I am new to clarinet playing. Just broke my mouthpiece so need to buy a new one (clummmsy!!). The one I broke is a Buffet Crampon 'Evette'. A friend of mine has an Italian made clarinet. I borrowed her mouthpiece, but was very surprised to find that it couldn't fit onto my barrel.

Questions:
1. Are clarinet mouthpieces come in standard size so they fit all barrels?
2. Any recommendation as to which mouthpiece I should get. I am looking for the cheapest range?

Thanks for all response.

Maggie

What kind of horn and which reeds are you playing? Also, how many years have you been playing? Any smart band director would have all his/her clarinets play the same mouthpiece, so you might want to ask your teacher. For jr. high kids I normally recommend the "5RV lyre" with Vandoren V-12 "3" reeds. Beginners do well with vandoren blue box "2-1/2" reeds at first. Good luck!

Thank you for your response.

I am a teach yourself beginner of the clarinet. So there is no teacher (excep one friend) to seek advice from. I have Rico Royal 1 1/2 reeds. My clarinet is a very nice old wooden one. I am looking for a suitable and economical mouthpiece. I shall be buying online so am a bit worry about whether the pieces will fit together.

Maggie

Thanks, I guess that simplify things. It was a cheap Buffet anyway.

Maggie

if you have a buffet, thats french made, which explains why your friends italian mouthpeice didnt fit

stay with french such as buffet, vandoran
using these on a french clari will garantee a fit, as they are all made to the same sizes- italian, etc. clari's are completely different in shape and length

Thanks all of you for your advice. Shall get a Buffet.
All the best,
Maggie

I suggest a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece. It's kind of expensive ($119.50). However, you could get it cheaper on www.wwbw.com

For reeds, use Vandoren 2- 2 1/2 reeds.

Thanks for reply.

How about Vanderon B40.
I have Rico Royal 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 reeds. Will these go together well with a B40 mouthpiece?

Maggie

I would suggest you not use Rico. They don't do the best for you though they may be cheap.

And about the B45, as a beg. clar, i'm not sure if you could handle it just yet. I just think you should move up gradually [same with reeds]. That's just my opinion though. But I agree, getting the same mouthpeice probably is the best.

-J-

Thanks for advice, Band. Which would be a suitable reed for beginners?

You can call me jello if you want [it's my band nickname]. I started off on a Blue Box Vandoren size 2 1/2 because my previous band director made all of the beg. students. And then we all switched to a 3 1/2 in about six months. This could be good for you too. As you get to know your sound quality, you'll just know it when you're ready to move up a strength. If I havn't emphasized this already, Vandorens are worth every penny.

Thanks for all the valuable advice.
I should get cracking and practise more.
Maggie