The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2002-01-29 13:41
I'm currently using a Vandoren B45 but have heard good things about the M15 mpc. Can anyone here give me feedback on the differences & similarities between these two mouthpieces? How do you like the M15? Same questions for the M14 & M13, since they would appear to be similar to the M15 based on the specs.
TIA,
Matt
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Author: sylvain
Date: 2002-01-29 16:12
Hi Matt,
I went through the process of getting a new mouthpiece last year and I ended up getting an M15.
All 3 M15, M14 and M13 are respectable mouthpiece.
I find the M13 too close, but the M13 Lyre very nice and dark.
The M14's I tried were very hit or miss, one sounded good but most of them I found stuffy,
I ended up going for the M15, which has a very centered and colorful sound (whatever that means). However the table is so long that finding good reeds for it might be more difficult than on your B45.
Also all of these mpc will give you less volume than your B45.
I would also look into the 5RV Lyre which is a medium facing and medium length and can sound very good.
The only really good advice I can give you is to go try as many as you can until you find something that is both comfortable to your chops and sounds good to your ears.
One last comment is that no 2 mouthpieces sound the same even 2 B45's or 2 M15's so don't buy because somebody told you they sound good, try them and bring somebody with a good pair of ears with you. And check the intonation with a tuner.
Best of luck,
-Sylvain
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Author: Ed
Date: 2002-01-29 17:05
The M series is a very different facing than the B45. Go to Vandoren's website and check the specs. I personally am waiting fo rthe M16! ;-)
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Author: james
Date: 2002-01-29 18:17
I don't use them so i have no clue, but i have heard that everyone that is at eastman has switched from their custom mouthpieces to the M15 so maybe they are worth a try
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Author: Jonathan from HK
Date: 2002-01-30 00:04
Among M15, M14, M13 and M13 Lyre, I feel M15 is the most comfortable one. However, as compared with B45 or other Vandoren "B"s, you need to use a harder reed on this "M" series.
As to M14, I believe after introducing M15 in the markets, M14 is no longer under production although many retailers must still have them in their stocks. See the most up-dated catalogue from Vandoren's website.
As to M15, there are two formats - series 13 which is pitched 440 hz. and profile 88 which is pitched 442 hz. I have both. In between them, I feel M15 (series 13) has a mellower tune but it tunes a bit flat from G (above the staff) up to C. It is perhaps I am using Buffet RC instead of R13 which is said to be matched with the series 13.
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Author: Sneakers
Date: 2002-01-30 05:05
We used M16's in the National Guard to fire at targets, but I don't think they were made by Vandoren.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-01-30 05:26
Sneakers wrote:
>
> We used M16's in the National Guard to fire at targets,
> but I don't think they were made by Vandoren.
The stock on some of them was made by Mattel ...
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-01-31 06:14
Both of you are speaking about M16 Armalite 'rifle' not mouthpiece.
Vandoren's M series are copies of Kasper. M means a player's name.
I have M13 and disliked it. General tendency of lack of hand finish may make them have inferior performance. Besides, original Kasper has a very small intentional concave on the table, which is too difficult to make by machine.
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2002-02-01 06:03
Actually, the M13 is a Chedeville copy. The facing is too close for many people, so I will usually recommend the M15 and 5RV13 to students when I give clinics.
Chris
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2002-02-02 12:05
Having changed to M15 a while ago I went back to my old MP since I had great problems finding V12 reeds. Today however I tried Black Master and they work very well with the small opening and long facing wich V12 can't match.
Alphie
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Author: MariusC.
Date: 2010-04-26 19:46
I went to a music store decided to buy a B45 and I ended buying a M15. I tried 4 mouthpieces in this order: the 5RV, B40, B45, and M15. I had a friend with me in the room while trying them in order to prevent from sacrificing the tone for comfort. I had the greatest difficulties with the 5RV. That is not to say that it is not a great MP but it just didn't fit me. The B40 and B45 were an improvement from my original MP I was using ( Vandoren A3 crystal), but despite of what i read prior about the ease of the air flow, I found it to be a bit resistant. And then I took the M15 and in the first second playing it I knew it was it. Very centered round colorful tone, yet very responsive, accurate and crisp articulation. The ease of the air flow was mind bugging to me: effortless. That was not doubt in my friend"s mind as well that this was the one for me.
I also bought a Vandoren Optimum ligature (with three pressure plates) and it is without a doubt the best ligature i ever get my hands on.
What i really want to emphasize regarding the mouthpieces is not as much the qualities that i found that suits me the best with the M15, but the fact that each person has a different face physiognomy, different mouth sizes, and musculature, and the only way one could really know if a mouthpiece would work with his/hers characteristics is to find a place where one could try a variety and then select the one fitting them the best.
Marius
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2010-04-26 22:46
Chris Hill is right on about being a chedeville blank with the M13. It's a tiny bit bright for me so I did some work on it to mellow it out. The facing is very good. It's a longer facing and less open tip then the B45.
The bore is a bit off causing some instruments to have intonation issues. I also reworked the bore with excellent results.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Bartmann
Date: 2010-04-28 14:00
Here is a link to a thread on this topic in 2009.
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=312288&t=312201
Bartmann
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Author: gigaday
Date: 2010-04-29 07:35
I switched to VD M15 from 5RV Lyre about a year ago. I had figured out by sanding another mpc that a small tip opening and long facing suited me well especially as it seemed to be more "reed friendly", playing a wider variety of reeds. But I knew that if ever anything happened to it I would never be able to reproduce it.
The M15 is has the smallest tip opening and longest facing of any mass produced mpc that I could find. It works well for me an I will stick with it - I was told by the supplier (who checked with VD) that it comes in 440 and 442 varieties.
Reeds that I can play generally out of the box are VD Trad 3, VD V12 3, Alexander Classique 3, Rico Grand Concert Select Thick Blank 3, Legere Original 3.
My preferred reeds though are Harry Hartmann Fiberreed Original M and Hahn 3 synthetics; both of which give a lot more volume, fuller sound and are freer blowing than the aforementioned canes.
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Author: Jimis4klar
Date: 2024-01-25 15:44
I've been trying M15 lately and I've found a good one between three of them but I can't find the ideal V12 reed strength, would be like 4.5+ but that doesn't exist. Should I try some M13 Lyres as the 4.5 can be more ideal?(seeing Vandoren mouthpiece chart).
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