 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: lbstole
Date: 2025-02-28 15:55
I'm in the process of replacing my 20+ year old Vandoren M13 Lyre mouthpiece. After trials at a few different music stores, I'm very likely just going to replace it with a new M13 Lyre. Along with a few M13 Lyres, I tried several M15s, a BD 2 and another BD that I don't remember the number, a Chedeville, I think a Backun, and a few other "boutique" mouthpieces at the recommendation of the clarinet specialist at the shops. It's come down to the M13 and the M15. I'm currently in possession of a Chadash barrel (borrowing from a friend), and was tempted by the combo of the M15 and a Chadash barrel. But the M13 (with my current barrel) just seems slightly more resonant and the articulation clearer. I do need to play around a bit more to double check on the pitch issues-both of them run slightly flat, which is one of the reasons I was interested in testing the Chadash barrel, since it's a 65mm while my own is a 66mm.
One question is, for those playing on an M13 Lyre, what's your preferred reed? Years ago I played a bit on Mitchell Lurie reeds, and also tried out V12s, but have always defaulted to the standard Vandoren blue box (size 3.5). How do you go about testing different reeds when a box is $30 a pop? One of my local music stores used to allow the sale of individual reeds, but that practice ended years ago. As such, I've never felt a strong inclination to deviate from the tried and true, but I'm very much interested in optimizing my setup right now. I just got some significant repairs done, not quite overhaul, but enough to make a big difference in my playing, and I'm currently working on the mouthpiece. I just recently had the realization that I've rarely questioned my setup in the nearly 30 years I've been playing (basically I just went with what my teachers told me I should get), and I want to make sure everything is serving me best. It may very well be that what I have is actually the best for me, but I'll never know if I don't explore what else is out there.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2025-02-28 20:31
lbstole wrote:
> I'm in the process of replacing my 20+ year old Vandoren M13
> Lyre mouthpiece. After trials at a few different music stores,
> I'm very likely just going to replace it with a new M13 Lyre.
> Along with a few M13 Lyres, I tried several M15s, a BD 2 and
> another BD that I don't remember the number, a Chedeville, I
> think a Backun, and a few other "boutique" mouthpieces at the
> recommendation of the clarinet specialist at the shops.
I'm curious what "boutique" mouthpieces are available at music stores these days.
> It's
> come down to the M13 and the M15. I'm currently in possession
> of a Chadash barrel (borrowing from a friend), and was tempted
> by the combo of the M15 and a Chadash barrel. But the M13 (with
> my current barrel) just seems slightly more resonant and the
> articulation clearer. I do need to play around a bit more to
> double check on the pitch issues-both of them run slightly
> flat, which is one of the reasons I was interested in testing
> the Chadash barrel, since it's a 65mm while my own is a 66mm.
>
Maybe I'm misreading, but you don't need to buy a Chaddash barrel to get 65mm.
> One question is, for those playing on an M13 Lyre, what's your
> preferred reed?
M13 Lyre is currently the spare mouthpiece in my clarinet case. I use the same 56 Rue lepic 3.5 reeds that I use on my regular mouthpiece.
> How do you go about
> testing different reeds when a box is $30 a pop?
Make your best guess and take the chance. Vandoren packages samplers - one reed each of different models of one strengths. It isn't a foolproof method of testing, but maybe better than buying a full box of each candidate. Start by trying the reeds you have on whatever mouthpiece you settle on, then go harder or softer based on the result. If you contact Clark Fobes about the Pilgerstorfers he sells or Brad Behn about his reeds, either will give you his
best advice if you tell them what you're used to.
Karl
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Author: ACCA
Date: 2025-02-28 20:33
The following are mouthpieces that a) I like and b) have some similar facing characteristics to the M13 lyre so will not feel too different.
Selmer focus and Echo
Morgan RM06 (which has now become my go-to.)
These have broadly similar facings to what you were playing (relatively narrow tip, medium long facing) but to me all 3 feel livelier, more responsive, and more "colourful" than the Vandoren, without sounding necessarily "brighter".
As always your mileage may vary. Good luck.
Regular readers on this forum will be aware of my appreciation of Pilgerstorfer Morre cut reeds, I can only say give them a try.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2025-03-01 00:37
Sounds like a good reasonable set up. I would just work on getting the sound you want from that equipment. There is SO much equipment available today that it is easy to go crazy.
IF you really want to experiment, try to identify what you are looking for or what you might be missing in your current set up. Then you can be focussed in your search to try to find a mouthpiece that may help reach that goal.
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Author: MrDanny
Date: 2025-03-01 07:00
There was a good suggestion above that a Vandoren sampler is one way to try out reeds without buying an entire box of each strength. Another option is Michael Lowenstern's Earspasm store, where you can buy several different kinds of individual reeds (not the whole box) quite inexpensively. https://www.earspasm.com/collections/clarinet-reeds
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2025-03-01 13:13
Try a different music shop. My local shop is quite happy selling single reeds. There is a high school just next door and the kids can't afford to buy them by the box.
Tony F.
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-03-01 21:20
This thread got me thinking about how a win-win situation might occur if some woodwind vendors made custom boxes of reeds of various makes models and strengths and then sold them for enough of a markup from purchase price (per reed) of a "box of 10" of one make and model to justify their time and overhead.
Sure, those say 20 reeds might be a little pricier than buying, say, "two boxes of 10 reeds" from one manufacturer, but some customers might be willing a pay a premium for the variety.
Deference to MrDanny's suggestion and Vandoren effecting this already is duly noted.
The boxes I envision would likely span several competing reed making companies and maybe strengths (e.g. Vandoren, Pilgerstofer, Leuthner, etc.) or even be customizable by the user, again, for a premium that pays for the vendor's time, but still affords the customer a cheaper option that buying larger quantities of brands that may disappoint them just to get variety.
Or maybe not...or maybe it's been done already....or maybe the reed manufacturers don't permit their vendor licensees to do this, much that a vendor who buys from the Weiner Musics and Clark Fobes etc. of the world and then rebundles the boxes might make sense. 
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Author: paulyb
Date: 2025-03-02 14:14
Dawkes in the UK offer selection boxes of 6 reeds (either "french" or "American" style). I have no idea how popular they are though:
https://www.dawkes.co.uk/clarinet-reed-selection-pack-french-cut/018459
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