Reviewing the NEW Selmer Bb/A Clarinet "Echo" Mouthpiece!
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2024
- In this video I review the new Bb/A Clarinet Selmer "Echo" Mouthpiece, announced in June of 2021! This is Selmer's 3rd mouthpiece in the last 6 years, following in the footsteps of the Concept and Focus mouthpieces. Prior to this I had not tried out any of the Henri Selmer Paris mouthpieces, but perhaps I will go back and visit the other two now! (Let me know if you would like to see those reviewed!) It's always a blast trying out new mouthpieces so I don't think it will be too difficult to persuade me! If you have any questions feel free to ask them down in the comment section below, and I will do my best to answer them!
Merch Available Now! @
Equipment used:
Buffet Crampon Tosca Bb Clarinet
Selmer "Echo" Mouthpiece
Rovner Versa Ligature with thick metal plate
Vandoren Rue Lepic 56 Strength 3.5 reed
Audio Equipment:
MixPre-3
Line Audio CM4 Stereo Pair
(In an effort to keep the sound as accurate as possible, no EQ or other audio processing tools are added to clips of me playing.)
AT-2020 Microphone
Camera:
Fujifilm XT-3
Connect with me on:
Facebook: bit.ly/2AFJi52
Instagram: bit.ly/2Y40NnN
For business or lesson inquiries contact: @eCreations@gmail.com
#HenriSelmerParis #MouthpieceReview #ParkHouseCreations
Tried the Echo last week at a Selmer clarinet day in a school music, came back with it at home. I used to play with a Selmer C85 120 wich I like very much, but the Echo gives me the exact same comfort than the C85 with a more core and centered sound, easier high register, more low frequencies and less harmonics. Really love it. I quickly played-test it on my CZcams channel. The surprise for me is that I do prefer open mouthpieces (120 or more tip opening, like C85 120 or Vandoren 5JB) but the Echo is 108 tip opening only and seems perfect for me. Selmer said to me they had a lot of work on the chamber. I play it on my old Selmer L series (year 1931) and tested it on Selmer Privilège, Muse and Recital, Buffet-Crampon Tradition, and SeleS Présence. On the Présence the sound is mufled, too dark, a bad match. On the other clarinet models the Echo mouthpiece was great (ok too with the Tosca according to your video).
Just watched your video, sounds great! I agree with your assessment and would like to try it with the Selmer instruments in the future as well!
I tried 6 of the echo, definitely my favourite Selmer mouthpiece! they were similar, but I picked my favourite, very powerful mouthpiece. I definitely think it was designed with an orchestral clarinettist in mind. Good intonation on my Privilege as well!
Try the D’Addario Reserve Classic 3.5 on it, the sound will definitely open up👌 but it sounded really good on the recording 👍👍
Always look forward to getting your input Junnan! I’m glad to hear some confirmation in that you think it was designed to work well in orchestra. I will definitely try out the Reserve Classic’s! How long have you been playing on Selmer instruments? Was it a recent switch?
Really enjoyed the video! Honest, humble, informative and friendly approach to gear reviews! Keep them coming! Yes I switched about 3 months ago, I changed orchestras about 2 years ago and my Yamaha couldn’t project in the new concert hall. I had to find a new set to help me cut my sound through, after test-playing everything I narrowed it down to Privilege and Tosca, and after testing both in our hall it was clear that I prefer the Privilege. I could easily play on the Tosca, really beautiful sounding instruments, actually many aspect of these two models are similar. For me the Privileges had a bigger dynamic spectrum without thinning the sound out at forte and fortissimo and it blended better in the wind section, the projection of this instrument for me is probably the best I’ve tried, it really cuts through the orchestra so well!
Very interesting, I appreciate the detailed answer! I’ve been interested in trying out the Selmer pro horns for a while, everyone I know who plays on them sounds fantastic! I really wish there was a comprehensive look/comparison between their various pro instruments. I’m just not as familiar with how they differ compared to some of the other brands. Thanks as always for the kind words and watching/commenting!
Had same “problem” with my Yamaha. Although it’s a very nice , high quality instrument, hard to push hard to get the projection. However, in a small ensemble blends extremely well and intonation was spot on! But that being said, I switched to a Selmer Prescénce. Has a fuller sound but yet is still flexible and blends better. Was told to try Selmer clarinets and Yamaha clarinets way back since my HS days in the 80’s but was a “buffet snob” for decades. Oh well. Not regretting that but Selmers are better for me for what I am looking for. You should give it a demo
Thanks for making this video! Great content with a great quality 👏👏
Thanks for the kind words and for watching!
really good review
I tested the echo mouthpiece today
It is a very good specification between concept and focus.
like it so much
Thats great! Thanks for watching, I’m glad the review was helpful!!
Would like to see the Viotto next 😄
Do more videos with your clarinet that’s my dream clarinet🥺😂❤️
At some point I will do a comprehensive of review of this instrument!
I’ve been playing the BD5D with Behn brio reeds. Lovely combo. That 1.08 tip opening is very attractive to me though. Surprisingly, not a lot of mouthpieces are in the middle/closed range.
Oh, I’ve been meaning to give the BD5D a trial in the future, I’ll have to keep that combination in mind! And yes, it is definitely a surprising hole in the lineup!
@@ParkHouseCreations it’s definitely different from the regular BD5. The tip opening is supposedly the same, but after trying many BD5s, BD5 13s and three BD5Ds, the resistance in all of them I find different. The BD5D feeling the most comfortable to me.
Good to know! Thanks for the info, I’ll definitely be giving them a try!
@@ParkHouseCreations could you do a video on BD5D M30D and B40D?
@@nica1639 I'll try to make it happen!
Do you think this mouthpiece is made by molded hard rubber or milled rod rubber like vintage ones?
I recently started playing a concert mouthpiece but I would like to try one a little closer - for several years I played on a Selmer mouthpiece on a pair of R13 clarinets. It made a beautiful smooth sound and I recall is a boy in the 1950s when you couldn’t get Vandoren reeds as it was only a few years after WW 2 I think many of the cane fields or destroyed and so it was difficult to get good quality cane. Sometimes though I was able to get reads made by Henri Selmer which was better than most rich I was able to play on Underwood nicely presented and packaged - Saunders store presents their various instruments and accessories in a very nice way. I look forward to trying this Eco mouthpiece and the focus. I personally have like Selmer saxophone mouthpieces and agree that I think the Selmer company give a very good quality mouthpiece with their instruments unlike other manufacturers who my food a cheap product on the instrument or none at all - so you can start to get used to the instrument with a very good mouthpiece Thank you for your excellent reviews I enjoyed the one where you tried the various Salmer Paris clarinets. God bless you and yours. Bill. UK
Thanks as always for watching and sharing your story Bill, I hope you enjoy the Echo when you try it!
Very nice review.
Thanks Patrick!
How does the Mopane barrel compare to cocobolo?
@@patrickmaples1147 To be honest I haven't spent enough time with Cocobolo barrels on this instrument to be able to definitely say. That being said, I did have a cocobolo barrel on a previous instrument and to me it feels pretty similar to that. They seem to offer a similar sound profile even though I am sure there would be some difference if played back to back.
You make a super sound. God bless you. Bill. UK
Thanks for the kind words and for watching Bill!
The Selmer Focus had a very high chamber with a step down to the bore. You flashed a shot at the bore very quickly, but it looked like it too steps down into the bore. Does it? It's a very interesting design (the Focus at least) that projects like crazy. I didn't like the facing, but I solved that myself. Also I was wondering if the side walls were really trapezoidal as they looked parallel, but the shot of the bore was (again) very brief.
Hey Jerry, good questions! The Echo definitely has a step down into the bore, the camera was focused on the wrong spot so it’s a little more difficult to see. And you’re right about the side walls, Selmer lists them as Trapezoidal, but to my eye they look parallel as well. There may be some slight angling, but it is very hard to tell. In future videos Ill make sure to show the internal bore for longer and more clearly!
@@ParkHouseCreations were the side walls not “A framed?”
"...that they're returning to their [mouthpiece+reed making] roots." With all due respect, actually not quite true. Selmer mpcs have always been enjoying quite a bit of popularity in both the clarinet & sax world. Perhaps not as much in the realm of Bb clarinet mpcs(partially due to the even greater prevalence of Vandoren, Chedevilles, Kaspars, and later Fobes, Grabners, Playnicks, etc. but still quite popular nonetheless), but defs the case among the auxiliary clarinets, as well as among the sax family. In fact, the Selmer C*, C** & D were like the default choices for alto/bass clarinets(now discontinued) as well as alto/tenor saxes(until the Vandy Optimum series came out, but still very popular today) for quite a few decades.
That aside, great review! I'm quite curious of the Echo, as my Fobes 10K 3L shares the same opening(along with D'Addario Reserve Evolution) albeit having a shorter lay. Apparently some players specializing in contemporary music seems to like it a lot. I LOVE my Fobes 3L, but my only issue is that it's not so easy to bend notes on it, wondering if the Echo might solve that problem...
I chose my words poorly, because I completely agree that Selmer is one of the leading mouthpiece manufacturers for several types of instruments! They completely dominate the classical saxophone market and like you say, can be easily found in a lot of Bass Clarinet cases and on auxiliary instruments. I was really just referring to the soprano clarinet lineup of mouthpieces and specifically a statement they made when they talked about completely renewing the clarinet line back in 2015. Thanks for bringing this up, I certainly didn't intend for it to come across the way it did!
The Echo is definitely flexible, I've never tried the Fobes, so I can't say how it compares, but I could see the Echo being quite good for contemporary music. I'm not sure if I ever tried a standard glissando/bend with it, but multiphonics were quite easy to produce!
very nice elegant sounding mpc wish the tip opening was more open. i play a b40 13. on a 71 r13. what barrel are you using? i enjoy your channel. mike
Thanks! Im using a custom made Mopane barrel made by a good mentor and friend for this video. Typically I’d use a grenadilla barrel for these types of videos just because it’s the most common wood type and I try to keep the rest of the setup “standard” when trying new things. But I needed a slightly longer barrel to deal with the sharper pitch and this is my go to!
Out of curiosity, what is your background as a clarinetist?
Sure! I graduated from the Peabody Conservatory a few years ago. Since then I’ve been working as a professional soloist, chamber musician, and freelance large ensemble clarinetist on the East Coast!
A few tuning comments.
The tuner looks like my T. E. Tuner (but maybe an earlier or later version). I can get a few more of my notes in the green (I think you missed six) in the 'Equal Tuning' mode. Green is 10 +- cents from best pitch which is acceptable, orange is 10-20 and red is above 20 cents, which is not acceptable.
But, so much more of tuning involves the relationships of barrel bore length/size, and overall clarinet bore size and shape.
What are you using so we might have a better idea if the 'Echo' would get similar, or grossly different results on our equipment?
Hey Ken, thanks for commenting! It is the T.E Tuner, but I have changed some of the settings. I have the tuner set to Equal Temperament Tuning with the range set to “Fine.” This means that only notes within 2 cents of standardized Equal Temperament pitch will show up as green. Not 10 cents. I believe the cut off then goes 3-10 cents orange and anything over 10 cents red on my app. In this video I was using a Tosca Bb clarinet, a custom made Mopane barrel (it was the longest barrel I had on hand, I was trying to compensate for the international tuning standard Selmer decided on for this mouthpiece) that was pulled out to probably be around 65.5mm, but I’m afraid I don’t have the taper dimensions for you.
Ultimately, the tuning test is really only there to give you an idea of some it’s tendencies. Like I said in the video, I think the Echo tunes quite well! I probably shouldn’t have included the last notes of the altissimo as I’m running out of air and most likely starting to add some jaw pressure to compensate, (those last 4 or so notes start to become quite sharp), but I’m confident with another breath or some alternate fingerings the notes from altissimo Bb to “Super” C# could be played easily in tune! Basically the test is just there to show you that there isn’t anything crazy going on intonation-wise! Hope the details help, let me know if you have any other questions!
@@ParkHouseCreations It was an excellent video and I was hoping to let others know what the TE was telling us. I also used four barrels and chose the one that made the best tuning. I am a Harold Wright fan, and he always chose mouthpieces that tuned well no matter how they played. He could always make any mouthpiece make the Harold Wright sound. If you were using the 'fine' setting, then that mouthpiece really is tuning very well on your setup.
@@kenlagace7612 Thanks Ken! I do appreciate your comment and I definitely think it's important for people to see other's experiences so they can begin to form a baseline of what to expect! It's hard to argue with Wright's reasoning, a mouthpiece could have the most beautiful sound in the world, but if it can't play in tune..... well, no one's going to be noticing the tone. But yes, he could make anything sound good I'm sure! Thanks for watching, hope to see your comments in the future!
How does It play with V12 3.5?
You're my remaining hope about Silverstein Omnipatch with deep tooth groove!
Price kya hai
$139 USD
Where can I buy this
I believe it’s making its way to most of the major online retailers now
Ok thanks
Kessler & Sons has them currently
Kessler & Sons has them currently
What mouthpiece do you “normally” play on , Sir ?
For a long time, 4+ years, I played on a refaced BD5. Over the last year I have primarily been playing on a Refaced Livengood mouthpiece or a PlayNick Puccini Tosca mouthpiece!
@@ParkHouseCreations who refaced the BD5?
@@nica1639 Just a friend, they don't take orders for custom work I'm afraid!
I've tried the concept once and It was the worst mouthpiece I've ever played, is the echo similar?
I’m afraid I can’t speak to how the two compare, as I have unfortunately never tried the Concept.
@@ParkHouseCreations to me, Concept felt like having very thin air column, very uncomfortable! Returned and kept BD4 and BD7 which I wasn't sure what to choose over 😂
Gotcha! Everyone has different preferences, so I’m glad you found a couple of mouthpieces that you really like!
Absolutely right!
The worst mouthpiece ever
@@BennyGoodman1977 You tried It too? What mouthpiece and reeds you play? Me when I tried It, I thought It has a really tight throat and as a result, I had a small, bright sound, not good, unlike the BD4 and BD7, which were the opposite.. so I kept them both..
Great review, but those rails be thiiiiiiiiic...
Thanks John! And ya, it’s certainly the trend these days!
3:46 only a five day streak? Skimping out on a practice day? Mmm mmm! No sir! No bueno! Im on day 50 lol. (Just joking, this videos a year old as of the publication of this comment.)