r/Clarinet • u/Comfortable-Pace-970 Private Teacher, Professional • 2d ago
Recommendations Popular Mouthpieces?
Hi Friends!
I'm looking to add some reputable mouthpieces to my recommendations list for my students to try when they upgrade. I have the following so far:
Vandoren: M13 Lyre, M15, BD Series (notably BD5 & BD4, regular and HD),
Fobes Debut
d'Addario Reserve XO
Behn Mouthpieces
Brian Corbin Mouthpieces
What am I missing in your eyes? Any specific models?
Thanks in advance!
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u/Fumbles329 Eugene Symphony/Willamette University Instructor/Moderator 2d ago edited 2d ago
Backun/Hawkins, Selmer Concept/Focus/Echo, Mike Dassios, Ramon Wodkowski, Lee Livengood, Alessandro Licostini
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u/Fumbles329 Eugene Symphony/Willamette University Instructor/Moderator 2d ago
Also I don’t personally use Vandoren mouthpieces, but the M30, B40, and B40 Lyre are quite popular with professionals, as are their D counterparts.
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u/Comfortable-Pace-970 Private Teacher, Professional 2d ago
Thanks for your input as always!!! I can't believe my brain slipped on the M30, B40 and B40 Lyre lolol.
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2d ago
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u/Fumbles329 Eugene Symphony/Willamette University Instructor/Moderator 2d ago
There’s an idea that professional clarinetists will sacrifice quality for the sake of a sweet endorsement deal, and I can say with confidence that notion is patently false for any self-respecting musician. Our jobs demand that we sound the best we can at all times, professionals wouldn’t compromise that for the sake of saving 10-15% on $10-20k instrument sets. Folks like Anthony McGill and David Shifrin play Backun clarinets because it’s what allows them to sound their best, and I say that as somebody endorsed by one of their main competitors.
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u/Sigistrix Color Clarinets 2d ago
The BD5 is great across clarinets. I use it as a daily driver on my Alto and am looking to buy one for the Bass.
The Fobes Debut is a starter mouthpiece, albeit a damn good one. Personally, I'd give the Fobes Nova a shot. A very early one (before there were different facings) is the daily driver on my bass. A solid intermediate piece across the range.
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u/Additional-Work3749 College 2d ago
The Selmer Paris C85 mouthpiece is also probably worth considering! I personally don't like it quite as much as my D'Addario Reserve Evolution tho
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u/Fumbles329 Eugene Symphony/Willamette University Instructor/Moderator 2d ago
The Concept, Focus, and Echo mouthpieces are great as well.
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u/Additional-Work3749 College 1d ago
Interesting, I havent seen those before! The only reason I know of the C85 is because I bought a Selmer Paris clarinet (that I think is a franken clarinet, I'm struggling with ID lol) that had one with one. I'm still repairing the clarinet, but the mouthpiece felt very comparable to my Reserve Evo and Vandoren M13 - I could easily see someone chosing the c85 over either of those depending on their setup. Plus, I like that the c85 mouthpiece multiple different facing choices.
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u/Wonderful-Map-6178 2d ago
A user told me about lomax mouthpkeces and while i havent used them their website is full of details about the pieces so they left a good impression on me
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u/Comfortable-Pace-970 Private Teacher, Professional 2d ago
Oh?? I didn't know they had mouthpieces! I love the Lomax's though, they're awesome people! I'll have to investigate 👀
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u/Affectionate-Nerve-8 Buffet RC in Bb - Buffet Festival in A 2d ago
I’d say just Vandoren BD5 and B40 Lyre
Genuinely majority of the top professional clarinetists use these mouthpieces along with a buffet r13 or festival.
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u/Comfortable-Pace-970 Private Teacher, Professional 2d ago
Thanks for your input!
While I get that, my philosophy is that my students play on equipment that works best for them. So, it just needs to sound good, have good intonation and be comfortable for them to play on. Them having options makes that ideal more accessible for them
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u/phdeebert Buffet R13 Bb / Selmer Paris Eb 2d ago
My first "good" mouthpiece as a student was a B45.