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The
number and diversity of clarinet and saxophone mouthpieces on the
market is staggering, add in all the technical terms banded about
and players would be forgiven for becoming bewildered by the options
available to them.
We have therefore below tried to explain some of the technical terms, discuss
the effects of varying various specifications and unravel some of the options
available. |
The "Geography" of
the Mouthpiece
The diagram below illustrates the main parts of the mouthpiece |
In
addition you may hear some of the following terms banded about:
| Table |
the
flat surface that the reed is placed upon. |
| Window |
the
hole in the mouthpiece between the tip rail and table. |
| Side
rails |
the
side edges of the window. |
| Baffle |
the
roof of the mouthpiece chamber. |
| Throat |
the
back of the mouthpiece, also referred to as the bore. |
|
Different
Mouthpiece Specifications
The materials used, dimensions, profiles and specifications of all these
parts of the mouthpiece can (and have) been adjusted over the years to
produce different sounds.
We have isolated some of the key variables below and explained their impact
on an instrument's playing characteristics and tone. |
Tip
Opening
Wider tip openings are free blowing and can be played more loudly. They
are brighter in sound and take more control to play. Narrower tip openings
conversely are more resistant to airflow, need a little less control to
play, and tend to have a darker and rounder sound. |
Baffle
Height and Chamber Profile
The more the baffle is built into the tone chamber "a high baffle" (thus
reducing its size), the more edge and brightness the tone will have. A "low
baffle" creates a somewhat darker sound. |
Bore
Small bore mouthpieces give a tighter more compact, focused sound. They
are more individualistic in nature and less ensemble orientated. Large
bore mouthpieces have a broad and open sound quality and blend well in
ensemble situations. |
Material
Student
mouthpieces are generally made of plastic. These are strong and the manufacturing
process allows them to be moulded to precise dimensions for uniformity
of specification.
Professional mouthpieces are generally made from Ebonite (hard rubber)
or metal - although other materials such as crystal are sometimes used. |
| Metal
mouthpieces tend to resonate quicker than ebonite, giving a brighter
more projected sound. |
Choosing
Your Mouthpiece
Thus by combining these various factors together one is able to create
a mouthpiece with the right characteristics for the playing you do and
the sound you want to create. Generally speaking Jazz mouthpieces are brighter
in tone and may be metal with a high baffle, whereas classical mouthpieces
are darker and sweeter in tone and typically are made from ebonite with
a larger chamber. We've listed the prices of the most popular makes and
models. Most are available in a range of different sizes. |
|
To
help you choose your mouthpiece we've enclosed mouthpiece comparison
charts that compare the specifications of various makes and models.
For more information and advice about choosing the right mouthpiece
for you please call us or look at our website.
Our best selling mouthpiece models are as follows: |
| Clarinet |
| Student |
Buffet
- BC125 |
| Professional |
David
Hite - Premiere & Professional Range
Vandoren
- 5RV, B40, B45
Otto
Link - 5* |
|
Tenor
Sax |
|
| Student |
Yamaha
4C |
| Professional |
Otto
Link (ebonite & metal)- 6*, 7, 7*
Vandoren
(ebonite) - T20, Java JVT55
Selmer
- C*, C** |
|
| Alto
Sax |
|
| Student |
Yamaha
4C |
| Professional |
Otto
link (ebonite & metal)- 5*, 6, 6*
Vandoren
- A6 V16M, A6 V16S
Selmer
- C*, C**
Meyer
6M |
|
Alto
Sax
Tip
opening mm |
-1.75 |
1.75-1.85 |
1.90-1.95 |
2.00-2.05 |
2.10-2.15 |
2.20-2.30 |
2.35-2.40 |
2.50-2.55 |
2.60-2.70 |
2.00+ |
| Vandoren
V5 |
A15-A20 |
A25 |
A27 |
A35 |
A45 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Selmer |
C-C° |
C°° |
D |
E |
|
F |
G |
|
H |
|
| Meyer
Ebonite |
3-4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
|
| Meyer
Metal |
|
5J |
6J |
7J |
|
8J |
|
|
|
|
| Otto
Link |
4-5 |
5° |
6 |
6° |
7 |
7° |
8 |
8° |
9 |
9° |
| Larsen |
65 |
70 |
75 |
80 |
85 |
90 |
95 |
100 |
105 |
110 |
| Lawton
Metal |
4/5/5° |
6 |
6° |
7 |
7° |
8 |
8° |
9 |
9° |
|
| Yamaha
Student |
4c-5c |
6c |
7c |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yamaha
Custom |
4cm |
5cm |
6cm |
7cm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yanigasawa
Metal |
|
|
|
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
|
|
| Yanigasawa
Ebonite |
4 |
5 |
6 |
|
7 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
Tenor
Sax
Tip
opening mm |
-1.90 |
|
2.15-2.26 |
2.30-2.45 |
2.50-2.55 |
2.56-2.68 |
2.70-2.80 |
2.90-2.95 |
3.00-3.15 |
3.35-3.50 |
| Vandoren
V5 |
T15 |
T20-T25 |
|
|
|
T35 |
|
|
|
|
| Selmer |
C-C°° |
D |
E |
F |
G |
|
H |
I |
J |
K |
| Meyer
Ebonite |
4 |
5-6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
|
| Meyer
Metal |
|
|
|
5J-6J |
7J |
8J |
9J |
|
|
|
| Otto
Link |
4-4° |
5 |
5° |
6-6° |
7 |
7° |
8 |
8° |
9-9° |
10-10° |
| Larsen |
75 |
80 |
85 |
90-95 |
100 |
105 |
110 |
|
120 |
130 |
| Lawton
Metal |
4° |
5 |
5° |
6-6° |
7 |
7° |
8 |
8° |
9 |
9-10° |
| Yamaha
Student |
5c-6c |
7c |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yamaha
Custom |
5cm-6cm |
7cm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yanigasawa
Metal |
|
|
|
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
|
|
| Yanigasawa
Ebonite |
|
5 |
6 |
78 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clarinet
Tip
opening mm |
1.0-1.005
|
|
1.09-1.11 |
1.15-1.17 |
1.195-1.20 |
1.23-1.25 |
1.26-1.47 |
Short
Facing
17.00-18.50mm
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schreiber
E3A |
|
|
|
Vandoren
Crystal A1 |
Vandoren
Crystal A2 |
|
|
Vandoren
Crystal A3 |
|
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|
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|
Buffet
5 125 |
|
|
|
|
|
Meyer
4 |
Meyer
5 |
Meyer
6 |
Selmer
B |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Med-long
Facing
18.50-20.00mm |
|
Yamaha
4c |
Yamaha
5c |
|
Yamaha
6c |
|
Yamaha
7c |
Otto
Link 3* |
|
|
Otto
Link 4 |
|
Otto
Link 5 |
Otto
Link 6 |
|
|
|
Otto
Link 4* |
|
Otto
Link 5* |
Otto
Link 6* |
|
Selmer
C |
Selmer
C* |
Selmer
CC* |
|
|
Selmer
E |
|
Yamaha
4CMcustom |
Yamaha
5CMcustom |
Yamaha
6CMcustom |
|
|
Yamaha
7CMcustom |
|
|
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|
Buffet
F3a 125 |
|
|
Vandoren
5RV |
Vandoren
B44 |
Vandoren
B46 |
|
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Vandoren
5RV13 |
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|
Vandoren
11.1 |
Vandoren
11.6 |
Vandoren
B40 |
|
|
|
|
Vandoren
5RV lyre |
|
Vandoren
B40 13 |
|
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|
Vandoren
5RV lyre 13 |
|
Vandoren
B45 |
|
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|
Vandoren
B45 13 |
|
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|
Vandoren
B45 Spot |
|
|
Vandoren
M13 |
|
|
Vandoren
V13 |
|
|
Vandoren
B45 Lyre |
|
Selmer
C85 105 |
|
Selmer
C85 115 |
Selmer
C85 120 |
Selmer
C9 123 |
Selmer
C95 126 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selmer
C9 130 |
| Long
21-44mm |
|
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Vandoren
5JB |
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