Okay so last year I broke my gigliotti P34 mouthpiece during marching band. It's been about an year since I switched to vandoren b45 mouthpiece. I've never quite adjusted to it. It's been like one big battle to play like I've used to but it's just not working. I'm beggaring to squeak, and I've tried just about every reed strength there is but it's just not worth the time anymore to keep on using the b45.

However, I'm not made out of money and I'll feel too guilty to ask my parents for any money until Christmas. So, my question is basically: after a year and a half of using vandoren blue box reeds strength 2 1/2 with b45, do you think I should go back to gigliotti p34 with reed strength 4 again or should I take the chance of wasting a year and a half again?

thanks
-jello

Stick with whatever you feel best on. If that happens to be the gigliotti, then go back to that.

I'd go with a Vandoren M13-Lyre if I had the means to purchase a new one. It's the best mouthpiece for the price that I've ever played on (including the Gigliottis), and I have no reason to switch to anything else. Start with a 3.5 reed, anything lighter won't give you good results on this mpc.

I'd have to disagree, while they are good mouthpieces, he should go with whatever makes him feel most comfortable. All I have to say is try a bunch of stuff, and just play on what suits you best.

First I'd like to add that I'm a she.

But how do I know that there isn't some other mp out there better than a gigliotti? I've only tried four types so far. Would you say that four is enough?

@ Hump:
Thanks for responding to this. I really don't trust Vandoren anymore. It's like this bad experience has made me turn against their mouthpieces. And also, many said that b45 was the best mouthpiece that they'd ever used so this also makes me wonder.