Klarinet Archive - Posting 000157.txt from 1994/12

From: Jackie McGee <jmcgee@-----.ORG>
Subj: Fibracell reeds
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 1994 17:07:07 -0500

A while ago someone asked about Fibracell reeds.
I am Doug McGee, retired 70 year old amateur clarinetist. I am a member of
the Coastal Community Concert Band of San Diego, California, privileged to
have performed at the American Bandmasters Association Conference in
Honolulu this past March, where we presented the world premiere performance
of Warren Barker's arrangement In The Miller Mood, commissioned by our band.
The band performs about 20 times a year and we have weekly rehearsals.

My clarinet is a forty year old Buffet R 13, a DEG AccuBore barrel, a
Daniel Bonade mouthpiece with a Rovener ligature and I have used Fibracell
reeds, medium strength for the past year and a half. These reeds are
outstanding.

I have used Vandoren traditional, V12's, Mitchell Lurie, Olivieri, Rico
Royal, Marca reeds, and have spent countless hours soaking, sanding,
balancing and breaking in conventional cane reeds. With the Fibracell
reed, I place it on my mouthpiece and blow. There is no breaking in period.
My tone in all registers is excellent, the quick response gives me better
articulation than a cane reed, and the feel of the Fibracell reed is the
same as a cane reed. Fibracell reeds come in five strengths, and you
would need to experiment to see what suits you and your mouthpiece best.
These reeds are not affected by heat or humidity. Fibracell reeds are
available for clarinet, alto and tenor saxophone. I use a tenor sax soft
grade for my bass clarinet, and a medium grade for my tenor sax. The
manufacturer claims that the Fibracell reed lasts up to four times longer
than a cane reed, but I have found that by rotating three Fibracell reeds,
my reeds last up to four months on my clarinet and six months on my tenor
sax. Frederic Weiner of N.Y. and The Woodwind of South Bend, IN.,
advertise Fibracell reeds at $6.75 for clarinets. I recommend these reeds
most highly.

Doug McGee, San Marcos, CA
(jmcgee@-----.org)