL about how a player will like a mouthpiece.
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2022-04-07 10:33
Agreed Donald, I also look at rail thickness. Vandoren’s Black Diamond range has insanely thick rails yet still somehow works, the B40 isn’t far behind. My Smith mpc has very thin rails in comparison, and gives such ease of response. Therefore I can conclude this plays quite a big part.
I don’t know what you call this part, but as you look into the mpc, there’s a square-ish shape before the bore opens up to the round section. In Vandorens this is quite angled and square. The Smith is a bit more like an A shape. What effect does this have? I’ve never (knowingly) come across this on another mpc.
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2022-04-08 01:30
A rather affordable solution would be to buy a used Vandoren with equivalent or closer tip than the B40 and have it refaced to a more ergonomic facing somewhere around your Greg Smith mouthpiece’s ballpark.
Mark
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Author: aemoutsource
Date: 2022-04-08 14:20
Concurred Donald, I additionally check out at rail thickness. Vandoren's Black Diamond range has madly thick rails yet still in some way works, the B40 isn't a long ways behind. My Smith mpc has extremely slight rails in examination, and gives such simplicity of reaction. Thusly I can close this has a seriously huge impact.
Thanks.
Hire AEM team in India
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