Pictures For Details

Okay, so what strikes me is that this model looks much different than any other Vandoren model I have seen, it´s much "slimmer", I had to put a felt on top of the mpc for my Francois Louis Ligature - which works well, but still, it was hard to find another ligature. The sidewalls are nearly straight but rounded a bit when they enter the chamber. As you see, the bore to the chamber itself is bigger than on any other current Vandoren.

Also the bore of to the chamber of the VANDOREN PERFECTA model is smaller (compare pictures at junkdude for example).

The Abato model is smaller in tip opening and also has a smaller bore.

Best thing is, it plays quite different than the modern Vandoren models and a perfecta I had the chance to try once.

Maybe someone else really enjoys playing one of these mpcs, would be interesting to know; also, why Vandoren changed the design radically.
the Hard Rubber with this piece smells like vintage pieces from Brilhart (HR) but I think the mpc was manufactured in the 80s?

Thanks for looking anyways,
uwe.

 

More Infos

I just got a message with a Link that I want to share:
http://www.clarinetperfection.com/gallerympc.htm
(Steve Sklar´s Website) - GREAT RESOURCE.

This is about the similarities between COUF and VANDOREN MPCS.
(check out the pictures).

Apparantly the A100 model was manufactured with two tip openings.
The website mentions a catalog from 1983 with all availiable VANDOREN MPCs :
Alto streamline (A100, A111)
Alto standard (A101)
Tenor streamline (T100, T111)
Tenor standard (T101)
Bari streamlined (B100, B111)
bari standard (B101)
Soul Tenor (77 open, 99 very open) Vandoren also had their V5 series of sop, alto and tenor mpcs at the time

So there were more "streamlined models" parallel to the existence of the V5 model.

Uwe.

 

Infos About the A101 series

This is information regarding the development of the V5 series:
(taken from another thread here about a request to the Vandoren company about a tenor mpc)

Here´s the response from the factory:

Your mouthpieces are quite old ? at least 25 years old, in fact (if not older, depending when you purchased them).

Your alto mouthpiece (A101) is most similar to the A25 of the V5 Series. This mouthpiece features a 1.86 mm tip opening with a medium long facing. Your tenor mouthpiece (T101) is most like a T25 of the V5 Series. That mouthpiece has a 2.04 mm tip opening with a medium facing. Please keep in mind that these measurements are for new mouthpieces ? mouthpieces (especially those made of hard rubber) will tend to change their measurements over a period of years due to regular usage.

So, this inspired me to contact the Vandoren factory and see what they can tell me.



This is two days later, a friendly reply from Vandoren:

"thank you for your message regarding Vandoren mouthpieces.
The A100 was built in the 70's years. It is the same facing as the current A15 (opening 176/100mm).
We changed the outside shape to meet the needs of today's saxophonists.
It's always difficult to compare and to feel the differences between old mouthpieces that have been played, and a new model.
But the A15 is the closest."

Well, I tested it against a modern A15 model and the difference is very strong.
The round bore into the chamber is smaller on a modern one and the sidewalls are different, mine feels much more open and flexible...

 

Hi Uwe,
I have a 101 also and I find a standard clarinet lig fits it quite well.
I also have a clarinet olegature ( I think it is No 1) that does the job very nicely though I am sure by now you have found something for yourself

 

I've used a clarinet ligature for this mouthpiece as well (A100). I bought it when I was in high school when I really didn't know any better but I found it to be a great mouthpiece for classical music as it had a very smooth, sweet intonation. Strangely enough, I also found it versatile enough for Jazz. I have often wondered if Vandoren made a matching ligature because it just didn't make much sense that I'd have to use a clarinet ligature on an alto saxophone. Even with the Clarinet Bonade Ligature the Ligature sits low on the mouthpiece and the screws are at their narrowest limit. Is there a better way? I did like the idea of a piece of felt. I'm going to try it. Any other thoughts would be helpful. Would a Soprano Sax ligature work?

 

I use a Rovner ligature that is sold for a "Tenor Sax Metal Mouthpiece" and it fits my A101 MPC perfectly.

 

Rovner Light or Dark? I just got an A100 for my alto on Ebay. (This is my first post!)

Sherry

 

The A101 is a standard, so the same lig probably wouldn't fit. Vandoren Klassik for clarinet? Rovner? Such fun!

 

ZenHorse:

This is what I got for my A101 alto MP:

ROVNER DARK 3ML ligature
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390060652087

Regards,

Rodrigo

 

I've been playing the A100 since 1978. I use a standard Luyben clarinet lig with it and it sounds great! I also use it for classical and jazz. Great intonation and the altissimo absolutely pops with this mouthpiece.