Hello,

I am a jazz/R&B sax player who needs to double on clarinet now and again for musicals or jazz orchestra charts. I own a Buffet R13, which I bought used, and I have a Hite Premiere mouthpiece.

My problem is that it seems that if I use a Vandoren 3 reed, the clarinet sounds nice, and the tone speaks right out, but the pitch is flat across the whole range of the instrument, even with the barrel abutting the rest of the instrument. When I use a Vandoren 4, I squeak more rarely and the instrument plays pretty well in tune, but I encounter so much resistance to my airstream that I feel like my head will explode. I literally wear out after a few measures.

Finally, over time my upper front teeth have made a divot or dent in the mouthpiece itself. This notch is too close to the tip, I fear. It is thus difficult to take more mouthpiece in.

Seems like time to replace that old $17 mouthpiece (ca. 1993).

I am interested in getting some recommendations for freer-blowing (but not brash), on-pitch mouthpieces to order and try from Woodwind/Brasswind. Basically, I`m looking for a forgiving blowing experience that is as "sax-like" (albeit with the firmer, pointed chin clarinet embouchure) as possible.

Any recommendations?

Jim

There is no wrong or right amswer to this. The only correct answer is what works for you. The best thing to do is to find a good music shop with lots of different mouthpieces you can try and try them out. If you are in the UK then I recommend Dawkes Music / Windcraft in Maidenhead (www.dawkes.co.uk). They will be able to give you specialist advice and allow you to find the one that suits you best. As to reeds, this again is a personal preference. generally a harder reed gives a better tone, but if you are knackering yourself then your reed is too hard.

I prefer a Gigliotti for jazz clarinet. I'm also a saxophonist, and the Gigliotti mouthpiece is more similar to a saxophone mouthpiece than most other clarinet mouthpieces. It has a bright, flexible tone and does not have the same back pressure as a more traditional clarinet mouthpiece.