Vandoren BLACK DIAMOND 5 - CM145

Vandoren Black Diamond: A Modern Signature in the World of Mouthpieces

With the Black Diamond series, Vandoren emphasizes a design approach where aesthetics directly support playability: refined internal geometry, elegant external lines, and a pursuit of balance between comfort and harmonic richness. The CM145 fits into this approach by aiming to provide a more familiar embouchure sensation for clarinetists while maintaining the distinctive "Black Diamond" sound identity. The manufacturer also highlights its sonic character's closeness to a popular Black Diamond model for Bb clarinet, clearly positioning the CM145 as a mouthpiece oriented towards presence, roundness, and control on the bass clarinet.

For Which Clarinetist and Styles?

The Vandoren Black Diamond CM145 is intended for clarinetists of intermediate to advanced level seeking an expressive mouthpiece capable of commanding the stage and remaining stable during demanding passages. Its orientation makes it particularly suitable for dynamic and amplified or highly rhythmic contexts, such as big band, Latin styles, or electro projects, where projection, density, and clear articulation are expected without sacrificing roundness.

Sound and Design

Thanks to its 1.87 mm tip opening and a medium-long facing, the CM145 promotes smooth response and good control of the air column, with a comfortable playing feel. The desired result is a round, full, and stable timbre, with good homogeneity between low and high registers and a response that remains easy to vibrate. The ebonite, chosen for its acoustic qualities and tactile feel, is processed in several steps: most of the exterior surface is polished, while the table is intentionally left unpolished to preserve the precision of contact with the reed and avoid inaccuracies caused by excessive polishing.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To make the most of this bass clarinet mouthpiece, you can pair it with bass clarinet reeds. The recommended reed strengths by the manufacturer for Vandoren reeds are listed below (Traditional, V12, V21), which helps in choosing a balance between ease of response, sound stability, and resistance.

Technical specifications

Category	bass clarinet	Style	big band/latin/electro
Material	Hard rubber	Color	Black
Opening	1,87 mm	Finishing	Glossy

Tip opening	1.87 mm	Recommended Traditional reed strengths	2.5 to 3.5
Facing length	medium-long	Recommended V12 reed strengths	2.5 to 3.5
Nickel	No	Recommended V21 reed strengths	2.5 to 3.5