 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2026-04-25 23:10
I stumbled upon this on Amazon while looking for a different mouthpiece.
It's an acrylic, student mouthpiece, 1.00 mm/34 facing with rubber "O" rings.
I highly recommend checking it out. Why? Because Julian Bliss performs (imo) an absolutely astounding, very long and very slow gliss which I have never heard played like this before. (I actually clicked on the video twice because I enjoyed it so much.) (Yes, I know....it's the player and not the equipment.)
Perhaps this is old news for some, but entirely new to me.
I wanted to provide a link to Amazon, but, I think that's against the rules.
Here's Vandoren's intro ad: https://vandoren.fr/en/new-juno-j5-bb-clarinet-mouthpiece/
p.s. Corrected tip opening.
Post Edited (2026-05-14 08:36)
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Author: amy312james
Date: 2026-05-12 15:23
Julian Bliss really elevates that demo—his gliss shows how much artistry can make even a student mouthpiece shine. Vandoren’s Juno J5 looks like a solid entry‑level option, but that performance receive your monthly billing statement makes it feel anything but basic.
Post Edited (2026-05-13 09:36)
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-05-12 21:04
No shade to Vandoren and I'm really glad they now have an affordable student acrylic mouthpiece.
I wanted to follow up on amy312james comment and (of course) it's the player, not the equipment.
Jay Hassler (ClarinetNinja on YouTube) interviewed Ron Odrich. He talks about his equipment being the worst in the world and his teacher playing his equipment and making it sing.
Here's the YT short:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9eP7j8GXqzo
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Artist Homage and MT36 mouthpieces
Vandoren Optimum black ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #3.5 & #5 reeds
Brad Behn HR adjustable barrel
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2026-05-14 03:06
Here’s a 2nd Juno J5 Demo by Julian Bliss, only this time he mentions:
“For more information on the Juno J5 clarinet mouthpiece, visit sweetwater.com or get in touch with your Sweetwater sales engineer.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxtJKlueiYk
Smart man. Why get paid by just one sponsor...when you can get paid by two?
Here are 4 analyses from the following link:
https://www.musicngear.com/vandoren-bb-clarinet-juno-j5
#1) (listed under “WHO IS IT FOR”) of who would be interested in the juno j5 (listed as Fans of the Vandoren Bb Clarinet juno j5) by: 1) artist %’s: 2) genre %’s; and 3) subgenre %’s.
#2) Next in line is “Fans of Vandoren Bb-Clarinet juno j5” by country. (What is that really dark red one?)
#3) Next we have “Fans of Vandoren Bb-Clarinet juno j5” by age, by gender and by type of use.
As I understand it, all of the above numerical statistical data was derived by the use of: How does the Goodforme Test work?
(I’m sure that everybody can clearly see unequivocally how all of the above information is absolutely necessary to choose a beginner clarinet mouthpiece!) (Written with my tongue thoroughly in my cheek...)
Lastly, #4) under Latest Test Results we have...ugh...some unusual data. (Oh my...Lady Gaga certainly got a low percentage.)
Isn’t all of this interesting and valuable?
p.s. I began to wonder if musicngear was legit or an AI product. It's legit.
https://www.musicngear.com/about
Post Edited (2026-05-14 06:46)
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2026-05-14 07:34
Dan,
I was hoping the J5 had a 1.09 x medium facing like the 5RV Lyre, but the Vandoren site says 1.0 x medium (like the Fobes Debut).
Where did you get the specs, or did you actually measure a sample?
(BTW I play Gleichweit Acrylic mouthpieces and they sound and play great!)
Thanks,
Bob Barnhart
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2026-05-14 10:09
>> My initial listing was wrong. A 1.09/34 would be too resistant for a beginner. <<
The 5RV and maybe even more so the 5RV Lyre are some of the most common beginner mouthpieces and they are 1.06 and 1.09 respectively.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2026-05-14 10:52
clarnibass,
You are correct. After doing much research of past beginner mouthpiece recommendations on this BB, the Vandoren 5RV and 5RV Lyre are highly recommended.
I tried a 5RV Lyre around 40 years ago and found it too resistant...for me.
That's the way I should have stated it. A 1.09/34 is simply too resistant for me personally.
Thanks for your input.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2026-05-15 08:40
Attachment: Juno J5 upper facing.jpg (158k)
Attachment: Juno J5 Full Facing.jpg (92k)
Attachment: Juno J5 Looking Inside.jpg (204k)
Attachment: Juno J5 My Setup.jpg (598k)
Yesterday evening, 05/13/26, around 10pm, I decided to go ahead and order a Juno J5. To my good fortune, it was delivered today, 05/14/26, around 11am from Amazon.
The first thing I did was to inspect it carefully to see if someone else had had it before me. While looking for scratches and teeth marks, when I looked at the facing...I was absolutely astonished! I wanted to check as to how it was “sculptured” and was taken aback by the psychedelic colors of the entire facing as light reflected off of it. I have never seen anything like this before. I was completely entranced by all of the different colors! (Please see “Upper Facing” and “Full Facing” pictures.)
I next looked at the interior and I was a bit disappointed to see a drop off from the barrel to the baffle. I estimated this drop off to be around 1/32 of an inch or 0.5mm. (Please see the “Looking Inside” picture.) I thought it might affect the play ability but it didn’t seem to.
After I assembled everything, I decided to use a Juno #2 reed which I had problems with on my Gennusa Mezzo to see if the deadness of the reed was still there or whether it would like the Vandoren Juno J5 mouthpiece better. After wetting the reed and securing it with my original Rovner Dark ligature, it played beautifully for me. I went all the way up to D6 with no problems. I replaced the Rovner Dark with my Rovner Light and I was able to play all the way up to E6. Not bad...not bad at all. (The Juno #2 reed is actually around 1.75 on various reed comparison charts.)
So, how would I rate the Juno J5 to all of the other well advertised beginner mouthpieces? I know it’s just my hobbyist opinion, however, I would rate the Juno J5 well above everything else on the market. It is so incredibly easy for me to play and the tone is very pleasant to my ears. But, there is something even better...playing the Juno J5 was just so darn much fun to play!
And, for me, that is the only reason I play...to have fun!
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The Clarinet Pages
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