A little less than the 5JB

[tenor and soprano]

Hey,
I just got a Vandoren 5JB profile 88 to try out. I think it's a good player, just the sound is a little less focused than I'd like. What is a step down from the 5JB in terms of tip opening?

[Silvio Martin]

I think you must try V45 or V45 Lyre

[jicaino]

B40 lyre

[Silvio Martin]

V 40 is too shutted

[jicaino]

Says who? close or open are related to the player and not to your personal opinion qich by the way suits the way you're built.

this is the tip opening chart: http://www.vandoren.fr/en/tab3.html

The B40 is more open than a B45 (it's B for Bernard) and more closed than a B45 lyre. The B40 lyre is great IMHO because of the facing lenght/tip opening balance, sounds less similar to a penny flute or a bagpipe than those french klezmer aimed mouthpieces (not that's anything wrong with klezmer music or klezmer clarinets, I don't think that they have an universal appreciation as far as tone, timbre and articulation are concerned)

[MM]

B45's can be pretty good for crossover playing.