Metal clarinet mouthpieces? Any New ones?

18760 Views 27 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Enviroguy, Apr 30, 2012

baritonesaxophone

Discussion Starter · Mar 27, 2012

I am about to begin playing clarinet. I have been playing both bari and alto for about 5 years and have always want to try playing clarinet. I currently use metal mouthpieces only. Would it be easier to get the right embouchure on clarinet if I continued using metal? Are there any companies out there today that currently make metal clarinet mouthpieces (not metal coated hard rubber, but entirely metal)? Are there any companies that make fairly large clarinet tip opening for an easier transition from sax to clarinet? All info is appreciated! Thanks!

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Sigmund451

· #2 · Mar 27, 2012

I dont know that you would want a large tip opening since you will be moving to a smaller, shorter, and stiffer reed.

I think Selmer used to make one. I cant say I have seen any currently in production. Im interested in knowing if I am wrong.

My overall thinking is that you are moving to a creature different enough from saxophone that you would be better off in the long run staying reasonably close to convention.

(Sorry for sounding so conventional)

bandmommy

· #3 · Mar 27, 2012

Don't waste your time or money.
It's NOT a saxophone and should not be approached as such. If you are going to learn clarinet, learn it correctly.
Start with a medium tip opening, medium facing hard rubber mouthpiece.
And get a few lessons from a real clarinetist.

milandro

· #4 · Mar 27, 2012

I think that there are no shortcuts to learning clarinet and having at least a few clarinets lessons but you can certainly try to find a mouthpiece that suits you.
there are these cheap Chinese metal mouthpieces.
I have seen them at the Frankfurt fair (at least some which looked identical to these) and a friend of mine who was with me didn't dislike this mouthpiece BUT he didn't buy one because he felt that it unbalanced the clarinet because the mouthpiece is so much heavier than a HR mouthpiece
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Professiona...uthpiece-Gold-New-/120756712506#ht_2801wt_925

dubrosa22

· #5 · Mar 27, 2012

milandro said:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Professiona...uthpiece-Gold-New-/120756712506#ht_2801wt_925

With "Free cap, scature"!
Hmm, scatologically speaking I feel this Chinese metal mpc is a POS.

milandro

· #6 · Mar 27, 2012

well, and that is based on elaborate testing or just a passing glance?...... Again, I am not a clarinet player but I doubt that you can say that with any degree of certainty just sitting at your computer

warp x

· #7 · Mar 27, 2012

baritonesaxophone said:
Would it be easier to get the right embouchure on clarinet if I continued using metal?

No. The material has nothing to do with getting the right embouchure.
As Bandmommy says, get some lessons from a real clarinetist.

MojoBari

· #8 · Mar 27, 2012

I have worked on a number of these eBay metal clarinet mouthpieces for a client of mine. He is playing a type of ethnic Mexican Pop Street music. Similar note bending to klezmer music. These mouthpieces have very bad facings on them.

I think they can be refaced for more legit playing. But I do not think they offer any advantage over HR or plastic clarinet mouthpieces.

I agree that you need to approach learning clarinet in a classical manner if you want it to sound like a clarinet. I am self-taught on it, but I had to un-learn many things later in life and I still have some technical problems. I do sound decent enough on it to play in public.

trice

· #9 · Mar 27, 2012

MojoBari said:
... I agree that you need to approach learning clarinet in a classical manner if you want it to sound like a clarinet. I am self-taught on it, but I had to un-learn many things later in life and I still have some technical problems.

I agree with this. Unlearning bad habits on the clarinet can be very difficult.

To answer the original question: No, a metal mouthpiece will not help you at all.

Enviroguy

· #10 · Mar 27, 2012

There was kid a couple of years older than my son that played clarinet like a sax. He normally played sax but the director would put him in as lead clarinet before playing contest. He was great. And yes, I believe he did go to college on a music scholarship.

That said, I too play clarinet like a sax. But I have no reason or need to sound like a "proper clarinet" so I don't.

Until about 2 years ago, I used a Rico Metalite on clarinet. It is very sax-like. Today I use a very old crystal "Detroit Special" when I play clarinet which is very rarely. Here's me on my metal clarinet with the Detroit Special.

http://cierra.cc/metclardemo1.mp3

bandmommy

· #11 · Mar 27, 2012

I guess being a 'hard core' clarinetist I get a little peeved when someone doesn't make an effort to learn the instrument 'correctly'.
But... that's just cranky old me.

Butters

· #12 · Mar 27, 2012

Are there any negative effects to playing the clarinet like a sax, or is it just a tone difference?

bandmommy

· #13 · Mar 27, 2012

The only negative effects would come from being laughed at by a classically trained clarinetist.
We can see the 'sloppy sax chops'.

:twisted:

patmiller

· #14 · Mar 28, 2012

Butters said:
Are there any negative effects to playing the clarinet like a sax, or is it just a tone difference?

Depends on the context in which you want to play clarinet. You can go for a free-blowing mouthpiece like a Lakey that feels very similar to a saxophone but you can easily sound a bit more like a soprano saxophone than is acceptable in a lot of contexts, particularly classical. On the other hand if you want to play traditional or dixieland jazz, having an idiosyncratic tone can be seen as an asset, particularly if it comes with volume and power. Think Sidney Bechet or Bob Helm or Buster Bailey or Odell Rand.

Dave Dolson

· #15 · Mar 28, 2012

Is this about clarinet mouthpieces made of metal; or is it about mouthpieces that would work on clarinets made of metal? I have never seen a clarinet mouthpiece made of metal. Doesn't mean they don't exist, but if they do, I'm guessing they aren't very popular for a reason. There are SO many great mouthpieces made out of hard-rubber, plastic, and crystal that I just don't see the need for a metal one.

And frankly, I don't think that a metal mouthpiece makes all that much difference on saxophone, either. I believe the design of the mouthpiece is the issue, not the material from which it is made.

Now, to playing clarinet like a saxophone . . . I can see where a trained clarinetist may be put off by someone who plays clarinet but never took a lesson. But that situation exists with many of us saxophone players. I am one. Sure, I wish I would have studied clarinet but I'm far beyond that now.

How DOES one play a clarinet like a saxophone? Are you talking embouchure, horn position, attitude, what? If Bechet and Bob Helm are examples of that, they are great ones. I agree with the volume and power attributes mentioned by Pat . . . those guys had it. I doubt if they'd fit in well with the L.A. Philharmonic, though. DAVE

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bandmommy

· #16 · Mar 28, 2012

Dave, I've been 'trained' and don't mean to come accross as being 'put off'.
There are a LOT of really good clarinet players out there that haven't gone down the classical training path.
I would suggest that anyone picking up a new to them instrument get a few pointers/lessons from someone who has had the training.
I don't care if it's clarinet, sax, flute, or bass buttaphone... at least attempt to learn the 'correct' embouchure. It sure makes figuring out the rest of it a little easier.

mickey

· #17 · Mar 28, 2012

I have an 80 year old Selmer metal clarinet mouthpiece that was refaced by Ralph Morgan a few years ago. It works quite well on a regular clarinet but looks ohh so strange. It was designed for the metal clarinets of it's day and will be use it on my metal Conn Albert system clarinet when I have it all back together... some day! But honestly, just learn the clarinet with a good hard rubber clarinet mouthpiece. Take some lessons to get the right embouchure and you'll be fine.

warp x

· #18 · Mar 28, 2012

bandmommy said:
The only negative effects would come from being laughed at by a classically trained clarinetist.
We can see the 'sloppy sax chops'. :twisted:

Another issue is that your saxophone stuff (when playing bop and stuff) will not always work on clarinet. More and more I find that the clarinet needs it's own approach stylistically.

Butters

· #19 · Mar 28, 2012

patmiller said:
On the other hand if you want to play traditional or dixieland jazz, having an idiosyncratic tone can be seen as an asset, particularly if it comes with volume and power. Think Sidney Bechet or Bob Helm or Buster Bailey or Odell Rand.

Cool... I struggled for years to get rid of my clarinet embouchure on sax since I started on clarinet, so if I ever go back to it I'd rather keep it as sax like as I can. I'm completely happy with idiosyncratic tone... I'll never play it in a traditional clarinet setting, just might pull it out occasionally in my rock band. So I'll need volume, power, and such just to cut through. Let the classically trained clarinet players laugh at me! They wouldn't have kind things to say about my bari playing either I bet... sometimes I am trying to sound like a grunge singer or a distorted guitar or a chainsaw

TonyM

· #20 · Mar 28, 2012

warp x said:
Another issue is that your saxophone stuff (when playing bop and stuff) will not always work on clarinet. More and more I find that the clarinet needs it's own approach stylistically.

I'd be interested for you to expand on this. I currently take lessons with someone that is primarily a sax player and teacher but we work on clarinet. My only point of comparison is my first clarinet teacher who was a symphony player during his professional life. This thread is beginning to unsettle me and make me feel like I'm neither fish nor fowl.

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