Does anyone know if it is possible to buy a new mouthpiece for an old(ish) clarinet? I'm about to buy one off e-Bay and I'n a teeny bit worried about the hygiene aspect of using someone else's mouthpiece. Maybe I'm worried about nothing... although I would feel happier if I had a new one. Is this possible and how much are they? Advice and opinions much appreciated.

Yes, you're worrying about nothing. Mouthpieces are normally made of plastic and can be washed in soapy water. Second hand MPs sell on Ebay all the time. Some of the really old Kaspar MPs sell for hundreds!


Having said that, if you're serious about the clarinet, you should think about getting a good MP and barrel and keeping it for yourself.

The MPs that come with clarinets are usually pretty mediocre. I'd advise a Vandoren 5RV and later, a Vandoren B45. Do a search on Google, Ebay etc.

But don't run before you can walk. The MP that came with your clarinet should be okay for now. One word of advice. Get your teacher to try it out for you. The slightest scratch on the facing (where the reed lies) can make it almost unplayable.

What do you mean by oldish? For me, an oldish clarinet is more than 30 - 40 years old.

Steve

Couldn't have put it better myself, stevensfo! Excellent advice as ever.

A good mouthpiece will make a real difference to your sound, but unless there's a fault with it, the mouthpiece that comes with your clarinet should be adequate at first. Use steven's advice to clean a second-hand mouthpiece if you're concerned about picking up other people's germs.