[bass9396]

Alrighty, anyone with experience with these pieces:

Grabner Alto/Bassett Horn Mpc
Hite Alto Clarinet Mpc
Selmer D Alto Clarinet Mpc
Gigliotti Alto Clarinet Mpc
Portnoy Alto Clarinet Mpc

Anybody have preferences here? Specifics on what you thought the mouthpiece did for you, etc.?

Thanks!

 

[clarnibass]

I've tried the Selmer D, I think it was a D at least. I tried it with a Selmer alto clarinet (not mine). I thought it was very good. My alto mouthpiece is Vandoren B40.

 

[bass9396]

How about....

How about a Selmer E....ever try anything that big??

 

[daigle65]

When I was looking around for an alto clarinet mpc I tried a vintage Steel Ebonite.
I was getting a lot of squeaks with it but I was also getting twice the volume of any other mpc, this was probably due to the very thin rails.
In the end it was too hard to control so I settled on a B40.

 

[bass9396]

Well...

Interesting....what reed/ligature do you play on that B40??? I'm using RCG 2.5-3 on a Yamaha 5C. I want a little better control in the Altissimo and into the Stratosphere. Would a B40 serve that purpose?

 

[daigle65]

I havn't tried that many alto mpcs so it's hard to compare but I've heard a lot of good about the Walter Grabner mpc, I want to try it someday.
I can play up to High C confortably with my set-up, as easy as on Bb.
I'm using Vandorens #3 for now but my next box will be 3.5's, I moved up on Bb clarinet recently to vando #4 and it's really improved my tone, I want to move up half a strenght an alto too, it should sound a bit more compact.
I use a Rovner tenor sax ligature.

 

[Bootman]

Also check out Ed Pillinger, he has several very nice alto mpcs to choose from. I have one of his big open alto clarinet mpcs here which works beautifully. His Bass mpcs are also very, very good.

 

[clarnibass]

I usually use Vandoren 2.5 on the B40, and sometimes Vandoren 3. I like the B40 but have no idea if it will help you play higher easier.

I've tried a lot of the Selmer models for bass clarinet, and I assume they are probably the same for alto. The E is also good, and for bass I like the H model but really it is not really possible to say which model is better since some prefer more/less open or free/resistant, etc. A good Selmer (some are not) is IME very free, and the B40 is just a tiny bit less.

 

[Merlin]

I have a Hite and a Vandoren B40. I play the Vandoren more often. Vandoren #3 alto clarinet reeds and Rovner lig.

 

[super20dan]

vandoreen b40 for me too

 

[bass9396]

I'm intrigued because both of those mouthpieces measure smaller than the one I'm currently using (Yamaha 5C)...am I just a Bass Clarinet player trapped by my intense desire to blow the keys off the horn?

 

[alto1215]

I have tried all of the Vandoren Alto mouthpieces B44, B40, 5RV and they do not even come close to my Giggliotti #3 alto mouthpiece which is superior in every aspect.

 

[bass9396]

Fobes Nova??

I'm thinking of a Fobes Nova....anybody have experience with this one? I'm playing a Fobes mouthpiece on my Soprano Clarinets and Bass Clarinets and I'm leaning towards something I know will most likely play well without a trial.

 

[clarnut]

I have the Hite and it works great with an alto sax reed. I don't know if the quality is the same now that David has passed away. I have not played a recent one. Anything by Clark Fobes is top notch.