Thanks. I like the Bachun mouthpiece very well. I’m relearning to play the clarinet after not playing for over 60 years. My last clarinet was Bass clarinet
A point worth adding is that the Protege mouthpiece (a student mouthpiece) does not correspond to the Protege clarinet (Backun's entry-level professional model). In fact, the Protege horn doesn't even come with a mouthpiece. This is some screwy branding on Backun's part, although that doesn't affect the quality of the equipment.
Thanks for the really interesting and well thought out review. I'd be curious to know how it stacks up directly against the Fobes Debut since that has more or less become the industry standard at this level. I will probably purchase one of these for my studio trials based on your review.
The Debut has definitely been my go to for student mouthpieces. The Protege is a really strong contender to dethrone it in my opinion. It is great to have both options for students to try and see what is best for them of course!
Thank you for this detailed review! I really like this mouthpiece (my Vandoren B45 is taking a vacation right now). How does this Backun Protege compare with a Clark Fobes Debut?
The Fobes Debut is also a great mouthpiece in this range! The Debut is a bit cheaper, and just from my memory of it (and general intuition) I think it has a bit more closed tip opening and kind of closed sound in general. I would say the Debut gives a slightly more focused sound, but is slightly less easy to play than the Protege. Both are really solid first mouthpiece options though!
Unfortunately, I don't know of an equivalent in saxophone mouthpieces, but do keep an eye out at Backun. They have a couple saxophone mouthpieces already, so I could see them making a Protege equivalent for the saxophone at some point.
Help! I tried the original mouthpiece that came with my Bakun Alpha and then changed to my Yamaha mouthpiece. Now nothing that I do can get the Yamaha mouthpiece back out from the barrel. (Despite the face that I greased it generously). Suggestions, please!
Here is a video for getting off a stuck barrel, but it will also work for your mouthpiece: th-cam.com/video/eX4nMcZUj4E/w-d-xo.htmlsi=lnLLry74130YiyvG You can start by trying to twist it and rock it as you pull, but if that doesn’t work the trick in that video definitely will!
Hi, Josh. It's not widely available yet it appears but I have found it. What ligature would you recommend? A little background...I'm 65 and have been playing for 7 months. I found a wonderful teacher and have joined a community concert band. I'm overwhelmed at the moment! I played the trumpet growing up so I know how to read music and I know what's going on in a band/orchestra. I'm buying myself a nice clarinet next spring as a retirement gift to myself. I want to keep my Selmer CL301 going for now. It has a cheap Esprit mouthpiece that the store put on when they reconditioned it for sale. It was a former rental. I don't want to spend a lot of money on this clarinet knowing that I'm going to replace it. I thought perhaps a better mouthpiece might help me with some of my current struggles. I don't want to spoil a new mouthpiece by using a low quality ligature. Thanks.
I believe you can get it on Backun's website: backunmusical.com/products/protege-mouthpiece A mouthpiece upgrade can definitely make a big difference (sometimes I think even more than the clarinet). You don't need to worry about the ligature spoiling the mouthpiece because the ligature makes very little difference. I personally use a gold plated Bonade inverted ligature that I bought from a friend for $20. Here is a pretty fun video on ligatures: th-cam.com/video/6ghMCiV8hTg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=djo6kF7j0-lPfRF_
Thanks, Josh. Yes, Backun is where I found it. I'm going it give it a try. Maybe it will help with my break issues. Sometimes that B just won't come out. The video was very funny.
It may help. You should definitely check out this video on crossing the break for help getting the B out: th-cam.com/video/6r9RmHebbhI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=QDu5Shc3LECdR7zO Not to give you too many videos to watch, but you may also want to check this one out: th-cam.com/video/0aT2EmRCseo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=m6j-BLC0Ip8WrDtb There is a really common repair issue that can create difficulties with that B.
Thanks, Josh. I had that exact problem with my B key. I had it fixed several weeks ago. I'll keep fighting the good fight! On another topic...do you have any knowledge about the "Clarimate"? That would really help me practice more. I'm not always free to make a lot of noise! I want to get some opinions before I invest in it. I know it's just synthesizing the sound and it won't help with things like crossing the break and embouchure issues. It could help with learning new pieces and speeding up my fingering. I'm pretty slow still and simply cannot play many passages at speed and keep up with the band.
@@paulnorth820 I haven't personally tried the Clarimate, but I have seen it in action in person. I personally find that a huge majority of my practice is about sound quality and response, so I'm not sure if I would like it. However, if you really can't play out loud, it could be a useful tool for learning fingerings in the music and reinforcing pieces that you are working on.
Thanks. I like the Bachun mouthpiece very well. I’m relearning to play the clarinet after not playing for over 60 years. My last clarinet was Bass clarinet
Oh, I love bass clarinet! Good luck with your return to clarinet playing!
A point worth adding is that the Protege mouthpiece (a student mouthpiece) does not correspond to the Protege clarinet (Backun's entry-level professional model). In fact, the Protege horn doesn't even come with a mouthpiece. This is some screwy branding on Backun's part, although that doesn't affect the quality of the equipment.
Great point, that is really weird!
Thanks for the really interesting and well thought out review. I'd be curious to know how it stacks up directly against the Fobes Debut since that has more or less become the industry standard at this level. I will probably purchase one of these for my studio trials based on your review.
The Debut has definitely been my go to for student mouthpieces. The Protege is a really strong contender to dethrone it in my opinion. It is great to have both options for students to try and see what is best for them of course!
As an added note. I find the Debut mouthpiece easier to play in tune up the scale than the Bachun.
I do really like the Debut mouthpiece as well!
Thank you for this detailed review! I really like this mouthpiece (my Vandoren B45 is taking a vacation right now). How does this Backun Protege compare with a Clark Fobes Debut?
The Fobes Debut is also a great mouthpiece in this range! The Debut is a bit cheaper, and just from my memory of it (and general intuition) I think it has a bit more closed tip opening and kind of closed sound in general. I would say the Debut gives a slightly more focused sound, but is slightly less easy to play than the Protege.
Both are really solid first mouthpiece options though!
I can play a low volume with the Protege. Would like to find similar for the saxophone.
Unfortunately, I don't know of an equivalent in saxophone mouthpieces, but do keep an eye out at Backun. They have a couple saxophone mouthpieces already, so I could see them making a Protege equivalent for the saxophone at some point.
Try a Vandoren TL3 or AL3. Not sure you can get any quieter than those. Will still be much louder than a clarinet though.
Help! I tried the original mouthpiece that came with my Bakun Alpha and then changed to my Yamaha mouthpiece. Now nothing that I do can get the Yamaha mouthpiece back out from the barrel. (Despite the face that I greased it generously). Suggestions, please!
Here is a video for getting off a stuck barrel, but it will also work for your mouthpiece: th-cam.com/video/eX4nMcZUj4E/w-d-xo.htmlsi=lnLLry74130YiyvG
You can start by trying to twist it and rock it as you pull, but if that doesn’t work the trick in that video definitely will!
Hi, Josh. It's not widely available yet it appears but I have found it. What ligature would you recommend? A little background...I'm 65 and have been playing for 7 months. I found a wonderful teacher and have joined a community concert band. I'm overwhelmed at the moment! I played the trumpet growing up so I know how to read music and I know what's going on in a band/orchestra. I'm buying myself a nice clarinet next spring as a retirement gift to myself. I want to keep my Selmer CL301 going for now. It has a cheap Esprit mouthpiece that the store put on when they reconditioned it for sale. It was a former rental. I don't want to spend a lot of money on this clarinet knowing that I'm going to replace it. I thought perhaps a better mouthpiece might help me with some of my current struggles. I don't want to spoil a new mouthpiece by using a low quality ligature. Thanks.
I believe you can get it on Backun's website: backunmusical.com/products/protege-mouthpiece
A mouthpiece upgrade can definitely make a big difference (sometimes I think even more than the clarinet). You don't need to worry about the ligature spoiling the mouthpiece because the ligature makes very little difference. I personally use a gold plated Bonade inverted ligature that I bought from a friend for $20.
Here is a pretty fun video on ligatures: th-cam.com/video/6ghMCiV8hTg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=djo6kF7j0-lPfRF_
Thanks, Josh. Yes, Backun is where I found it. I'm going it give it a try. Maybe it will help with my break issues. Sometimes that B just won't come out.
The video was very funny.
It may help. You should definitely check out this video on crossing the break for help getting the B out: th-cam.com/video/6r9RmHebbhI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=QDu5Shc3LECdR7zO
Not to give you too many videos to watch, but you may also want to check this one out: th-cam.com/video/0aT2EmRCseo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=m6j-BLC0Ip8WrDtb
There is a really common repair issue that can create difficulties with that B.
Thanks, Josh. I had that exact problem with my B key. I had it fixed several weeks ago. I'll keep fighting the good fight!
On another topic...do you have any knowledge about the "Clarimate"? That would really help me practice more. I'm not always free to make a lot of noise! I want to get some opinions before I invest in it. I know it's just synthesizing the sound and it won't help with things like crossing the break and embouchure issues. It could help with learning new pieces and speeding up my fingering. I'm pretty slow still and simply cannot play many passages at speed and keep up with the band.
@@paulnorth820 I haven't personally tried the Clarimate, but I have seen it in action in person. I personally find that a huge majority of my practice is about sound quality and response, so I'm not sure if I would like it. However, if you really can't play out loud, it could be a useful tool for learning fingerings in the music and reinforcing pieces that you are working on.