Walter Grabner is a super nice guy who makes some outstanding clarinet mouthpieces. I use his pieces on all my clarinets. I did some research on the internet a couple of years ago, frustrated by the mediocre clarinet mouthpieces I was playing. I kept getting hits for Walter's products, so I gave him a call and we spoke for over 30 minutes about all the variables that are involved in the making of these pieces. I explained what I was looking for in my sound and he listened and made recommendations. Walter is a professional clarinet player as well as an expert repairman. So I was in good hands. I first ordered a bass clarinet piece and when I got it I was very satisfied. It was better than anything I had played up until then (Vandoren, Selmer, Bill Street...). It was so good that I decided to ask him to make me another one as a backup. Well, as often will happen with hand made products, the second one wasn't the same as the first. It was a LOT better! I couldn't believe my ears! I once described it to Walter like it's as if the mouthpiece is playing the clarinet. That's how much it helps me (and trust you me... i need all the help I can get on the clarinet!). I took advantage of Walter's return/repair policy and sent the first piece back to him and explained what I wanted it to do. He worked on it and sent it back and it is VERY close to the second piece in sound. Both are equally excellent mouthpieces that I probably don't even deserve.
I then asked him to make me a Bb soprano piece and he sent two for me to try. I fell completely in love with one of them and the other was very good, just not at the level of the first one, so I sent it back. I then asked him to make me two alto clarinet pieces and they were both wonderful from the start. So I own five of his mouthpieces and I am very happy with his work and his great professionalism.
Walter also made me a barrel for my Bb soprano clarinet. It is a beautiful piece of Cocobolo wood that really evened out the sound of my R13 and gave it some extra warmth. I shipped him my clarinet and he custom fit the hand reamed barrel to fit and tune perfectly!
You can check out Walter Grabner's products here: www.clarinetxpress.com
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