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Clarinet mouthpieces

Posted by Claire on 9/10/2024, 9:02 am

Our woodwinds need some love and upgrades. Suggestions for good clarinet mouthpieces that won't completely break the bank?
OH...and lyres too.
Thanks in advance.

Re: Clarinet mouthpieces

Posted by FW24 on 9/24/2024, 3:22 pm, in reply to "Clarinet mouthpieces"

As others have said, Fobes Debut mouthpiece is a great mouthpiece that won't break the bank. He gave me one years ago at TMEA and I loved it.

Re: Clarinet mouthpieces

Posted by Pretzel Guy on 9/11/2024, 11:54 am, in reply to "Clarinet mouthpieces"

Just like Bog Shot Bob said, Fobes Debuts are great upgrades from the stock mouthpieces students get.

Re: Clarinet mouthpieces

Posted by Stoopid Trumpet Player on 9/11/2024, 7:58 am, in reply to "Clarinet mouthpieces"

My Jr High students all use the Fobes Debut and some have the Fobes Nova (I use it myself as well). Great mouthpiece for the price!

Re: Clarinet mouthpieces

Posted by DesertJazz on 9/10/2024, 10:45 pm, in reply to "Clarinet mouthpieces"

For affordable the Fobes Debut remain the most affordable option that are better than the stock mouthpieces. I personally have grown to prefer the Vandoren M13 Lyres for MS students, and M30 for my HS students if you can afford them. (They're not that much more in the grand scheme)

For ligatures in a school I will always say Rovner classics. Are there some ligatures that might respond better? Yes. Are there ligatures that can be stepped on and still work? They're one of the only ones I know of. They sound more than adequate enough and are nearly indestructible.

Re: Clarinet mouthpieces

Posted by Anon on 9/10/2024, 6:04 pm, in reply to "Clarinet mouthpieces"

Soprano Clarinet: Van Doren M15 with 13 chamber

Re: Clarinet mouthpieces

Posted by Bog Shot Bob on 9/10/2024, 5:38 pm, in reply to "Clarinet mouthpieces"

Clark Fobes use to have a great student model. D’addario Reserves are more but sound great.

Re: Clarinet mouthpieces

Posted by anon on 9/10/2024, 4:18 pm, in reply to "Clarinet mouthpieces"

Vandoren 5RV Lyre, maybe some of the M13 models. There are some decent plastic student models available: Clark Fobes, Michael Lomax-these will run about $45 if I remember correctly.

Re: Clarinet mouthpieces

Posted by Clarinet player on 9/19/2024, 6:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Clarinet mouthpieces"

I second the Vandoren M13. It makes such a beautiful sound with a good embouchure. I have used so many ligatures in my life. I do like the Rovner but,not the fakes.

In HS I used a Bonade in 9th grade, moved to a Harrison Gold (that one can be stepped on rather well), tried a Harrison Silver, and ended up with a Charles Bay mouthpiece and Bay ligature. I went through the same with reeds- Vandoren, More', and ended with Oliveri' - I really liked the last one.
(excuse my spelling errors)

The Vandoren Rue Lepic size 3.5+ remind me of the Oliveri. I have no earthly idea why I had to change so much.

My Arkansas beginning clarinet teacher had the best set up- Vandoren 2RV (yes,I am older) and Bonade. I was happy with that.

---->>> ALL of this switching was made by my teacher at the time- high school private lesson teacher. He went to school at North Texas but, geez ...

Got to college and little did I know that I would have to go through this again with even weirder setups ... Barbeck mouthpiece and a velcro ligature. Yikes, and a dozen more combos.

Find something you like and stay with it.

Sometimes you might be able to come across used M13's. If beginners return instrument the mouthpiece usually goes with it, Just make sure you speak to a music vendor early in the spring to get pricing. And make sure that all of those mouthpieces are disinfected.

Happy Tooting

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