Klarinet Archive - Posting 000311.txt from 1994/12

From: Ken Ulansey <Kenu01@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: synthetic reeds
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 1994 12:37:25 -0500

I read with great interest Doug McGee's post on Fibracell reeds. The
last time I played a plastic reed was 1954, and I assume the technology
has improved somewhat. My "The Woodwind" catalog shows the following:
>Nuvox Synthetic
> Reeds; (4) Oliveri Synthetic; (5) Woodwind plastic (6) Rico >Plasticover.
Will
> anyone with the courage to admit trying something other >than a cane reed
care
> to comment on any of the
above? -Jim-
I've found the fibracell to be wonderful in two situations: for doubling on
instruments I rarely play (in my case bass clarinet and bari sax) as well as
for practicing when I don't have enough show quality reeds around. They feel
better than you would think, but sound a bit brittle for studio or concert
settings. Not awful for pop playing though. The only other brand I tried
was bari, and they felt and sounded...well....plastic.