If you're not fully satisfied you can return most purchases within 14 days of the delivery date. Customers are responsible for the cost of return shipping, and restocking fees apply to clarinets.
David Shifrin set the standard for clarinet artistry in more ways than one. Anything but the usual, the Shifrin Signature is crafted with a unique A-Frame baffle, representing the future of clarinet mouthpiece design. With a medium/long facing optimized for synthetic and cane reeds, this model is featured on marbled slate hard rod rubber.
Tip Opening: 1.03mm.
*Tip from Hawkins: To re-lubricate signature mouthpiece o-rings, use a drop of almond oil or a tiny bit of cork grease on the inner wall of the barrel top tenon to improve ease of use.
Includes
One Shifrin Signature Bb Clarinet Mouthpiece with three medium-sized self-lubricating O-Rings, one small flathead screwdriver and one mouthpiece patch.
All Backun Signature Series Mouthpieces come with medium-sized O-Rings installed, which fit a majority of clarinet barrel tenons.
"Somewhere on the scale of the unattainable, just short of the perfect reed and finding a unicorn in the wild is the perfect clarinet mouthpiece. Of course, none of these actually exist, but we can try to get as close as possible to perfect clarinet playing by practicing and finding equipment that helps make the hard work pay off! There are some days when playing the clarinet is easier than others and we sound closer to “ideal." I feel fortunate that recently that after many years of effort and searching I am having more days of these days than ever. I attribute much of this to the new Signature mouthpiece designed by Richard Hawkins and produced by Backun. The result of many years of collaborative work, I was impressed by the dedication, artistry and care that Richard gave to this project and the investment made by Backun in state-of-the-art equipment and exacting production standards to produce a new mouthpiece designed from high quality hard rubber. I am enjoying the most consistent period of my playing career in terms of tone production, intonation, and articulation thanks to these new mouthpieces."
Consistent tone production, intonation and articulation
Self-lubricating O-rings for improved durability and reduced maintenance
A-Frame baffle, medium/long facing and close tip for a rich, clear tone
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Product Reviews
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 37 reviews.
I recently restarted playing after more than 10 years. I was using my old mouthpiece and it felt ok. I had no idea how much of an improvement it would be to upgrade to this mouthpiece. I decided to give it a try and made the purchase. I received it today and was immediately amazed. My first impression was that it felt somewhat more resistant to blow, but not to the point it felt uncomfortable. Nothing I can’t get used to. My tone is clearer, fuller and more centered. I get a more immediate response and the staccato feels easier and clearer. Long intervals from low to high and from high to low come out with such ease. I’m really loving this mouthpiece and I’ve only had it for less than a day. The O-rings look nice and feel secure. The best mouthpiece I’ve ever tried. I would surely recommend.
I haven't played the clarinet for 4 years and I was able to have a great clear and solid sound with this beautiful mouthpiece in all registers without much effort. Love the o-rings instead of regular cork. Bravo!
The Backun Signature Shifrin is the best mouthpiece I have had the pleasure of trying since I started playing the clarinet. I have tried various Vandoren mouthpieces and had been playing on a Backun Vocalise G. This mouthpiece is beautifully round and warm and is the perfect addition to my clarinet setup.
Just went in to get a little work done on my Clarinet minor adjustment and said I certainly would like to try a different mouthpiece and so he brought me this. I tried it loved it and bought it.
Store owner replied:
Thank you for choosing Backun, Christy! Please do not hesitate to reach out at any time if you have any questions as you get to know your new products!
Best regards,
Brian at Backun
Have played on a vandoren M15 for years but wanted change. This is responsive and a tone that is neither too bright nor too dark. Easy to shape the sound.
I am thrilled to have this new mouthpiece. I loved the beautiful sound quality it produced when I was trying it out at the dealer, as well as the remarkable improvement in ease of playing. I am really excited to "dive in" and increase my skills.
The Shifrin Signature series mouthpiece really takes my playing to the next level. Very free blowing through all registers and beautiful tone. Highly recommend!
Great mouthpiece. I have tried every model of the signature series but the Shiffrin is my favourite. It plays articulation with ease it as well as it is very comfortable on the embouchure.
This mouthpiece is tremendous. My previous MP was the Vocalise, it is similar but takes your sound and ease of playing to the next level. It is made by the same person (Richard Hawkins). It has a exceptional dark round sound. It is easy to play in the upper altissimo register. It plays dynamics with ease. Finally, it is easy to articulate on.
This is the absolute best mouthpiece I've ever played. The articulation is super clear, the tone is dark, and it's extremely flexible. Highly recommended!
As a player of a competing French mouthpiece company for many years, I switched to the Vocalise G when it was released. The new Signature series builds on the Vocalise line of centered tone, core sound and adds an additional brilliance.
As a comparison, I played Vocalise G mouthpieces but feel the resistance/reed strength is closer with the Shifrin than the Hawkins Signature line.
Fantastic. I love it. I have been playing the MOBA 11 for about five years, and I like this even better. I use v12 3.5's. It's very enjoyable to play and has a beautiful sound.
I really believe that there is no one mouthpiece to rule them all. Over the years I probably have tried 100s of them. Today I tried out 6 and it was clear that the Shifrin was for me. This might change in future. Not only was the tone and intonation great but so was the articulation. Sean Lucias pointed out to me the Hawkins was very particular about that. Often it is easy to find a mouthpiece that sounds great but when tonguing it is muddy. Not so with any of the Backun mouthpieces. Try them all to find the right one for you.
A feel that's consistent throughout the clarinet's range, making legato, soft passages and altissimo seem easier and more stable. Nice resonance and tonal clarity, including the throat tones. Rounded sound, but with good ring and still focused. A mouthpiece that sounds good, and is very enjoyable to play.
The Backun Shifrin mouthpiece has taken me to the next level. As an intermediate and older player, this step was huge for me! The Shiffrin along with a 3.25 Legere reed and BG ligature really works for me. So pleased.
David Shifrin's Signature mouthpiece continues the great tradition of mouthpieces made by Backun Music Services. This mouthpiece is one of my favorites. The mouthpiece has a unique "ping" and has a great "resistance" which helps provide magnificent tone and articulation.
Bravo tutti BMS!
So for the first time ever, I tried a new mouthpiece and after just 1 min I said, oh hell yes.
It is awesome for Double Lip playing … such lending itself to closed openings and long faces. But this one also has a trapezoidal opening, just like one other mouthpiece that works well for double lip. The Shifrin seems a notch better than that reference (for me) mouthpiece.
I’m not a professional clarinetist. I don’t teach clarinet and for 40 years after college I didn’t play clarinet.
But recently I picked it up again.
A lot has changed in four decades, so I started to experiment. New cane cuts. Synthetic reeds. A whole new range of mouthpieces. Custom barrels and bells. Ligatures made from every imaginable material.
I embraced Legere reeds. At my age taking time to work with cane reeds is just too much of a luxury. And I found they work quite well.
I tried many mouthpieces: crystal, hard rubber, ebonite, Vandoren BD5,M30, BD4, Vocalise etc, But I never got the right combo that gave me the tone, responsiveness, intonation and altissimo.(the altissimo was particularly elusive). I even tried the new CG. It had an amazing altissimo, but I couldn’t find the right reed combination for everything else.
Then two experts suggested trying the Shifrin. I was dismissive at first, having always played an open mouthpiece but I gave it a try. WHOA! I’m using a 3.25 Legere (The VK-1 40 comes close and I'll try a 35 when it comes). The first thing you notice is the “round” sound. It’s clean. And the intonation is spot on (very little adjustments needed). The articulation is remarkably clean. And the altissimo responds well (even better with a harder reed).
My search ends for now with my new Shifrin mouthpiece from Backun.
I’m happy.
I have beent very pleased with this recent purchase. The first time I used it I noticed an improved, rich, melodious response in the lower register. I expect that to occur throughout the clarinet’s range as I have more experience with its use.
I've only played the new Shifrin Signature mouthpiece for a few days so far...but I already love it! Big, round, projecting sound. I can't wait to take it to orchestra rehearsal!
This mouthpiece has a very strong, round sound, with a piercing protection. It feels more responsive in the high registers than any other one I've used, and gives the low register a nice strength, to punch through an orchestra!
Plus, it's very pretty, which adds bonus points!
Mr. Hawkins has really got this one right! If you want the dark chocolate out of your licorice stick this is the one. Where I am (2500 ft) I can use Vandoren V12 at 3 and get a great response from this wonderful product. The newer synthetic Vandoren works at 40 strength. This is a great buy for the advanced player looking for a dark sound with response. Thanks Backun and Mr. Hawkins. Roger Cole (Emeritus Professor of Clarinet, University of Idaho)
This mouth piece is a quirky in its appearance. It uses three O-rings in place of the traditional cork, and comes with a spare set of O-rings. Never-the-less, it seems to work well. It is easy playing and produces a very nice sound even with Legere synthetic reeds.
As a super senior, my air support isn't what it used to be. The combination of the Shifrin Signature Bb Mouthpiece, with its fairly close tip, and Legere European 3.0 reeds, allows me to play freely in all registers without tiring effort.
This mouthpiece borders on being too good to be true. There is nothing like it. The sound is beautiful, lush and even in all registers! Response is outstanding.
This mouthpiece is unquestionably worth the price! Congrats on producing a phenomenal clarinet
mouthpiece.
Bill Lipman
Prof of Clarinet DelMarCollege
