Prepare for a longy here Adrian. I started playing in my twenties, buying a Corton clarinet in a junk shop for thirty quid. it was bought as a doubling instrument; I'd been playing tenor in R&B bands and had joined a modern jazz outfit so needed something to do when the alto player picked his flute up. Didn't fancy flute but being a great fan of Barney Bigard and Eric Dolphy, the clarinet seemed an obvious answer (yeah, I know Dolphy played flute as well but it's his bass clarinet I like the most). Anyway, in contrast to you, I started late and never learnt to play that well. Apart from a borrowed Noblet for a short while, I've only played the Corton which I dug out having not touched it for years recently, and had serviced , and to my surprise, the repairer said he rated them as budget instruments go but if I wanted to get a better sound from my set-up, keep the Corton but get a better mouthpiece. To this end, I watched Simon Bates' vid where he demonstrates the 5JB alongside three others. I liked what I heard and found a second-hand one going for about (again) thirty quid so I ordered it. Then, about ten mins later, I found this vid and found out it was supposed to be hard to get a note out of. It's a great vid and the 5JB is absolutely a fantastic piece of kit but I'd dispute the bit about it being hard work. I found it easy to get used to with a Rico Royal 2½ despite being a bit out-of-form myself on the playing front. I'm only writing this in case any other viewers are discouraged; they don't need to be. The 5JB is a great buy all round; it sounds fantastic and plays really well in my experience. Once again, great vid.
Very cool video, Adrian! Great stuff. Now I don’t feel so bad about not being able to get much sound out of the 5JB 😂 Looking forward to future videos 🌟
Michael Moore uses the Vandoren 7JB mouthpiece (with a medium reed) and he has excellent control. Of course everyone is different, and you have to go with what works for you.
Well let me share my experience on 5jb and ask for a bit of advise. I have been playing with 5jb for quite some time and i enjoy every bit of its powerful striking sound. Playing with a brass band unplugged this has been a major step up, but in my case it came with its challenges. As we tend to play on the street for hours i noticed that i got tired a lot faster: embouchure would start to fail and i would start to bite on my mouthpiece to keep the pressure / air flow it seems to require. The thing now is that, i am playing with an 1.5 reed and hearing you play with a 3.5 sounds insane! But as you are saying that you like the 'resistance' of a harder reed it got me thinking: Can a stronger reed restrict you from going bersek and therefore be "easier" on the long run? ...because this is the complete opposite of the softer-->easier rule. Would like to hear your thoughts on that. Great job!
Like any set-up, you have to get used to it. It takes proper physical conditioning to prepare to perform. Performing past the point of your physical conditioning, when your embouchure is excessively fatigued, leads you into bad habits, as can playing with an inappropriate level of resistance, which can be too soft as well as too hard.
I’ve used 5JB for years, on my E.J Albert Albert System clarinet I can frighten trumpet players., I also play Boehm system and the mouthpiece sounds great .
Benny Goodman didn't use the Vandoren 5JB but other wide lay mouthpieces he chose for his jazz big band playing but he was born with a perfect embouchure adaptable for both classical and later his louder jazz playing.- Kenny Davern's variety of sound with a Vandoren 5 JB has never been surpassed but just to say , choosing another make is not a crime !
No one is born with a perfect embouchure. Everyone has a different makeup and some might be more innately disposed to developing an efficient embouchure more easily, but everyone has to put in a lot of work, though some might need to work more at it than others.
Do you have a Traditional or Profile 88 beak on your 5JB. I was thinking of getting a B45 but you have now made me think I should try a 5JB. Have you got a recommended place I could try before I buy?
Hey John, so you can find the nearest store locator to you using this link www.bandm.co.uk/vandoren-mouthpiece-clarinet-bb-traditional-5jb.html Most places should let you try first! If you contact them and ask, they will be helpful I’m sure ... definitely try it John :)
I would like to suggest another mouthpiece that has gotten great feedback. Vandoren’s BD4, it has an amazing warm tone and it super easy to play and easy to articulate. Just a suggestion though.
Hey, I hope you are well. I have seen all videos. Very well. I appreciate your work. I want to connect with you & i have sent an email by robin, kindly check it out and if you dont find it then you can find it on spam folder. and waiting for your reply. Thanks
Prepare for a longy here Adrian. I started playing in my twenties, buying a Corton clarinet in a junk shop for thirty quid. it was bought as a doubling instrument; I'd been playing tenor in R&B bands and had joined a modern jazz outfit so needed something to do when the alto player picked his flute up. Didn't fancy flute but being a great fan of Barney Bigard and Eric Dolphy, the clarinet seemed an obvious answer (yeah, I know Dolphy played flute as well but it's his bass clarinet I like the most). Anyway, in contrast to you, I started late and never learnt to play that well. Apart from a borrowed Noblet for a short while, I've only played the Corton which I dug out having not touched it for years recently, and had serviced , and to my surprise, the repairer said he rated them as budget instruments go but if I wanted to get a better sound from my set-up, keep the Corton but get a better mouthpiece. To this end, I watched Simon Bates' vid where he demonstrates the 5JB alongside three others. I liked what I heard and found a second-hand one going for about (again) thirty quid so I ordered it. Then, about ten mins later, I found this vid and found out it was supposed to be hard to get a note out of. It's a great vid and the 5JB is absolutely a fantastic piece of kit but I'd dispute the bit about it being hard work. I found it easy to get used to with a Rico Royal 2½ despite being a bit out-of-form myself on the playing front. I'm only writing this in case any other viewers are discouraged; they don't need to be. The 5JB is a great buy all round; it sounds fantastic and plays really well in my experience. Once again, great vid.
Just picked up a 5JB this afternoon after realizing my B45 wasn't cutting it anymore. It's so loud it feels like playing a saxophone. Diggin it!
The Vandoren 5JB is the best $95 I've ever spent. The amount of projection it delivers still amazes me to this day.
Very cool video, Adrian! Great stuff. Now I don’t feel so bad about not being able to get much sound out of the 5JB 😂 Looking forward to future videos 🌟
Thank you, Adrian. So helpful!
Thanks Steve, you are so welcome
Michael Moore uses the Vandoren 7JB mouthpiece (with a medium reed) and he has excellent control. Of course everyone is different, and you have to go with what works for you.
Well let me share my experience on 5jb and ask for a bit of advise.
I have been playing with 5jb for quite some time and i enjoy every bit of its powerful striking sound. Playing with a brass band unplugged this has been a major step up, but in my case it came with its challenges.
As we tend to play on the street for hours i noticed that i got tired a lot faster: embouchure would start to fail and i would start to bite on my mouthpiece to keep the pressure / air flow it seems to require.
The thing now is that, i am playing with an 1.5 reed and hearing you play with a 3.5 sounds insane! But as you are saying that you like the 'resistance' of a harder reed it got me thinking:
Can a stronger reed restrict you from going bersek and therefore be "easier" on the long run? ...because this is the complete opposite of the softer-->easier rule.
Would like to hear your thoughts on that.
Great job!
Like any set-up, you have to get used to it. It takes proper physical conditioning to prepare to perform. Performing past the point of your physical conditioning, when your embouchure is excessively fatigued, leads you into bad habits, as can playing with an inappropriate level of resistance, which can be too soft as well as too hard.
Very interesting Adrian. Thank you.
I’ve used 5JB for years, on my E.J Albert Albert System clarinet I can frighten trumpet players., I also play Boehm system and the mouthpiece sounds great .
Vandoren 5JB designed by Kenny Davern. Vandoren were going to call it the 5KD, but changed their minds.
Benny Goodman didn't use the Vandoren 5JB but other wide lay mouthpieces he chose for his jazz big band playing but he was born with a perfect embouchure adaptable for both classical and later his louder jazz playing.- Kenny Davern's variety of sound with a Vandoren 5 JB has never been surpassed but just to say , choosing another make is not a crime !
No one is born with a perfect embouchure. Everyone has a different makeup and some might be more innately disposed to developing an efficient embouchure more easily, but everyone has to put in a lot of work, though some might need to work more at it than others.
👍👍👍 #MLFDV
Do you have a Traditional or Profile 88 beak on your 5JB. I was thinking of getting a B45 but you have now made me think I should try a 5JB. Have you got a recommended place I could try before I buy?
Hey John, so you can find the nearest store locator to you using this link
www.bandm.co.uk/vandoren-mouthpiece-clarinet-bb-traditional-5jb.html
Most places should let you try first!
If you contact them and ask, they will be helpful I’m sure ... definitely try it John :)
I would like to suggest another mouthpiece that has gotten great feedback. Vandoren’s BD4, it has an amazing warm tone and it super easy to play and easy to articulate. Just a suggestion though.
@@skinnymozart3652 thank you for your suggestion. That makes three I should try.
Hey, I hope you are well. I have seen all videos. Very well. I appreciate your work. I want to connect with you & i have sent an email by robin, kindly check it out and if you dont find it then you can find it on spam folder.
and waiting for your reply.
Thanks