VANDOREN BD5 CLARINET MOUTHPIECE - compared to the B45 - (V12 Reeds) Demnitz Studies

Here I am testing out a new BD5 Clarinet mouthpiece by Vandoren using a whole box of V12 Reeds (strength 3). I will play through some of my favourite Demnitz Studies on the reeds and then will compare the sound on a standard B45 mouthpiece using 2.5 strength reeds which a young player might use.
The difference in sound quality just using the same box of reeds is quite surprising and then when switching to the slightly softer reeds the difference in tone colour is huge! One of the main aim of the video was to show you that when looking for that `new sound’ and trying a mouthpiece out, Its always a good idea to start with a new box of reeds too. As well as having a good selection of reeds, I would also recommend that you well in practice at that time, so perhaps not just coming off a summer break! Haha
Let me know what your experiences are with trying new reeds and mouthpieces … I may do another video using my other B45 the B45 Lyre version which I really like for orchestral playing.
Timings as follows:
(1:08) BD5 with V12 Reeds
(7:57) B45 with standard 2.5 Reeds
Demnitz Elementary School for clarinet
www.amazon.co.uk/Elementarsch...
Vandoren BD5 Mouthpiece:
www.amazon.co.uk/Vandoren-CM1...
More information about Nottingham Music Excellence, myself and the gear i use:
www.nottsmusicexcellence.co.uk

[@johngrierson6893]

As always I always learn something from your videos. Many thanks.

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

Thanks John.. 👍

[@Yestopeace365]

Thanks for playing the B45 at the end. Now I like my B45 better than I thought I did :)

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

You can't beat a B45 for being a good all rounder..The Lyre version is particulally good with 2.5 reeds.. :)

Excelente, muito bom!!! Abraço aqui do Brazil!!

[@quanhoangclarinettist6225]

What an interesting coincidence, I've played on both mouthpieces as well haha. I ended up with the BD5 ultimately, and I haven't looked back ever since. They give such a special quality and delicacy to your sound that other Vandoren mouthpieces can't really pull off. I think BD5 is a great choice for professional clarinetists.

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

It's a sweet sound for sure.. 😀

[@alincimporescu]

@@nottingham_ChrisAllison i like the B45 ! 🤗🎵

[@fernie51296]

Vandoren has confirmed they are coming out with the BD7 and BD4 sometime this September.

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

Haha that does not surprise me.. it's getting costly to try out all these options.. regards

[@robbruce2128]

Thanks! Most helpful video I've watched today regarding (unexpectedly and suddenly) needing to replace my well-loved B45 that suffered catastrophic disassembly on impact with the basement floor. :( For now, another B45; although a BD series may be worth an audition after the current unpleasantness is over.

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

Oh dear..Nothing worse than dropping a mouthpiece!..It's so easy to do!.. I have gone back to my B45 now.. I found over time the BD5 was just too annoyingly restrictive..

[@emjay2045]

@@nottingham_ChrisAllison yes! Unless the BD series mouthpieces are refaced and worked on, the resistance could cause irrepressible long term damage. Had you tried the B45 Lyre or B45• ?

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

@@emjay2045 yes I use the Lyre version now with V12 str 3 😁

[@susanbailey6669]

I tried the BD5 but found it too closed a sound and feel for me. I'm currently playing on a BD4 with no 3 V21. 56 Rue Lepic reeds also good with the BD4

[@Qladstone]

Great video. After watching this and reading Eric Seddon's review on B45s I'm going to try me some B45s at the music shop. I am likely going to try to pair them with 2.75 or 3.00 Legere Euro cut reeds. How do you feel about the B45 "dot" though?

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

I have got a B45 Dot...It's not great to be honest, feels a tad thin..My son uses it now haha.. You can't go wrong with B45 :)

[@Qladstone]

@@nottingham_ChrisAllison Thanks, I really appreciate the response!

[@norwelceburon8090]

Great! What strength of the V12 do you use for B45 mouthpiece? I have a B45 and I use Legere europian reeds, but it doesn’t respond very well. Thanks

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

Thanks Norwel... I currently use Vandoren V12 Strength 3 with my B45... they are a little soft but i tried the 3.5 and I literally was in pain the next day after playing through them all.. :-o

[@norwelceburon8090]

Thank you for your quick reply

[@sam45354]

What Clarinet model are playing on, what mouthpiece, ligature, and reed are you using at achieve this sound?

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

Currently use B45 with V12 strength 3... On a Buffet Prestige R13 👍

[@klarinetta]

I use V-12 3.5 but moved up to 3.5+ so I can work on the reeds and balance them. And after the break -in period they will get a bit softer. So a great reed out of the box will never be the perfect reed for me.

[@sam45354]

Is this a good mouthpiece for jazz players to use and could you do a video using the BD5 playing a jazz style on Clarinet?

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

Hi Samuel.. not sure the BD5 would make a good jazz mouthpiece as it's a bit close setting.. I'm using B45 now.. regards from Nottingham

[@robkunkel8833]

3:14 You do sound like you’re struggling. Were the reeds that were in the first 2/3 of the video Rico 3 or some other 3? The B45 sounds just like my B45. Aker Bilk … funny (😁) Thanks, a fine video!

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

I use B45 Lyre now.. 😃

[@Brave_Aviator]

What clarinet do you use? How many keys does it have I feel like I see an extra key for the left hand but I’m not sure

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

Hi Young Hobbit.. Yes, my Clarinet does have the Left Hand lever for the Eb/G# key which does not get used much to be honest but it does come in handy now and again.. It is a Buffet R13 Prestige model.. Kind Regards

[@Brave_Aviator]

Nottingham Music Excellence did the eb/g# lever come with the instrument or did you custom add it there?

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

@@Brave_Aviator it comes already fitted on that model..thanks

[@AntonioFlores-rn1du]

B45 👍

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

I Agree!

[@ninataylor7187]

Thanks matey. This was interesting ☺

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

Thanks

[@alexandrexavierdecarvalho2199]

Qual valor boquilha vandoren

[@TheEjny1114]

Which one is the best

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

mm..straight to the point..haha.. well, I think the standard B45 is a great upgrade for most players coming from a basic mouthpiece.. The BD5 has a more centered and refined sound and the ability to play very quietly..I have to say I am finding a bit restrictive though..Regards

[@TheEjny1114]

@@nottingham_ChrisAllison so bd5

[@jimis3167]

What mouthpiece protectors you use?

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

Usually the yamaha .5mm ..i also use the Vandoren .8mm sometimes too.. regards

[@jimis3167]

@@nottingham_ChrisAllison I tried the Vandoren 0.8mm but with those teeth slip off the mouthpiece, I wonder if on Yamaha 0.5mm teeth hooking better..

[@jimis3167]

@@nottingham_ChrisAllison Hi! I got the yamahas and I'm impressed, finally a rubber mouhpiece protector that It doesn’t slip off the mouthpiece! Vandoren 0.08 was slippery.

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

teeth around 1cm up the mouthpiece?..maybe you're too close to the end? Regards

[@DaleFedele]

To anyone watching...it's important to know how inconsistent Vandoren mouthpieces are. Ideally, try a half-dozen (or more) BD5's before you buy one. I think 20% of the BD5's I've tried are any good (compared to, say, 30% of the M15's I've tried are any good).

[@hftuh2782]

Professional refacer can make any vandoren mouthpiece good, keep that in mind

[@DaleFedele]

@@hftuh2782 That's kind of a rabbit hole though. Most of the orchestral players I know that do go the custom/refacing route (which is a majority) use other blanks, as they have more potential than Vandoren blanks. The main asset of Vandoren is reed-friendly, usable facings, and when you alter that...what reason is there to use a Vandoren at all? The other big advantage of Vandoren is they're cheap, and you can try a bunch of them...because even with the "same" model & facing, there is a ton of variation. And what I'm trying to say is with refacers, there's variation/hit-or-miss aspects as well. I'll sum it up like this...in my collection, I have wonderful facings that are a good fit for me that have been refaced, and some wonderful facings that are stock Vandoren facings. Some Vandoren facings are as good as any of the top refacers today! (for me) But the reason I don't use those Vandoren mouthpieces (with the rare extremely good facing) on the job has nothing to do with facing.

[@hftuh2782]

@@DaleFedele Wow, you are a real nerd, keep it up, proud of you. What are the other blanks that you can recommend? I am a refacer myself, but I have only played and worked on saxophones. Choosing between a b45 and a selmer c* for myself to start learning clarinet.

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

I'm surprised ANYONE thinks Vandoren mouthpieces are inconsistent TBH...They're all CNC machined to incredible tollarances. Out of all the mouthpieces I've tried V are definately the most consistent.. After saying that, the reeds are still a bit of a lottery! lol

[@DaleFedele]

@@nottingham_ChrisAllison I strongly disagree. The Vandoren mouthpiece that actually really works is incredibly rare. I remember when I visited both the factory, as well as the commercial storefront at 56 Rue Lepic in 2011: they had over a hundred M13's (because the French at that time didn't, and still don't, play very close mouthpieces). All of them had such incredibly different response, high note intonation, throat tone clarity...they were all over the place. I also went to every Vandoren festival for about six years, trying probably 50-60 Vandoren mouthpieces at each convention (and then probably a hundred more Vandorens when I taught at a music store, and then every year at the state conventions, FMEA, TMEA...I've tried so, so many). This is why so many professionals go the custom route. Or spend their career looking for those handful of Vandorens that really perform to the highest level (out of hundreds...needle in a haystack). The greatest myth is that, if you break a Vandoren, you can buy one just like it. I want to do a video on the signatures at the bottom of the tenoms to get into this even deeper.