Handcrafted vs Machine Made Clarinet Mouthpieces!

[@clarinetninja]

OMG I am 1:24 minutes in and you just made my day! i was busy thinking about how smooth the connection between your chalumeau and clarion was...perfecting the perfect callback to our Goldentone riff from a couple of days ago, and was blown away by your kind shout out. I will reply again when I watch the rest of the video :)

[@john.kurokawa]

Goldentone FTW, lol!

[@ClarinetEnthusiast]

6:56 Hehe, a nice little punch towards “that” company. I learnt the key tarnish thing on my old R13 the hard way. I still use a mouthpiece from that same company but I now keep it in a separate pouch when stored in my case. This seems to have essentially fixed this problem.

[@john.kurokawa]

Glad you found a solution. Thanks for watching!

[@amaypant]

I'm definitely on team Handcrafted, playing a Kanter E2B mouthpiece. It's based off the Chedeville Elite blanks, which he describes as the best material he's ever found to make mouthpieces with. My teacher, Chris Pell, also plays this model, but our pieces are a little different, as per his request. While his E2B was customized to be "a little cleaner", he specifically requested Mr. Kanter to make mine to "hold the sound together better". The effect to me as a player is that I can focus less on using my face and more on my air; altissimo control is relatively easier for me. Your point of "Tell the maker what you feel, not what to do." We as players couldn't possibly know what to tell them, other than what we personally feel on the inside. Quite an insightful video! On the topic of "that company", their studios are exactly as you described. Not really capable of changing anything, but they'll try to guide you to the model they make that would fit you best to their knowledge. I don't miss my R13 keys tarnishing or the sulfuric taste the BD mouthpieces get after 1 year (that's probably very unhealthy for us as clarinetists, if we're being quite frank), nor do I miss buying a new mouthpiece every year due to wear and tear. However, Mr. Kanter assured me that when my E2B starts to feel "off" in any way, I can send it back to him, have the mouthpiece cleaned and restored to its original proportions and dimensions, and have it back as good as new for a fraction of the price. To me, this is a no-brainer; I'd be spending the same money for 5 years of buying new off-the-shelf mouthpieces for this one that could last me many years if I take good care of it.

[@john.kurokawa]

Agreed! Developing a relationship with a maker can not only improve your playing, but mean security down the road! Thanks for watching!

[@amaypant]

@@john.kurokawa Definitely! No problem, I'm loving these great wisdom-filled videos. I especially love that you don't hold back and talk purely from your unique experience, regardless of whether it's the popular opinion or not.

[@john.kurokawa]

@@amaypant Thanks Amay. Not everyone will agree my opinions, and that's fine. But these companies get a LOT of our money. We are dependent on them for what we do, and they need to be held accountable. After all, we're the ones funding them!

[@amaypant]

@@john.kurokawa Indeed!

[@scottsater]

Hey John! Thank-you SO MUCH for creating this informative and helpful video! This is my second time viewing, and I just realized that I never "stopped by" to thank-you NOR to let you know a bit about my experience. I, too, am a fond mouthpiece owner of Ramon Wodkowski's artisanship, recently this Winter purchasing his N2 model! I have been VERY impressed with how it feels to play, the flexibility that I have moving from ranges, and the articulation speed, and amazing tone. The intonation is especially good on mine. And...he is a gem to work with, as he was patient answering all of my questions! SO thankful to have "met" Ramon! I would love to meet him in person one day! Your tone on his B1 is magical! Thanks again for a very important (and fun) video! I love your clarinet tone AND your human "tone" (attitude :)!!) toward the craft and each of us!

[@john.kurokawa]

Thanks for the kind words Scott! I definitely agree re: Ramón. He's one of the best out there in my opinion. Thanks for watching!

[@mertzjd]

I'm a saxophonist, but I've enjoyed watching all of your pedagogy videos. You make me want to relearn the clarinet! I am happy that machine-made mouthpieces have come such a long way. I feel good knowing that if I recommend a mouthpiece to a student, they have an excellent chance of purchasing something that is not going to cause them problems. I can think of at least two mouthpiece brands who were notorious for less than ideal quality control when I was in college, but have now made up serious ground either by improving their manufacturing process or being bought out by a company that puts a lot of effort into that.

[@john.kurokawa]

Thank you for the kind words. I feel like I'm still learning the clarinet, even after 30 years in the business! Thanks for watching!

[@leonply]

My first "good" clarinet mouthpiece was a gift from my teacher, way back in 1968. From there, I tried many different mouthpieces, occasionally getting lucky with one, before I hit the jackpot when Tom Ridenour hand-crafted mouthpieces for me, which fit to perfection and produce the most glorious tones on my B-flat, A, C, Alto and Bass clarinets. A few questions about how I "bite," breathe and support, and Tom was able to produce mouthpieces which work perfectly.

[@john.kurokawa]

I’m so glad that you found something that works well for you. I remember meeting Tom in grad school when he did a presentation on the ‘new’ Leblanc clarinets and he made mouthpieces for all of us. ❤️ Thanks for watching!

[@niceguy200107]

Returning to clarinet after many years off, and I've been enjoying the videos you and Jay put out. This video speaks to my experiences as an undergraduate while I was still a music major. So many in the studio used a Pyne, a Vandoren, or a few Lomax. We were fortunate to have Lomax in town, as my undergrad studio was in Springfield. I never had much play experience with Vandoren after beginning band, so I wasn't drawn to them. I tried some of the Lomax mouthpieces, looking to move on from the Woodwind Company K10 (yes, I'm old). I just couldn't fall in love with my sound with them, so I tried Pyne. This is not a place for long stories, but I fell in love with my Bn. I still have it, and this video has me thinking I should ask them if they can check it out for me. Joel Lomax looked it over for me while I was in Springfield (again long story), but it was played a lot after that, before being put in a case for 12 years. Anyway, the others who became principal clarinetists in our orchestra, Wind Ensemble, etc., all had different mouthpieces. It comes down to what you like. Price plays a role too, especially for high school or for people playing in their communities but not professionally. Thank you for entertaining and informative content, it's keeping me motivated through the frustration that I'm extremely rusty!

[@zathrasnotzathras9435]

I’m getting back to my clarinet after 25 years. I bought a used Buffet B12 with a Fobes Debut. I love the mouthpiece.

[@john.kurokawa]

Glad it’s working for you! Thanks for watching.

[@zathrasnotzathras9435]

@@john.kurokawa love your videos John. I look forward to each one.

[@picashlio3361]

I need to try a Fobes, I've heard they're good.

[@amaypant]

@@picashlio3361 I use their contrabass clarinet mouthpiece and it's so good!

[@john.kurokawa]

If you're still playing on a stock mouthpiece, I'd recommend it. For a plastic mouthpiece, it responds and articulates very easily- you will have a much better 'driving' experience, and it's not that expensive. Best of luck!

[@whoitisnot]

Ramon's mouthpieces are wonderful. I'm so happy to be his client.

[@john.kurokawa]

Agreed! I’m glad you like them. Thanks for watching!

[@kaywayneflor89]

Thank you for the insight! I bought a student clarinet after 35 years (I played for 9 years while in school). The original mouth piece made a good sound, but I couldn't 'get on the freeway'; not to mention it played sharp. I decided to get the Fobes Debut and it made a world of difference, it plays in tune and up to speed. With that said, I can only imagine the benefits of hand crafted mouth piece. Thank you again, and I look forward to your videos.

[@john.kurokawa]

Wonderful! Thanks for watching!

[@whoitisnot]

That Fobes Debut can take you a long way! I had a student win a major college scholarship on one a couple of years ago. She tried other more expensive mouthpieces a few times during her time with me. Several were as good, none were better (for her). PS She is still playing on it.

[@christostheologos1720]

I’m never playing before with that mouthpiece. I use only Vandoren but now I would like to try one I think would be super!!! Also which ligature you use?

[@picashlio3361]

I've played with many mouthpieces, mainly because I was really clumsy and broke them. I always come back to one, the one that came with my beginner instrument. It's a Vito II. I know there are much higher quality and better mouthpieces out there, but that particular one fits my mouth and playing style so well. I'm also only intermediate at best, so investing in a custom mouthpiece doesn't seem like a good financial idea right now. One day, but not yet. I only play for fun, not professionally after all.

[@john.kurokawa]

Glad you’re keeping an open mind! Best of luck on your journey. Thanks for watching!

[@cma9841]

RH and RW are the best! They're my go to's for refacing all my stuff! I only wish that Ramon wasn't impossible to get a hold of and I have to wait upwards of 6 months for my stuff, which of course is worth it, and Richard still refaced mouthpieces. I seem to only be able to play my very best on their mouthpieces! Cheers!

[@john.kurokawa]

That's not been my experience (about waiting), but I hear you and understand- thanks for watching!

[@oscah_whisky]

Excellent video. Finishing my undergrad on a D'Addario Reserve Select x10. I'll never be good enough nor will I ever make enough money from playing to warrant a handcrafted mouthpiece.😂 I can do everything I need just fine on a machine-made mouthpiece.

[@john.kurokawa]

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! Never say never. If you like a more open mouthpiece, some makers will do those, and it could make your life easier. 😁 Thanks for watching!

[@allanjmcpherson]

One other potential downside I can see to handmade mouthpieces is that if you've found a maker whose work you like, and they stop making mouthpieces for any number of reasons, you might find yourself in tough spot while you try to find someone you work well with for mouthpiece maintenance or replacement.

[@joanney.51]

switched from vandoren m15 to bd5 earlier this year and sounded a lot better (hopefully it lasts lol)

[@jimis3167]

Though, can a mouthpiece maker create a close copy to the previous mouthpiece you got from them and you liked? I don't think so. A manufacturer's piece can be close to the previous same one.

[@john.kurokawa]

As with all things, it depends on the individual maker. Some are VERY consistent. Others are not. If you’re simply looking to get ‘close’ as you say, it depends on how persnickety you want to get. ☺️ Thanks for watching!

[@clarinetninja]

Seriously? This video is too good. Your points are basically unimpeachable, your presentation thoughtful, and your playing is beautiful. Let me just say to all those who may not have tried making a youtube video - that is way harder than it looks to pull off! I have a laughably large number of mouthpieces. Every time I switch mouthpieces I get two. I have always used more than one case as a matter of daily life and live in fear of not having a mouthpiece in the case I have on the gig. (although that has never happened - I have brought half an A and half of a Bb to a gig) The result of this. mental disease is that I have many Ramon's, Fobes, Johnstons that when I move on to something else I am left with multiple examples of what I previously played. In some way, it's like a photo album of mouthpiece memories. "Remember back when I used to play on the Genussa?" I say to myself while I remember playing Metroid in the dorm room and going to Jane's addiction concerts. Wow...those are fun memories - maybe I should find that mouthpiece! I have an idea - how about we do one of those "prank" videos that are all over youtube. Let's split my box of Golden Tone mouthpieces and on the same day go to Ramon and ask him to reface them. You go early in the day I will go later....you didn't mention pranks in your "what to do/not do" section so its a go right? (perfect golden tone callback complete) Great work John! always happy to take a morning and watch your videos

[@john.kurokawa]

LOL! Yes- Metroid in the dorm with Gennusa mouthpieces FTW! Seriously though, thanks for the kind words and for the great videos- I share the same mental affliction in terms of mouthpieces- I have an unholy number of Wodkowskis, Pynes, Hawkins, a few Johnstons, and others. Thank you for the WONDERFUL videos my friend- take care!

[@jimis3167]

What's your opinion on Vandoren BD HD series? Ever happened to try one?

[@john.kurokawa]

I’m generally not a fan of the BD mouthpieces, even though I realize they’re very popular. I don’t find the range of facings is something I’d choose for myself, although there is a close option now, so I may try it at some point.

[@jimis3167]

@@john.kurokawa I think the HD will have some possitive effect in their response. I'm not a fun of the first BDs too because response is deep, not as immediate and have a small sound. That might change with the HD, I'll try If I find them available.

[@Sanjay-ep7nh]

Hi John, This has nothing to do with mouthpieces, although this video was very insightful. What are your opinions on the csgIII? I am considering buying a pair, but I noticed you are using the CSVR. Do you find it plays better than the Csg?

[@john.kurokawa]

I tried a few CSG III's that I really liked. I played the CSG and CSG II before moving to the CSVR (I wanted something different). I think the CSG is great, but I'd try it first- it is definitely different in feel and balance, but if it works for you, it's a fantastic clarinet. Keep me posted on what you decide! Thanks for watching!

[@bayo2345]

I'm testing the backun vocalise g2/h2 right now. Everything I've kooked up says that more open tip mouthpieces are more resistant than the medium/cloes ones, but im finding the opposite to be true. I'm trying the same reeds on both and the g2 (medium one) felt more resistant. Any idea why? I tried vandoren blue box traditional 2.5, legere euro 2.75, and legere sig 3.0. I have a legere euro 3.0 coming in the mail.

[@john.kurokawa]

I can't speak to that, as I haven't had the chance to trial those mouthpieces in anything but a noisy convention center, and I usually don't like to do that, as that can be misleading. I personally don't use reeds on that end of the spectrum, but again, there may be other forces at play besides the facing- the baffle, chamber, bore, etc... Thanks for the perspective, and for watching!

[@marckim5311]

I thought I was the only one that had my clarinet tarnish because of my mouthpiece. Luckily I took it to my nearest tech and they cleaned it and it looks brand new. Ahem vandoren…..

[@john.kurokawa]

Nope, many have reported this problem. Keeping your mouthpiece in a separate pouch in the case can keep this from happening. Thanks for watching!

[@maximilianschramm8609]

The tarnish problem has absolutely nothing to do with „a special company“ or „low quality rubber“. Its just the thing that the sulfur in fresh rubber mouthpieces reacts with the silver on the keywork. After a few months there is no sulfur left in the mouthpiece and you can store it in the case as usual. The only difference is, that handfinishing mouthpieces takes a lot of time and the sulfur is already gone when the mouthpiece arrives at the customer.. And its absolutely wrong to say, that CNC machining is not completely accurate. No human can be as accurate that a CNC-machine can be. For example look at Theo Wanne Saxophone mouthpieces, those mouthpieces are absolutely identical. Also Daddario mouthpieces are pefectly made, without a Single Hand touching the mouthpiece. It simply is wrong to say that handfinishing is better than machining. It is different but it you want consistency then you should look at machine made mouthpieces and if you want to spend (to) much money for that one special mouthpiece then you should look at handfinished mouthpieces.

[@john.kurokawa]

I can only speak from my personal experience and from my talk with others in the mouthpiece industry. If this tarnish problem were in fact the result of sulfur present in the mouthpiece, then EVERY moulded mouthpiece would cause silver tarnish, which is NOT the case. I have stated my PERSONAL OPINION on handcrafted vs. machine made, and I have stated it is just that, an opinion based on 30 years of professional experience. I don't have any experience with the Theo Wayne mouthpieces because I'm not a saxophonist. 😁 If your opinion is different, that's ok; the world is beautiful because it's colorful. Thanks for watching.

[@maximilianschramm8609]

@john.kurokawa Like I said, theoretically, EVERY moulded mouthpiece causes silver tarnish in the first few weeks or months. After that, the sulfur doesn't evaporate (?) in the air anymore. Therefore, a handfinished mouthpiece lost all of its sulfur at the manufacturer because of the time it takes to make a mouthpiece combined with the time the unfinished mouthpiece is stored at the maker. Big companies are much faster in manufacturing from the raw product to the finished product. So, at the time the mouthpiece arrives at the customer, there could be some sulfur left in the product that can stain the keywork. I made the mistake with my bass clarinet. I got a mouthpiece by a great manufacturer from Vienna "Gleichweit", and he warned me to store the mouthpiece in a separate pouch for the first few months, or my keywork will stain. A few days later, I put the mouthpiece in my bag normally by routine, and now half of my bass clarinet is stained... But I am sure that the mouthpiece is definitely not made out of "bad rubber." It's just normal for EVERY brand new moulded mouthpiece 😉

[@john.kurokawa]

​@@maximilianschramm8609That is not my experience. However, I appreciate your insight. ❤

[@maximilianschramm8609]

@john.kurokawa And I dont want to say that your experience is wrong. I just wanted to say that it has nothing to do with good or bad rubber. It just has to do with the time between moulding a mouthpiece and storing that mouthpiece in the case with the clarinet. YES, a handfinished mouthpiece by a good manufacturer won't tarnish the silver. Thats your experience, and there is nothing wrong with it! BUT the reason for that is simply that the raw unfinished mouthpieces (that are moulded in big batches every now and then) are stored sometimes for years before they are finished and sent out to the customer. By then, all the sulfuric fumes have evaporated and therefore aren't able to react with the silver anymore 🙂

[@john.kurokawa]

​@@maximilianschramm8609It's fine- we can agree to disagree- I hope that you found other parts of the video informative.