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Légère makes synthetic reeds, not mouthpieces — the company’s own FAQ is upfront that its reeds are built to work with almost any Bb clarinet mouthpiece, so there’s no single “Légère mouthpiece” to chase. What actually matters is a facing and chamber that suit a synthetic reed’s stiffer, faster-responding blowing feel. This list runs from a $35 student piece to $160 professional facings that Légère players and clarinet-mouthpiece guides consistently point to, covering the range most players will actually shop.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yamaha 4C | $35-$65 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Clark W Fobes Debut | $30-$40 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Vandoren 5RV | $120-$135 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Vandoren M13 Lyre | $115-$130 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Vandoren M30 Lyre | $128-$140 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Vandoren BD5 Black Diamond | $145-$160 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Backun Vocalise | $130-$145 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | D’Addario Reserve Bb Clarinet Mouthpiece | $130-$145 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Yamaha 4C
The mouthpiece most beginners already own, and a sensible place to try a synthetic reed first — its medium facing and moderate tip opening don’t fight the reed’s extra stiffness the way a very open piece can.
- Medium facing, moderate tip opening
- Molded resin construction
- Fits standard Boehm Bb clarinet
- Cheap way to test synthetic reeds before upgrading
- Widely available
- Consistent piece to piece
- Ceiling on tone once you outgrow it
- Less resonant than hard-rubber pieces
Clark W Fobes Debut
Built as the first real step up from a stock student mouthpiece, sitting between the Yamaha 4C and Vandoren B45 in both price and response — a natural next stop once a synthetic reed makes the 4C feel maxed out.
- Hand-finished facing
- Positioned as a step-up intermediate piece
- Hard rubber construction
- Noticeably more resonant than molded student pieces
- Affordable upgrade
- Forgiving facing
- Still an intermediate piece, not built for pro auditions
Vandoren 5RV
The default “first pro mouthpiece” for most clarinetists, with a traditional medium facing that a stronger Légère reed — Vandoren’s own suggestion for orchestral setups — sits well on.
- Traditional French-style facing
- Medium chamber
- Ebonite body
- Huge installed base, easy to find a teacher who knows it
- Balanced, all-purpose tone
- Reliable resale value
- Not the brightest option for jazz or commercial playing
Vandoren M13 Lyre
A brighter, slightly more open facing than the 5RV that jazz and commercial players lean on — pairs well with a stiffer synthetic reed for players who want more edge in the sound.
- Lyre (Profile 88) beak
- Brighter tonal profile than 5RV
- Ebonite construction
- More projection for commercial and jazz settings
- Same reliable Vandoren facing tolerances
- Less warm than the 5RV for straight classical work
Vandoren M30 Lyre
A wider tonal palette than the M13 on Vandoren’s current Profile 88 facing, for players who want one mouthpiece that covers both concert band and combo work.
- Profile 88 beak
- Medium-large chamber
- Series 13 facing
- Versatile across genres
- Widely stocked, easy to compare reed strengths against
- Pricier than the 5RV for a similar skill tier
Vandoren BD5 Black Diamond
Vandoren’s classical-focused piece — narrower tip, longer facing, denser ebonite blend — for orchestral players chasing a focused, dark tone; suits a stronger synthetic reed per Vandoren’s own orchestral guidance.
- Narrow tip opening
- Longer facing than the 5RV
- Denser ebonite blend
- Excellent projection without going bright
- Purpose-built for orchestral auditions
- Narrower tip demands more embouchure control
- Priciest Vandoren on this list
Backun Vocalise
A modern facing from a maker built around minimizing piece-to-piece variation — the same problem synthetic reeds solve on the reed side, which makes the two a logical pairing.
- Modern CNC-machined facing
- Designed for consistency across units
- Hard rubber body
- Very consistent response
- Warm, centered tone
- Newer brand, fewer used units on the resale market
D’Addario Reserve Bb Clarinet Mouthpiece
Milled from solid rod ebonite rather than molded — the same “precision over mass production” approach D’Addario uses for its Reserve reed line, a natural pairing for players standardizing on manufactured consistency.
- Milled, not molded, ebonite facing
- Made in the USA
- Available in multiple tip openings
- Very even intonation across the register
- Tight facing tolerances
- Newer to market than the Vandoren lineup, fewer long-term reviews
Buying tips
- Légère’s own guidance is that its reeds work with almost any mouthpiece — try the mouthpiece you already own before buying a new one.
- A stronger reed strength than you’d use on cane is the standard advice for closed-tip, classical-style facings like the 5RV or BD5.
- Synthetic reeds respond faster than cane, so a very open student facing can feel harsh at first; a medium facing is the easier starting point.
- Break in a new mouthpiece facing with your existing cane reeds before judging how a Légère reed feels on it.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.