 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: shelbylovesbuffets
Date: 2024-06-15 02:22
I’m currently trying to buy a new mouthpiece for one of my new clarinets, a Buffet Crampon Premium. While looking through available mouthpieces I found that some have a “longer tip opening.” For marching band, and concert band, does a longer tip opening produce a stronger sound, or does it benefit in other ways? Thank you!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: lydian
Date: 2024-06-15 02:59
You can play louder, but at the cost of a harsher tone since you have to take in more mouthpiece. I personally don’t like it. If you don’t care about tone quality in those situations, go for it.
Post Edited (2024-06-15 08:48)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SecondTry
Date: 2024-06-15 06:08
Where do I begin....?
Maybe first with an answer. I think you should get the closer (notice how I don't use your word longer (and shorter) tip mouthpiece.
I shy away from the words longer and shorter because they are usually used to describe the length of the rails on the side of the mouthpiece. All else equal (and in mouthpieces nothing is equal!) longer rail mouthpieces are easier to play.
Of course the curvature of these rails, and when the reed separates from them, their width, the material the mouthpiece is made of, the size and shape of the area under the tip of the reed (the window), that relatively flat surface its sits on (the table) its internal dimensions, and about 10 other factors add to a mouthpiece's individuality.
Tip openings are usually quoted in 1/100ths of a millimeter. The, for example, Vandoren M15 mouthpiece, advertised as having a 103.5 tip opening (which is relatively small) is really 1.035mm in size.
You sound like you are newer to clarinet play than older. For any given reed strength closer tip mouthpieces should be less fatiguing on your developing embochure (i.e. the face muscles that grip the mouthpiece). That grip BTW is effected 360 degrees around the mouthpiece by not just the jaw, up and down, but the muscles that control side pressure, like a rubber band wraps around a object with pressure from all angles.
I don't think I'd equate sound production with tip opening.
I'll stop here. Not only do others have different things to say and add, but a treatise on mouthpieces just isn't indicated here.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: shelbylovesbuffets
Date: 2024-06-15 08:08
Thank you so much for your answer! I’ve been playing clarinet for 5 years and bass clarinet for 3, the community of other players helps me feel a little less lost. This was very helpful.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: lydian
Date: 2024-06-15 08:47
Just to clarify, my earlier comments are referring to facing length, not tip opening. So if you actually meant tip opening, my comments do not apply. I’ve never actually heard of anyone offering various facing lengths for a given clarinet tip opening. The only example I can think of is Berg Larsen sax mouthpieces.
If you really did mean tip opening, I do have some insights I can post as I’ve experimented quite a bit with those over the past several decades.
Post Edited (2024-06-15 08:50)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Eichler
Date: 2024-06-15 12:26
There is tip opening and facing length. Don't know what you mean by tip length. In any case, I would suggest using whatever style of concert-style (what you would use in a wind ensemble, orchestra, chamber group, etc.) mouthpiece with good reed of a resistance appropriately matched to the type of mouthpiece facing. Unless you are a pretty advanced player, I would not mess around with different types of mouthpieces for different musical situations. Typical mouthpieces in the Vandoren range would be M13, 5RV-Lyre, and B40 or B45, ranging from close, to medium-close, to medium/medium-open tip openings. The B40 and B45 will tend to work with somewhat lighter reeds than the others. If you are moving from a beginner or student mouthpiece, the 5RV Lyre with a Vandoren 3.5 to 4 reed is probably about as good a place as any to start. Never actually played in a marching band, but I play jazz with a concert-type set-up, and I find that doing some of your practicing outdoors (especially when there is traffic noise to contend with) can really help your sound and projection.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2024-06-15 20:29
Fairly good synopsis of the issue above. But, if you pair a longer lay with a slightly more open tip, you can get exactly the same "feel/resistance" only coming from a different approach.
I like the analogy of dangling a wooden ruler off the edge of a desk and strumming it. If you pull the ruler back (less of it extended off the table) and strum it, it vibrates faster and for a shorter time. That is what happens with the length of the lay. You can compensate for a smaller tip opening by making the length of the lay shorter (and the reverse is true). So it really boils down to trying out mouthpieces that may initially seem a little too open or a little too closed since that is only one part of the equation. Once you feel the differences in those two sides of the coin you may decide you prefer shorter lay mouthpieces (or longer ones). It all takes some time, patience, and more playing.
...............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2024-06-15 20:45
Shelby,
After reading your post carefully, several times, what came to my mind is that you sense the need to have a louder, more projecting, or in your words: a "stronger sound". This may be because the trumpets, trombones, and saxes are overpowering the clarinet section that you are in.
A mouthpiece that came to my mind was the Jody Jazz HR*. They advertise this mouthpiece to have a warm, more projecting sound ideal for marching bands and concert bands.
It might be worth your while to have a look at them. (I suggest a #2 or possibly a #3 tip opening).
https://jodyjazz.com/hr-star-bb-clarinet/
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: eac
Date: 2024-06-16 01:07
For marching band, consider Brad Behn’s subsidiary EPIC CNC Prescot mouthpiece and a Legere reed. You can choose the facing you want. Plenty of volume and projection with this combination. It might not be exactly what you want for concert band but definitely worth considering for marching band. Same comment for Legere reeds.
Liz Leckey
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2024-06-16 01:31
Concerning Brad Behn's Prescott clarinet mouthpiece, Brad has a totally different website devoted entirely to this mouthpiece. If you click on contact, you can either text him a message or call him by the phone number listed.
As to the tip openings, when you click on "Buy", the tip openings are listed as Close, Medium, and Open.
https://www.epic-cnc.com/prescott-mouthpieces
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Evert
Date: 2024-06-25 09:39
Please share your insights =)
Edit, this was a response to "lydian"
Post Edited (2024-06-25 09:40)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: m1964
Date: 2024-06-26 05:37
I may have missed it but I do not see the OP saying what MP he/she is using right now.
I think the starting point may determine the future MP choice.
The OP is looking for a new MP for a Buffet Premium.
Does it matter what clarinet you play when you choose a MP?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2024-06-26 12:57
m1964, basically every Vandoren mouthpiece should suite every Buffet clarinet (that is, the mouthpieces for French system clarinets, not necessarily German or Austrian). Just choose between the 13-series and the "non 13-series", according to your pitch level (a=440/442).
Yes, to know the OP's current mouthpiece choice would be most helpful, for advice about a louder sound.
Post Edited (2024-06-26 12:58)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2024-06-26 18:21
Well................
A louder sound comes from HOW you use your air in conjunction with the energy of the embouchure surrounding the mouthpiece. You can be super loud on ANY mouthpiece.....that works.
[I just wanted to wait a little before I said that]
................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2024-06-26 21:52
Paul, I would still argue that a loud sound is easier achievable on some mouthpieces than others (and I'm sure you agree).
My own general standpoint is against any kind of "unnecessary" effort, be it "biting" or blowing harder than what I perceive as reasonable comfortable. This I weigh in also when testing new mouthpieces. I also need to take my blood pressure level into account, considering blowing resistance/loud enough sound...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2024-06-26 22:58
Not really...........
Lately, within the last 3yrs I'd say I would have some issue getting as much out of a German mouthpiece (Wurlitzer, or Gleichweit), but it probably would only take 6 months to get that back as well.
I recall waiting for a demonstration at school by Larry Combs and Professor Riekoff of the Berlin Hochschuller and thinking that Larry would undoubtedly over power Riekoff's sound. From another room, I heard one of them warming up and thought it must be Larry because it was such a loud resonant sound. I came to find just minutes later that was NOT the case.
It's how you play
..................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2024-06-27 23:19
There are so many variations in mouthpieces the tip onening is only one. So much depends of the students embouchure, tongue side, teeth formation and the list goes on. Best way to know, have them they several .
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
