I've been using a Conn Precision mouthpiece on my Vito BBb Contra for some time now. I believe that a few folks kicking around here have experience with this 'piece; a few years back, quite a few were sold on that-auction-site as new old stock. The only other BBb Contra mouthpiece I own is a stock Vito 'piece which is unplayable rubbish.
Ordinarily, the Legere would be my reed of choice on Contra. However, neither of the aforementioned mouthpieces are Legere friendly. The tip profile are very different- both mouthpieces have a much flatter tip than the much more pronounced curve of the Legere. Resultingly, the Legere cannot be aligned with the mouthpiece and results in a very fuzzy tone and fussy transition between registers. After quite a bit of time and experimentation, I've given up on the Legeres until I can pick up a Grabner or Fobes.
It is my recollection that the Vandoren reed has the same profile as the Legere and, as such, I have not paid the exhorbitant price to try a box of Vandorens (if I could pick up just one locally, I'd be willing to give it a try, but that doesn't seem to be an option) and have instead just been using orange box Ricos for several months. Overall, the multi-use Ricos respond well enough. The tone is somewhat disappointing but still better overall than the experience with the Legeres on this 'piece. However, their significantly shorter vamp (and overall length for that matter) leads to another problem...
I use a Rovner Dark ligature on most everything, including Contra. With the Legeres, it is somewhat loose but the length of the scrape means that, with the ligature ideally positioned, it is still tight enough (just enough, the reed can still be moved around quite a bit with a touch of your thumb) to be secure while playing. However, with the shorter Ricos, the ligature must be positioned all the way at the back of the heel to be even that secure. Positioning the ligature ideally is impossible, the ligature is just THAT loose.
Today, as an experiment, I took the BG Revelation lig from my Bass Clarinet I tried it on the Conn 'piece. To my surprise, not only did it fit, but i didn't have to loosen it terribly far to get it into ideal position with the Rico. The result was a little bit more focus to the tone and MUCH improved attack- especially staccato in the lower chalumeau.
As a result of this experiment, I am obviously considering a new ligature but don't know what to buy. I was hoping someone here might also have a Precision 'piece and Rovner lig and could verify if their's is also hopelessly loose and I need to consider other options or if my Rovner is too large and defective. Thank you, any advice is much appreciated!
Ordinarily, the Legere would be my reed of choice on Contra. However, neither of the aforementioned mouthpieces are Legere friendly. The tip profile are very different- both mouthpieces have a much flatter tip than the much more pronounced curve of the Legere. Resultingly, the Legere cannot be aligned with the mouthpiece and results in a very fuzzy tone and fussy transition between registers. After quite a bit of time and experimentation, I've given up on the Legeres until I can pick up a Grabner or Fobes.
It is my recollection that the Vandoren reed has the same profile as the Legere and, as such, I have not paid the exhorbitant price to try a box of Vandorens (if I could pick up just one locally, I'd be willing to give it a try, but that doesn't seem to be an option) and have instead just been using orange box Ricos for several months. Overall, the multi-use Ricos respond well enough. The tone is somewhat disappointing but still better overall than the experience with the Legeres on this 'piece. However, their significantly shorter vamp (and overall length for that matter) leads to another problem...
I use a Rovner Dark ligature on most everything, including Contra. With the Legeres, it is somewhat loose but the length of the scrape means that, with the ligature ideally positioned, it is still tight enough (just enough, the reed can still be moved around quite a bit with a touch of your thumb) to be secure while playing. However, with the shorter Ricos, the ligature must be positioned all the way at the back of the heel to be even that secure. Positioning the ligature ideally is impossible, the ligature is just THAT loose.
Today, as an experiment, I took the BG Revelation lig from my Bass Clarinet I tried it on the Conn 'piece. To my surprise, not only did it fit, but i didn't have to loosen it terribly far to get it into ideal position with the Rico. The result was a little bit more focus to the tone and MUCH improved attack- especially staccato in the lower chalumeau.
As a result of this experiment, I am obviously considering a new ligature but don't know what to buy. I was hoping someone here might also have a Precision 'piece and Rovner lig and could verify if their's is also hopelessly loose and I need to consider other options or if my Rovner is too large and defective. Thank you, any advice is much appreciated!
Last edited: