Vandoren Clarinet Mouthpiece Buyers Guide

No matter where you are in your musical development, the Vandoren Clarinet Mouthpiece Buyers Guide will help you choose the correct mouthpiece for your clarinet.
Vandoren 5RV Lyre - Great for professionals as well as students, this mouthpiece allows you to easily produce a full sound that’s bright and colorful.
Vandoren M13 Lyre - A very closed clarinet mouthpiece known for their compact, smooth and warm sound with immediate response.
Vandoren B45 - A favorite since first being introduced in 1967, this mouthpiece is known for its’ flexibility and projection.
Vandoren M15 - A great choice for the intermediate to professional player, this mouthpiece features a small tip opening and long facing and is known for its’ brilliant sound, quick response and articulation.
Vandoren M30 - This mouthpiece features a medium tip opening for a more rounded, warm and extremely flexible sound.
Vandoren Ebonite (Black Diamond) BD5 - Quickly becoming the new standard in professional clarinet mouthpieces, the BD5 features a completely new design with a medium tip opening and facing for depth and darkness along with a smooth and polished clarion register.
Features:
• Vandoren 5RV Lyre
• Great for professionals as well as students
• Easily produce a full sound
• Bright and colorful
• Vandoren M13 Lyre
• Very closed mouthpiece
• Compact, smooth and warm sound
• Immediate response
• Vandoren B45
• First introduced in 1967
• Flexibility and projection
• Vandoren M15
• Great choice for the intermediate to professional
• Small tip opening and long facing
• Brilliant sound, quick response and articulation
• Vandoren M30
• Medium tip opening
• Rounded, warm and extremely flexible sound
• Vandoren Ebonite (Black Diamond) BD5
• The new standard in professional clarinet mouthpieces
• New design
• Medium tip opening and facing
• Depth and darkness
• Smooth and polished clarion register
Vandoren 5RV Lyre Series Bb Clarinet Mouthpiece | Product 483902
www.wwbw.com/V...
Vandoren Series M13 Lyre Bb Clarinet Mouthpiece | SKU 460182
www.wwbw.com/V...
Vandoren B45 Series Bb Clarinet Mouthpiece | Product 483747
www.wwbw.com/V...
Vandoren M15 Bb Clarinet Mouthpiece | Product 463125
www.wwbw.com/V...
Vandoren M30 Series Bb Clarinet Mouthpiece | Product 463126
www.wwbw.com/V...
Vandoren BD5 Black Diamond Traditional Ebonite Bb Clarinet Mouthpiece | SKU J23754000001000
www.wwbw.com/V...

[@rosiewagstaff2249]

Can I just say that the example playing never went above the first A over the stave for most of the mouthpieces so it doesn’t show the notes in the top range

[@markbernard4156]

Her sound was so bright not really dark at all.

[@quentinm.williams9]

Understandable. I like a farther more dark and rich sound. not too bright

[@dcnannen4319]

The m30 sounded the most flowing and the smoothest

[@saxefoner]

She sounded good on the M30.

[@mikeshirk1137]

1:26 5RV Lyre 2:29 M13 Lyre 3:34 B45 4:35 M15 5:32 M30 6:26 BD5

[@gj4257]

Thank you sir!

[@alexandrexavierdecarvalho2199]

Qual valor boquilha vandoren

[@projectx5154]

Why did you use different melodies for different mouthpieces. Defeats the point of comparison

[@Andre-gh8bx]

My first was 5RV lyre, and my second was B45, both of them were played for about 5-6 years, and I've bought M15 and BD5 a couple of months ago, but I still love the sound of my 2 older mouthpieces.

[@skarlatospanagiotis5000]

she is sleeping or something ?

[@TheTRUEMAN000]

Meditate on music 🎶

[@brandomiranda6703]

what are the properties one wants for a jazz clarinet mouthpiece?

[@bandckirby4656]

Big fat sound moving lots of air.

[@emjay2045]

5JB 7JB B46 B45 M30 B40Lyre BD7

[@kevindeibert3369]

I like the B45. Would this work for Alto and Bass Clarinet and will the Bb mouthpiece work as well in an A Clarinet?

[@emjay2045]

Yes

[@aburaagekojima4528]

whta means pitched slightly lower at a440???

[@arjunsom2392]

Aburaage Kojima in France they tune to A=442 in America they tune to A=440

[@aburaagekojima4528]

very thank you.

[@newsigmundfreud3023]

I am looking for A432.

[@MolnarPohdap]

New Sigmund Freud the German clarinet maker Martin Foag has custom built an A 432 clarinet for a customer who requested it. You can contact Foag through his webpage or his Facebook page.

[@RichardMigneron]

@@arjunsom2392 Actually, only US & Canada play A=440, the rest of the world plays A=442. I think it would be wise to change US & Canada to A=442 and be done with all these shenanigans ...

[@rothschildianum]

I do not like her sound at all.

[@KC-wf9zc]

hahahaha idk why this is so funny to me

[@rothschildianum]

@@KC-wf9zc Listening to her sound will definitely make me not to want to buy that mouth piece!!!!!!!!

[@KC-wf9zc]

I understood that the first time. But in my head my first instinct was to read that like a mom saying "I don't like your tone of voice" it was hilarious

[@quentinm.williams9]

Me either. It is just not the sound I go for but ok.

[@mambojazz1]

@@rothschildianum There are different styles of clarinet and different styles. You need to listen to many different clarinet players and styles to open your eyes and hear the subtle differences. Her sound is the typical American classical clarinet sound. Sounds great!

[@MrSangoklee]

I think the m30 sounds better. 엠삼십!

[@saxefoner]

Perhaps the character of each mouthpiece would have come out better if she had played louder.

[@ovuncsimsek4423]

I finally found the video I was looking for

[@emjay2045]

BD5 - out of TUNE as usual. Have to go through and demo a TON to find a good one.

[@TheTRUEMAN000]

Hello, which mouthpiece do play now after BD5?

[@austinwood2818]

That’s a weird looking clarinet lyre.

[@interestingusername1049]

lol

[@joselitoponciano2230]

M30

[@maddelta8085]

Same

[@glebkuz12]

Girl plays this mouthpieces the same every time! She haven't shown all abilities of them! It seems that video with her playing is the same. No differences!

[@jeffreybass5479]

Nothing really to do with the point of this video, but I watch a performamce of the Grand Duo Concertante by Ricardo Morales. He plays it at least reice as fast. :-)

[@DaleFedele]

These mouthpieces are as boring as this video. Do your research...there are so many great mouthpieces out there. If you have to get Vandoren, try MANY of the same model to find one that's usable. They are more consistent than, say, Selmer, but they are still very inconsistent.

[@projectx5154]

Not everyone lives in US where you have like 30 different brands. Some countries only have vandoren and some entry level yamaha, buffet crampon and d'addario mouthpieces.

[@audreypogue6306]

I really wonder why I hated the M30 so much. It's so highly recommended by everyone, but I found it super stuffy and went with the M15.

[@EvanBolduc3]

What about the b40 ? I’m not sure if I should take it or go with a BD5

[@Komantuk]

There's no JB??

[@TheTRUEMAN000]

Because it's jazz mouthpiece, it has very big tip opening, so it's not good sound for classical music

[@robkunkel8833]

This was sooo helpful Thanks.

[@country4man]

Is there a mouthpiece that will specifically take the wider reed of the Legere European cut

[@huffab8677]

Hawkins Backun Vocalise are supposed to work well with the Legere European cut

[@shuckyducky5212]

what is name of piece at 4:36

[@lindsaycheng8042]

Stereo love

[@lairdruiz-perez5042]

Shuckyducky Not sure if you’re still wondering, but it’s Concertino by Carl Maria von Weber.

[@SaulReyes-oc1yf]

Does anyone know the song name that plays at the beginning?

[@Mizai]

squidward vibes

[@bevtooth]

They all sound the same to me

[@rinorhasimi3023]

What about 5JB?

[@calebprovencher7727]

So as a soon to be freshman in college who is planning on jumping into performance on clarinet, how often are 5RV lyres used in college settings. I happen to have one from a while back that I just got around to playing on, and I love it, but I also don't want to seem like I need a beginner/intermediate mouthpiece to play

[@fatlessauto3]

As a freshman in college, most people won't judge you based on what mouthpiece you use, but rather what tone you can get from that mouthpiece. If the 5RV Lyre is giving you the sound AND playability you are looking for, go for it!

[@luisgomez8020]

​@@fatlessauto3 Yes, it does not matter what you play on, just make sure it works for you and the sound you are getting is what you are wanting. Make sure you play on a mouthpiece that gives YOU, the most amount of flexibility on all registers of the Clarinet. I'm in my last year of my undergraduate and I've been playing on the Black Diamond for most of my degree. It has a wonderful tone in my opinion and it wont destroy your wallet. However, some of my other studio classmates have tried my set up and can't get around it. If you are not quite satisfied with the sound you are getting, ask around and see if someone can lend you a mouthpiece to see if you enjoy it. Trial and error is the best way to shop for a new mouthpiece. Hope this helps, and best of luck.

[@SarahSkilton]

I have the 5RV but with no Lyre. What is the difference, please?

[@ocudagledam]

More difficult to play, sounds better. Used to be a huge favourite where I live (and worldwide, I believe) some 20 years ago and I know it lost a lot of popularity, but I'm a little surprised I haven't seen it at all in this video. Wonderful sound, but you gotta practice, practice, practice, to the point that my ex prof, who still adores it, finally switched to a B45 after he got kids and started teaching in two schools and couldn't practice regularly himself anymore. The B45 he says he can pick up any time he likes and it will play fine (and he makes it sound a lot nicer than this video).

[@saxnoobplayer9710]

I have 5jb using reeds number 1# , i have too much restistance in upper tones, which mouthpiece should i buy for solo clarinet, need fast responsive mouthpiece which can i use with reeds number 1#, i want to play music with many trills and articulations

[@leonardodavinchi2290]

Buy a higher number reed

[@saxnoobplayer9710]

@@leonardodavinchi2290 Hello,the comment was 8 months ago, in meanwhile i moved to 7jb and 1# size reeds work perfect and has no limit....😁

[@michelleprice6689]

What's the difference between the 5RV CM301 and CM302?

[@emjay2045]

CM301 is 5RV shorter facing - quicker response CM302 is 5RV lyre is little longer and most like it for some reason I personally like the CM301 (5RV) better of the two.

[@michaelmiller1215]

I use the B 45.

[@TheTRUEMAN000]

It's quite bright

[@derycktrahair8108]

B 45 gives me what I want. I had to get a shorter barrel (63 mm) to bring up the pitch. Has anyone else experienced that?

[@quentinm.williams9]

She sounds really nice on the M Series

[@1cleandude]

Even through AirPods I heard no difference! Nice add though!🙏🏻

[@melissahollowell7255]

Thank goodness I was not the only one.

[@Drumn4J2]

Yeah, I tried skipping around the video to listen and they might as well have used the same footage repeatedly. I heard no difference.

[@GIGonthestrip]

What clarinet is that? Those keys look like pewter. Nice.

[@jerryhan4034]

It looks like a nickel plated buffet vintage.

[@ocudagledam]

What, no 5RV? My feelings are hurt!

[@country4man]

They actually started with the 5RV lyre

[@ocudagledam]

@@country4man True, but it's not really the same thing. The 5RV Lyre is slightly more open, longer and mostly recommended to beginners, whereas the "true" 5RV used to be all the rage among professionals "back in the day".

[@klarinetta]

I have a hard time understanding this video. It only make things more complicated than it needs to be. Start with no more than 2-3 mouthpieces and take away the one you like the least and bring one into the game untill you find the one you like the most. Try it with a tuner because some tune better than others.

[@williamhebebrand4557]

None of these sound particularly good

[@kierstinschultz2350]

What reed should you use for the m30??

[@amhanson_]

I believe 3 - 4 thickness. Obviously vandoren reeds would probably be best with a *vandoren* mpc

[@waroffn]

What does the "lyre" indicate?

[@ocudagledam]

Looking at some of their older leaflets, the Lyre variants seem to be aimed at less experienced musicians. "5RV - for those who play classical and symphonic music; 5RV Lyre - for students and those who play symphonic and camera music, produces the sound very easily".

[@zoot51B]

ocudagledam The “Lyre” versions have larger tip openings.

[@TheTRUEMAN000]

Lyre just a bit open