 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: spikey1973
Date: 2023-05-11 16:06
Hey to all,
for those that haven't been following my previous question..
I am completely new to clarinet playing, and recieved my 1e rubber 18 key clarinet yesterday and besides diving in the theory of maintance on for hand. I am now getting my first notes out.
my personal review of the clarinet so far is that it is a japanese made rubber upper and lower part and maybe also the barrelt, but I believe the bell and the mouth piece to be cheap chinese usefull crap.
so for now it will be fine, but on the other hand I am a firm believer that proper quality tools helps getting a job done right. so even though in general there are oke reviews of the clarinet itself, i believe a proper mouthpiece would be very helpful in my learnings.
Online informations informed me that the best way to choose a mouthpiece is to go to a store and try a few. Unfortunately I believe to lack the experience to make a right choose. so for now I have 5 options, where the first really isn't an option, or is it? From reviews here I found now that the yamaha line really isn't worth it.. but the orther two are not obtainable for me.
1) stick with the current chinese mouthpiece untill I believe I would have enough background to get myself a nice mouthpiece. but on the otherhand..
will it diminish my learning curve?
2) get myself the most frequently used yamaha mouthpiece and if so which (4c to 6c) -> instead Behn Overture (Fobes Debut) particularly with aria reeds?
3) The thomann.de in europe showed the d'addario woodwinds graftonite mouthpieces as fairly good price quality balance. thinking A5, A7, B7?
4) I can currently get a BD5 cm1005 mouthpiece at a 2/3 price online from someone that ordered the wrong one..supposedly never used. which seems to be a good mouthpiece.. the descriptions of the mouthpiece seem to be what I would appreciate, but the question is would it be a good step for a beginner.
for me it has a good prie/quality balance, but htat is not all in life.
5) I also found a very used B40 mouthpiece.. from what I read it is also a good option. but the price / used / quality balance seems to me to be not as good as the BD5. So investment wise i would prefer the BD5.
any suggestions on what to go for?
Additionally a ebony barrel of same lenght as the rubber one an adviced upgrade?
Post Edited (2023-05-11 22:48)
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Author: gwie
Date: 2023-05-11 17:32
I think the best starter mouthpiece is either a Fobes Debut or a Behn Overture, both $40 or less.
In any case, I highly recommend you seek the in-person advice of an experienced clarinet instructor to get you started, as that will help you get over the initial speed bumps much more quickly, which should contribute to more enjoyment overall in this process.
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Author: spikey1973
Date: 2023-05-11 18:33
@ Gwie:
Thank you so much for your advice. I read around about the two mouthpieces, and indeed many positive reviews (specially compared to the yamaha) unfortunately i found it nearly impossibleto obtain here in europe.
I did find it on ebay, but it takes so much shipment costs (about the same as the mouthpiece itself, which is already more costly for us then you because of euro/dollar and then I will need to add 21% VAT. So for me that is about the same or more then the BD5.. which might give mayor shift in the price quality balance, or do you think it is still worth it?
ps: didn't find the Clark W Fobes Debut at all available.
Post Edited (2023-05-11 21:49)
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Author: DougR
Date: 2023-05-12 02:57
frankly, were I in your situation I'd first find a local (hopefully working) clarinetist (who plays the kind of music you want to play) to study with.
THAT would be where I'd put my money initially. Even if you only schedule one or two lessons with someone who knows what they're doing, it could save you wasted time and money later on.
I'm not sure that equipment is ALL that important when you're beginning to cultivate foundational habits (embouchure, air stream, articulation), assuming you're getting some expert help in those areas.
Or, if they ARE that important, a good teacher should be able to direct you to a smaller, more selective universe of mouthpiece and reed choices than could a bunch of (cultivated, sophisticated, no doubt well intentioned) randos (i.e., myself) over the internet.
Good luck!
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Author: spikey1973
Date: 2023-05-15 19:26
I do agree, the first lesson will be scheduled soon, still waiting for the response of the teacher.
Never the less, I did ordered the C.W. Fobes Debut directly from Clark himself, I will find out about the (non-) benefit when it arrives. But I do know It will be better then then the mouthpiece that came with the clarinet itself.
The facing feels like a washboard, no way that can give a goed seal.
and that crap mouthpiece, does give me a change to go and fiddle around to see if I can upgrade it a bit.. vs what is now. with the fobes (which I will never touch) as a reference. Just for fun.
Kind greats
Matthieu
Post Edited (2023-05-15 19:31)
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