Hi all. I spoke to the music shop in Harrogate over the phone yesterday and asked if they have E13 in stock. They do and I will go and try it soon. However, the lady there suggested that simply replacing the mouthpiece and ligature could yield good results in terms of improved sound. Has anyone tried this and if so what was the result?
Don't know if we are going to Banks today. If the E11 is only a wood version of the B12 I might decide to push the boat out and go for the E13 anyway. My friend has a problem with her ears at present so won't be the best judge of what I sound like anyway!!
Thanks for any advice and input.

If you have a Buffet clarinet of any description (be it the B12 or right up the top end with the Prestiges and suchlike), I'd strongly recommend changing the mouthpiece. Buffet make lovely clarinets, but less lovely mouthpieces... Try some different ones : Vandoren, Morgan, Hite, Pomarico all make good mouthpieces (the latter manufacturer's ones being crystal, which, while not my favourite, are good quality mouthpieces)



It is possible the new E11 France model is a cut above the old E11 : I'd still try both E11 and E13.

Hi Fenix,

I think the right mouthpiece and ligature set up can make a world of difference to your instrument. I upgraded my mouthpiece and ligature earlier in the year and have been really pleased with the difference in my sound. Mouthpiece set ups (like instruments) are a very individual thing and what suits one person or instrument won't necessarily suit another, so I wouldn't like to make any particular recommendations. However, I have a Vandoren B40L (and also a B45, which I use from time to time) and a Rovner Dark leather ligature.

For what it's worth, although Buffet make fine clarinets and are highly regarded as instrument makers, I understand that their mouthpieces often come in for criticism. There are lots of really good mouthpieces but Vandoren mouthpieces, like their reeds, are generally quite highly regarded, particularly at this level. The website is worth a look, just to see the range of mouthpieces available and the descriptions of their sound etc. Do consider what size reed you would normally play on when choosing and also consider what kind of a sound you are looking for (smooth and mellow or 'bright' and jazzy etc) and what kind of music you prefer to play. It is worth listening to some clarinet players, just to hear how much the sound and playing style can vary. Find one you like and think about what kind of sound they have - you will be amazed at how different the instruments can sound!

I would also add that I have no idea what level you are playing at or whether you are looking for a long term upgrade or just an improvement to your instrument to help you progress. I had always understood that once you reached Grade 5 it was recommended that a plastic student instrument should be upgraded to a wooden one but I have heard many people say that they have gone right through to Grade 8 on a plastic instrument. I think perhaps that mouthpieces and instruments at the entry level have now improved to such an extent that it is possible to achieve the quality of sound on a well made plastic instrument which might at one time have only been possible to achieve on a wooden one.

Good luck whatever you decide to do!


Ha ha - it took me so long to write my response that you've beaten me to it, Barry-clari! Glad you're in agreement about the Buffet mouthpieces! Suspect that's why the lady in the shop mentioned it!

In my experience the mouthpiece makes an enormous difference. Go somewhere where you can try out several and even when you think you've decided try to get it on approval and try it out in your normal surroundings for a week. Good Luck!

Thanks for such swift and helpful replies. I love the smooth mellow sound a clarinet can produce and my interests lie primarily in broadstream classical - although I enjoyed Stranger on the Shore when I learnt it some years ago.

I suppose I am about Grade V or VI. I will certainly try some different mouthpieces and am grateful to the lady for suggesting it. Makes such a change from the aggressive sales pitch we so often encounter today.

I enjoyed playing several pianos before choosing the Sauter masterclass and found the search stimulating and thoroughly enjoyable so hope the clarinet odyssey will be similarly enlightening.

Thanks again.

In my limited experience mouthpiece definately makes a big difference but I was surprised how much of a difference the ligature makes aswell.

I didn't get on with the Rovner ones and am now the proud owner of a Vandoren Optimum. It's has 3 different plates that you can mess around with and I love it personally. I've actually found the combination of moutpiece / lig that seems to work for me now

Lois

I asked similar questions a little over a year ago:

You may find the replies I received on these threads helpful


http://www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=31372&hl=
http://www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=31632&hl=
http://www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=31721&hl=

And also this one: My celebratory thread

http://www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=31698&hl=

Thanks Dawn. Most interesting to read the comments on your previous threads. I live near Pocklington and always try to attend as many of the Burnby Hall concerts as I can.
Interestingly, I have just returned from a duet session with my friend and we sounded so much better when she put the longer barrel on her instrument. It's amazing what altering certain parts of the clarinet can achieve. We learn all the time!!

After the summer holidays I was getting ready for the band rehearsals. For concerts, I use a fantastic old full boehm R13 with a Vandoren M15 mouthpiece, carefully adjusted reed and Pyne barrel. For processions outside I use my cheap hard rubber Hanson student clarinet with the barrel it came with, any old soft reed and a B45 mouthpiece that makes plenty of noise!

I had everything out on the sofa and was making sure it all worked. The sound was so beautiful and I was just thinking what an amazing clarinet my old R13 was, when.... I realised that I was playing the Hanson clarinet but with my best mouthpiece, reed and barrel combination.

I know that I'd read for years how the MP, reed and barrel were so important but this was the first time I'd really experienced it as a sort of blind test.

Steve

Wow! As someone who plays on a basic Yamaha student plastic clarinet and dreams of owning a vintage R13 one day, I am truly impressed by that!

Yes, I was amazed by the sound.

But remember that the reason some clarinets are expensive is not just because of their sound. Far more time goes into undercutting the toneholes to ensure it's in tune, keywork, pads and cork will be of the highest standard and of course, obtaining, selecting and preparing good pieces of grenadilla is a lot different from sticking a piece of hard rubber/ABS plastic in a lathe!

When I have spare time, I should compare the combinations with a tuner. That will be interesting.

A nice explanation of mouthpieces: http://www.clarinetxpress.com/facings.html


Steve

I think the quality of design is the most important thing for a clarinet . I now play almost exclusively on a Ridenour Lyrique hard rubber clarinet which plays for me as well as any other high end wood clarinet I've played, so no longer subscribe to the belief that wood = good, anything else= bad. Admittedly wood is much more beautiful to look at than hard rubber but it's other advantages outweigh this

In my opinion i'd ALWAYS try out some different mouthpieces first before changing the instrument. Failing that though, DO try as many clarinet as you can and even 2 or 3 of the same, e.g 3 E11's etc.

4 of my students have recently upgraded their clarinets, and all chose a different model! One a yamaha 450, one a yamaha 650, another the E11 (she also tried the 'so called' superior E13 but the E11 sounded better plus one E11 sounded vastly richer than the other 2 so that's the one she had) and the other students bought an E13.

I need to buy a better mouthpiece for my sopranino sax but unfortunately I will have no option but to mail order one and hope it will be o.k unless I want to drive all the way to London etc at saxophones.co.uk!

Hope you find the perfect set up, and keep us informed!



Saxgirl

http://www.keridegg.co.uk
to hear my compositions please visit; http://www.reverbnation.com/keridegg

Thanks for the replies. I will certainly try out several instruments but also some mouthpieces on my own instrument. Someone on another forum I visited has spoken very highly of the LeBlanc Esprit but apparently it is no longer made.

It ceased being made (I think) either late last year or early this. It's possible some places may still have stock of new Esprits though - Jonathan Myall still list it on their website.

woodwind exchange in Bradford stocked them last year. website here

If you are willing to travel it's another outlet to consider anyway. They are very helpful and knowledgeable and there's an instrument repairer/adjuster on the premises (which proved invaluable for me) They also have private practice rooms you can use. They also have a good stock of mouthpieces, reeds and ligatures to try too.

I wonder if it's worth you trying a leBlanc of a different model to see if the Leblanc keywork/setup suits you before you go to too much effort to track down an esprit. It really did not suit my hand shape at all but i know that Sklark preferred it. It all depends on your hand shape and your personal preference I guess..

Good luck in your Quest.