Detail 01
Ebonite (hard rubber) body
Warmer, less brittle response than plastic, and dimensionally stable — but it dulls and warps if left in sun or a hot car.
Product detailSKU #1274228081686
VandorenB40 Lyre Bb Clarinet Mouthpiece B40 Lyre - 13 Series
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
A hard-rubber Bb clarinet mouthpiece in Vandoren's 13 Series pitch. For intermediate and advancing players ready to replace the piece their clarinet shipped with.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Students moving past the stock plastic mouthpiece on a school clarinet
- Concert band and orchestral players in A=440 ensembles
- Players wanting a freer, more flexible blow than a close-tip piece
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Players in A=442 European settings, where the 13 Series pitch runs flat
- Anyone unwilling to re-test reed strengths after switching
- Bass, alto or Eb clarinet — this is Bb only
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
13 Series designation
Vandoren's lower-pitch cut for A=440 tuning. Chosen so you are not pulling out constantly to sit in tune.
Detail 03
B40 Lyre facing
An open-tip design with a focused chamber. More dynamic range and volume available, at the cost of needing better air support.
Detail 04
Open tip opening
Reeds that felt right on your old mouthpiece will feel stiff. Most players drop a half strength.
Detail 05
Price around $142
Professional-tier pricing for a single mouthpiece. It outlives several instruments, so cost spreads over years, not seasons.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01No ligature, cap or reeds included — budget for those separately
- 02Confirm your ligature fits; hard rubber blanks vary slightly in taper
- 03Expect a week or two of adjustment before it feels normal
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Will this fit my clarinet?
It fits standard Bb soprano clarinets from any maker — the cork tenon socket is a common size. It will not fit bass, alto or Eb clarinets.
02What reed strength should I use?
Start a half strength below what you play now. The open tip needs a softer reed to speak cleanly, especially in the low register.
03What does 13 Series mean?
It is Vandoren's cut for A=440 pitch, standard in the US. The non-13 versions are pitched higher for A=442 European ensembles.
04How do I clean it?
Swab it after every session and rinse with lukewarm water. Never use hot water or leave it in sunlight — heat discolors and distorts hard rubber.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
2 detailsBody & build
- Fingerboard Material
- Ebonite
- Color
- 13 Series
