e-flat clarinet mouthpieces

[saxtyro]

On the infrequent occasions when I play (little) e-flat clarinet, I use a Selmer C* moutpiece; does anybody have any other mouthpieces they would recommend ?

[bandmommy]

What style are you playing?
It's hard to recommend a mouthpiece when we don't know what it will be used for. ie Classical, concert band?

I'm currently using an old VITO 2V on my eefer. It works well with just about any 4+ reed.

[MM]

Did not care for a Charles Bay. It produced a lot of volume but the intonation was very wild. Pitch control was much easier with a Vandoren; I think it was a B44 but I forget. The Eb clarinet was a Buffet.

[joethemusician]

Vandoren 5RV changed my life when I switched to it for Eb clarinet. I took an audition for the Louisville Symphony as an auxiliary musician and had to prepare the Berlioz Symphony Fantastique excerpt. It gave me a big but refined sound. They are pretty cheap all things considered as well! Try a few since of course they are all different.

I'm always partial to vandoren mouthpieces but I know a lot of people at my Master's program played on a Lomax. Good luck!!!

[super20dan]

i use vandoreen b44 also. have a selmer c* as a backup

[Roger Garrett]

When I studied with John Yeh on Eb clarinet, he was using a Vandoren 5RV. But the missing information is that John can play on anything - and make it sound and work great.

I was playing on a Vandoren 5RV at the time as well - and it was ok. John thought it was really great......?

Anyway - I later purchased a Greg Smith Eb made from a Zinner blank. By the way, Richard Hawkins was the maker of the mouthpiece that Greg sold me - serial number 004 (!). Richard used to make all of Greg's mouthpieces before they parted company a year or so after Greg started up.....but, I digress.

The Zinner based Eb is exceptional. When I learned how to make mouthpieces, I adjusted the Eb I own to play better. I've sold a large number of Eb mouthpieces - most which play better than the one I own - but I like the fact that I have this original Hawkins with Smith's name on it, so I keep it and use it! The bottom line is this - when it comes to Eb clarinet mouthpieces - the person making the mouthpiece had better be able to play Eb clarinet well - otherwise - it's a crap shoot. Having said that, an Eb mouthpiece made from a Zinner blank is, in my professional opinion, far beyond the Vandoren line.

Best wishes,
Roger Garrett

[jmathesonjr]

Mr. Garrett,

Don't you make mouthpieces? Many a clarinetist at NIU and my sax teacher have talked about you and mouthpieces.

[Wicked Good]

Vandoren 5RV here, and an old 2RV as a backup.

[clarnut]

I like those by Clark Fobes very much. I also have an older David Hite that is very nice.

[Roger Garrett]

Mr. Garrett,

Don't you make mouthpieces? Many a clarinetist at NIU and my sax teacher have talked about you and mouthpieces.

Yes, I make 'em. You can find out more by going to my website at GarrettMusicProducts.com

If you want a dissertation on mouthpieces, check out the page with my sabbatical leave information. It's a lot of reading - but good, useful information.

I hope your teacher says good things?

Best,
Roger Garrett

[SaxPlayer1004]

I use a b45 and like it

[southernsax]

Gregory Smith plays great. So does Richard Hawkins.