Vandoren BD Clarinet Mouthpieces Review | BD4 vs BD5 vs BD7

[@nerdbob9973]

Bd5- 1:18 Bd4- 2:32 Bd7- 3:47

[@edepillim]

With a long facing the embouchure will close the Reed/tip opening whereas a short facing will keep the tip opening as set. I prefer the BD7 here. Sounded brighter at the beginning and more mellow in the quiet piece.

[@jimis3167]

In my opinion, he sounds the best with BD4, what's your opinion?

[@emjay2045]

I agree. The BD4 is more focused and compact and speaks with more clarity. But, to each his own … 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@jimis3167]

@@emjay2045 thanks for writing your opinion!

[@johnpeacock1469]

Agreed. But clearly he doesn't think so!

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

It depends. The gentleman sounded best with his own BD5. With BD7, perhaps a clarinet with different bore design (wider bore) would be better suited. Or use a bit softer reed. But such a review would go on for hours ...

[@mackenlyparmelee5440]

I'm a big fan of the more close tip mouthpieces

[@jimis3167]

I personally play BD4 and I think It's much superior than BD5..

[@kainakkim4600]

Agreed

[@jessiewest953]

I sure like it better when I listen to the three samples! I’m definitely buying a BD4. Thanks for confirming my impression. I just started playing again after 50 years. I rented a student clarinet for an adult ed class and was surprised I could play it so easily with an old, weak embouchure - but have been disappointed in the bad tone that isn’t getting any better. I forgot that the mouthpiece quality makes all the difference!

[@jessiewest953]

Oh I wanted to ask a question here. I am an American and I don’t recognize the song he plays for the second example. It’s slow and beautiful and I’m guessing -is it an old English or Irish folk tune? Does anyone know its name? I found it hauntingly beautiful when played with the B4!

[@SocalFrancesco]

Agreed

[@samsinite100]

@@jessiewest953If you are looking for mouthpieces in the $100-$200 range, I’d try to find a shop that carries different brands, and go and play test them (on your clarinet). You’ll want to bring different strength reeds, especially if the resistance is different between the mouthpieces (lower resistance lean toward higher strength reeds, more resistance lower the reed strength), also recommend using newer reeds or synthetic reeds, broken in reeds adapt to the mouthpiece they’ve been broken in on. The reason I suggest playing different mouthpieces, is that there are so many great choices today, the vandoren mouthpieces of course, but also the backun vocalize line, the Brad behn epic cnc Prescott models, and more! If you are looking for something a bit cheaper, each of those brands also have great student models under $100 that will be much better than the mouthpiece that came with your rental. If you can’t find these locally, you can order them and return the mouthpieces that you didn’t like. Once you’ve found one or two you really like, I’d recommend ordering a backup or alternate at some point, mouthpieces wear down after a few years and can be broken if dropped. If it isn’t a student model, you can also have your worn out mouthpieces be refaced instead of buying a new one, sometimes they’ll play even better than they did brand new.

[@anthony-ud4to]

I really like the warm clarinet sound, I would go with the BD 4 (Judging by the description)

[@nigelhaywood9753]

I love the way you play. Beautiful sound. I live in Spain where the sound tends to be dark and dense but ultimately more superficial. It's curious how being English, I am so drawn to the so-called more 'English' sound even though I never played clarinet when I lived there and never had an English teacher.

[@sirfog8604]

Thanks for the review! Wished you kept playing your opening piece at that tempo - wanted the hear the middle section … 😊

[@robertknapp6422]

You have a great sound! What reed did you play with the BD7?

[@MusicMediccom]

Wow this was a great review, thank you!

[@dawkesmusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@emjay2045]

@@dawkesmusic 👋🏼.

[@MrDjay46]

Perhaps Dawkes or another viewer can identify the quiet plaintive passage Alastair is demonstrating with? His playing that particularly with the BD4 is so impactful.

[@MrDjay46]

Found my answer in the earlier comments 👍🏻

[@smillley21]

You've got a great sound! The choice is going to be tough I think...thanks anyway for the comparison. What Buffet clarinet model are you using by the way? You say "Vintage"...

[@dawkesmusic]

Thanks for watching. Alastair is using the Buffet Vintage model, it's a model that was introduced in 1996 and is based on 1950's style R13 designs that were made. Available via: www.dawkes.co.uk/buffet-vintage-bb-clarinet-clarinet/15694

[@ricardomilos5310]

May I know what’s the piece he played in the intro?

[@AlexandreQuessy]

BD5

[@anders.m]

Tale of Viktor navorski from the movie "the terminal"

[@sherrybirchall8677]

Are any of them better for ease of articulation?

[@christopherdavis7337]

They're all about the same in regard to articulation, but the BD4 is smoother overall in tone quality. They are also compatible with basically the same reeds and reed strengths.

[@emjay2045]

Try a B40 Lyre or M15

[@carlosmitjans1028]

Well B40 is an open mouthpiece,and M15 is really close.​@@emjay2045

[@예감스튜디오]

What's the title of this song?

[@benwilletts9981]

Thanks for the review. What are the two excerpts you are using as examples? They sound vaguely familiar but I can't place them!

[@alastairpenman]

No problem. The clip at the start of the video is Viktor's Tale by John Williams (from the film The Terminal). The two clips on all the mouthpieces are the final movement of the Horovitz Sonata, and a piece called Skaladur by Bill Connor (originally for alto sax)

[@benwilletts9981]

@@alastairpenman - thanks for the reply!

[@ivyart123]

I'm thinking about buying a spare mouthpiece. I'm an intermediate and is there any suggestions?

[@emjay2045]

5RV lyre Backun - Hawkins R or G model

[@namnification]

Love BD

[@JoeTigheOnline]

Nice vibrato!!

[@1cleandude]

Great demo but not much difference to me!🙏🙏🙏