I play the greatest instrument of all, the b flat clarinet! I have an r13 buffet, with an m13 Vandoren lyre mouthpiece. The instrument is pretty reliable and I love it!
For marching band, I use a plastic Leblanc clarinet(Not a bliss!) and it is actually a pretty good clarinet, but has more of a piercing sound that's better for ensembles, rather then the dark, rich wood sound that's preferred in solo performance.
I also use 3 1/2 plus v12 Vandoren reeds.
I have been playing the clarinet for about 4 1/2 years, since 5th to freshman year, and band has pretty much been the greatest thing that has ever happened to me! I really was only good at drawing before band, but I finally found a talent that can actually get me places. I plan on making state at least one of my years in highschool, and this year, I was only able to make region... :/
Despite the fact I was finally able to get lessons this year.....
My nerves got the best of me, and in my second etude( a technical piece that was pretty much just scale patterns) I completely fumbled and died during my performance, causing me to only place
9th chair concert band, and in turn completely disappointed my lesson teacher, who was one of the judges. sad