Upgrading Clarinet Mouthpiece, but which one?

Question

Currently I'm using a Vandoren B45. Love the thing to death, but i'm really looking to expand my horizon. I play a Buffet R12 w/ silver plated keys, love it too! What is the professional standard of mouthpiece? there's the M15 and 5RV and in the vandoren catalog, every mouthpiece claims to be the best!

i'm looking for something that would aid the higher register notes better, such as high high D and above. While sounding good in the low, and just gives the clarinet a little more projection.

Thanks for all the help! it's greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

I agree with the first poster, you just got to play 'em all and see what works. Even two of the same brand and style will differ slightly.

But this is the most important part. Have some good reeds with you, already broken in. And try to use the same reed on the different mouthpieces.

Then you might try a harder or softer one and see how you like that. A mouthpiece is only half the battle, it's the mouthpiece reed combo that is key.

While you are there try some with wider tip openings. Sometimes that can help with projection, but it can also give a more jazzy tone which you might not be looking for.

I'm assuming you'll be playing on your own clarinet and thus know it's tendencies, but bring a good tuner with as well. This way you can see if a certain mouthpiece makes you a little flat or sharp. Be wary if it makes you flat, it's a lot of work to bring your pitch back up but if it's sharp you can just pull out some. Also check that the different registers are all consistently in tune.

I like to play a chromatic scale, full range when trying out a new mouthpiece, reed combo or clarinet. Also bring some music you know well so you won't struggle with fingering or rythym but can use to try out the new mouthpiece. Make sure to try something with lots of tonguing. You want to know if it's too open and you'll struggle with that. If it's a little hard a softer reed might help but again it might affect your tone.

On a last note, many large music stores will let you return your mouthpiece if it doesn't work for you. Check and see if that is an option at your local stores. Nothing like playing on your mouthpiece for a few weeks to see if it works for you.

Hope that helps, Have fun shopping!

Answer 2

HI there....

Well, you have really gotten some very good advice and I agree.... you must try several mouthpieces and evaluate each one for the characteristics you are specifically looking for in a mouthpiece upgrade.   Since no brands have been mentioned thus far, I can offer this...  while you are trying them out,  ask if the shop has any Charles Bay or Gigolotti mouthpieces.   My daughter has both and likes each of them  but of the two, her favorite is the Charles Bay which is a slight bit older professional mouthpiece which she insists is ideal for her type and style of playing.  And, so far...  any of her students who have play tested it on their clarinets have just love the way it plays for them as well.    

Best luck and

Thanks for reading.

Answer 3

The thing with mouthpieces is that they're extremely personal and what suits one person won't suit another - I used to play a Pomarico crystal bass clarinet mouthpiece that everyone else in my section hated but I loved. My suggestion would be to get yourself down to a decent big music store with your clarinet and try a whole lot.  You'll quickly find that some mouthpieces will work for you and some won't so you'll be able to narrow it down and find one that you likthe most.