A Chedeville is a Chedeville; or, "The Superior Quality Lottery" (Chedeville Clarinet Mouthpieces)

Chedeville mouthpiece history is harder to understand than String Theory. There are so many variants and it feels like you're Jean-Luc Picard exploring the vast reaches of the Neutral Zone. You'll encounter some crazy examples. But is it worth it for that freakishly good "Qualite Superieure?" I think so, I think it's worth it for the music.

[@DaleFedele]

One thing I forget to mention. How large is the font of the facing number? The large font facing numbers are later, small fonts are earlier. And sometimes you see a Roman Numeral, those are later too. If you find a QS and you'd like my opinion, send me an email at [e-mail]. With pictures of the internals if you can!

[@floridaclarinetstudio2338]

LOVE dat Ched that Brad worked on! :) #qualityinfo #raisingthebar #clarinetmonster

[@klarion]

Ring comes through very clearly. Lots of overtones and rich tone (for first mouthpiece)

[@jerrykorten664]

Just found a "Charpen" Qualite Superior (same vintage as my Malerne). It was evidently a blank. It needed a complete bafflectomy, and the rails were an inch wide (ok I'm not being literal). But once I was done with it, it sounds fantastic. As does my stenciled Malerne. But yes when people screw with the throat, and make it too wide, no more sparkle. :-( You never know who's worked on a mouthpiece in the past so it never pays to pay a lot for these,

[@DaleFedele]

I used to have a few "Charpen" Qualite Superieures for Tenor Sax! Likewise...after VERY significant facing & baffle alterations, they play almost as good as a No USA Slant Sig!

[@jerrykorten664]

@@DaleFedele OK - "No USA Slant Sig" is that a Sax mouthpiece? I know the Otto Link slant signatures. I think Charpen just bought blanks and faced them, thinking nothing more was needed LOL!

[@joeenglert]

so, i read that the kaspar ann arbor pieces are more like the chedevilles vs the kaspar cissero pieces,,,seems like getting an ann arbor piece and getting a new facing on it, would be about as close to a great piece as you could get??

[@davidbissell3565]

What are your thoughts on the new Jody Jazz chedville mouthpieces? Do they approximate any era of chedville in design or sound?

[@DaleFedele]

In my opinion no...though they can be good pieces!! I actually went to visit him and pick up one for my Alto sax...because, and this probably really answers your question, they don't feel like anything I've ever tried (and that is a good thing for sax, IMHO!) On clarinet, to me, they feel more similar to an old Vandoren Perfecta, which can be great pieces of course! And, I just want to say but I don't dislike all of the modern zeitgeist. Some of my best Cheds really do fit into the modern paradigm, and are wonderfully practical in a contemporary ensemble...even on contemporary rep! And that's a really hard balance to find of course.

[@joicedomingues1533]

Hello friend, I have two mouthpieces, one being connetable radio, and another connetable swing, could you tell me if they are chedeville?

[@jimis3167]

Do you participate on clarinet Bboard? What's your username there?

[@DaleFedele]

Hey Georgia. I used to frequent the Bboard when I was in high school. It changed my life! But I haven't been on in a long time. I hope we can make things on here and other social media that can be an updated version of the Bboard.