Contrabass Digest

2002-02-19

From: "Jay and Adrienne Easton"
Subject: Re: [CB] Bass clarinet mouthpieces
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 16:45:50 -0800

>Can anyone tell me the brand name of some good, professional mouthpieces for
the Bass Clarinet along with the price?<

On the pricier end of the spectrum, I've had great resultes with Fobes and
Bay bass clarinet mouthpieces ($200-$250).
Roger Garrett makes a good pro mouthpiece for under $100.  All of these can be found at http://www.woodwindbrasswind.com/ where you can order 3 for a 20% down payment, and keep only the one you want.

Hope this helps,

Jay C. Easton
Instructor of Clarinet,
University of San Diego
www.jayeaston.com

---------------------------------------------------------

From: MVinquist
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2002 07:09:22 EST
Subject: [CB] Bass Clarinet Mouthpieces

Alex von Weurth-Hart asks:
>>Can anyone tell me the brand name of some good, professional mouthpieces
for the Bass Clarinet along with the price?<<

Alex -

Selmer bass mouthpieces run around $100 and are made of good material.  The
model to get is the C*, which is intermediate in length and tip opening.
However, their machinery is badly worn or badly out of adjustment, or both,
so the mouthpiece must be refaced and have the chamber adjusted before it
plays acceptably.  Unfortunately, the only way to get a good bass mouthpiece
is to go this route or buy a handmade one.

The late Everett Matson used to fix up a C* very nicely, and he did one for
me, but he's no longer with us.

Roger Garrett is an excellent bass player who reworks mouthpieces and sells
them for a relatively low price -- still under $100, I think.

Walter Grabner reworks a Selmer and sells it for around $100, and he also
does a handmade mouthpiece from a Babbit blank for somewhat more.

A step up from these are mouthpieces by Hite and Fobes, which go for maybe
$200 or a bit more.  Bay gets even a higher price, but I'm not sure they're
any better.  I play an Opperman, which is the best of all, but he makes them
only for his students.

You'll only pay for it once.  It doesn't make sense to save $50 and deprive
yourself of something you'll appreciate for the rest of your life.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw
***End of Contrabass Digest***

 
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