I'm looking at mouthpieces online, considering getting myself one as I'm currently playing my teacher's old mouthpiece, due to mine being deemed too harsh. anyway, I have no idea what the tip opening of either of the mouthpiece I play is, and no idea how to find out, and so trying to make comparisons is difficult.

how do I measure the tip opening?

<Added>

for that matter, if you have any recommendations for bass clarinet mouthpieces, feel free to share! :)

I absolutely recommend the Clark Fobes "San Francisco" mouthpiece, RR facing. If you like to play on harder reeds, the CF facing has a smaller tip opening. The RR has the same tip opening as a Selmer C* (1.80), it's just a waaay better mouthpiece. If cash is low, the Vandoren B44 is my favorite mass-produced mouthpiece for classical/band playing, very easy to play in all registers, and superbly made.

What mpc do you have now? I might know the tip opening. Good luck!

My mouthpiece is a C*, and my teacher's which I've been using is a Vandoren B30.

argh im also on this problem
im playing on a vandoren b45 and i want to go on to something new
and since the only mouthpiece brand i know of other than the other clarinet brands
and pomarico......
could anyone help me on a selection?
i was thinking of a vandoren m13 lyre but i wasn't sure

p.s.
i play on an eddie daniels II ligature

Depends on what sort of music you want to play.

My favourite mouthpiece which I find great for jazz
is one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/Clarinet-Metal-Mouthpiece-ligature-cap-Gold-New_W0QQitemZ270199356091QQihZ017QQcategoryZ47097QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Very strong bright tone.

You could try a vandoren 5RV , B45 and the M13
I picked up 4 vandoren mouthpieces second hand from ebay (seller - 5RV, 5RV lyre, B45, M13 lyre
still haven't got around to giving them a good test.

Could also try one of the yamaha custom mouthpieces.

Avoid the stock buffet mouthpieces they seem to give a stuffy tone on both my B12 and vito's.
By stock I mean the mouthpieces that come with the instrument.

For the bass what mouthpiece are you using ?
I replaced the stock vito mouthpiece with a yamaha 4c(standard) and it sounded a bit better
and also one of these http://www.marketworks.com/StoreFrontProfiles/DeluxeSFItemDetail.aspx?sid=1&sfid=79760&c=42999&i=1591946
Prefer it to the yamaha.

Yamaha USA doesn't have the custom mouthpieces, where as the international site does

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/winds/product/others/mouth/w_ssmouth/index.htm standard
http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/winds/product/others/mouth/csmouse/index.htm custom

They also have selmer bundy mouthpieces, I have no idea what they are like
http://www.marketworks.com/StoreFrontProfiles/DeluxeSFItemDetail.aspx?sid=1&sfid=79760&c=42999&i=237173980

Don't a few of the mail order shops allow you to try up to three or more mouthpieces then refund you the ones you don't end up keeping ?

Laeta,

The B30 is a 1.70, so a smaller tip opening than a C* (1.80). If that's the tip opening that you like best, then the Clark Fobes "CF" facing is exactly the same opening. I believe he also makes a lower cost bass clar mpc called the "Nova" that uses the same 1.70 opening as the pricey "San Francisco CF" model. The difference between the two is the quality of rubber blank used and the amount of hand finishing done. The San Fran uses a Zinner blank, probably the most famous modern blank.

I haven't played on the Nova, but I found the San Fran CF and RR's to be outstanding on Buffet Prestige bass clars. You might trial-order a B44(1.82) and some Fobes mouthpieces to test out and see which one you like best. Weinermusic.com has a good mouthpiece trial system and carries these mpcs at good prices.

To the poster with a B45 ... this is a huge tip opening (1.93), and I'd only use it for jazz. It's not a good tool for anything else.

All I usually play is jazz so a B45 is okay , still prefer my metal mouthpiece (tip opening of 2mm)
as it sounds a lot brighter , of course can't use it for all pieces but its my current favourite.

To the op you could always try a few second hand ones from ebay
like 5RV and M30
http://cgi.ebay.com/VANDOREN-CLARINET-MOUTHPIECES_W0QQitemZ200188336431QQihZ010QQcategoryZ47097QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
(if you guys are not going to bid let me know as I will)

a nice table giving all the vandoren Bb mouthpiece specs
http://www.vandoren.fr/en/tab3.html

Laeta,

Just checking in to see what you've decided to do!

B

I haven't actually done anything yet, but I got a coupon for my birthday from my dad for funding some mouthpiece trials , so I just have to decide on what I want to try out (decisiveness is not quite my forte).

I'm going to try a san francisco, although I'm not certain which opening yet. since I switched from the C* to the B30 a month or so ago, I've adjusted to the narrower opening, but I liked the wider opening of the C*. there was another I was looking at, but I don't remember what it was off the top of my head and my notes are downstairs. alas.

also I'm going to ask my teacher if he has any brilliant advice at my lesson next week.

anyone have any experience with Roger Garrett's mouthpieces?
http://www.iwu.edu/~rgarrett/RogerGarrett/Clarinet%20Mouthpieces.html

This site has lists of mouthpieces and tip openings on alot of Selmer and Vandoren
http://www.clarinetperfection.com/CLgallerympc.HTM

Also, you could pose you question on this site too - it's new but the moderators have a wealth of knowledge
http://www.woodwindforum.com/community/

You must investigate mouthpieces by Richard Hawkins. His are highly recommended by Sherman Friedland. By the way, Mr. Hawkins uses Legere reeds. On his website, he has sound bites of his virtioso playing. At this point, and until I can afford to purchase a Hawkins mouthoice, I use Legere reed
2 3/4 or 3 exclusively, particularly the Quebec cut on a Vandoren 5 RVLyre, or a Selmer C85 1.05 05 1.15.