Klarinet Archive - Posting 000815.txt from 1995/10

From: Alan Stanek <STANALAN@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Reed strengths
Date: Sun, 22 Oct 1995 18:59:51 -0400

To: Tom Ascher, Luuk van Buul, Nate and others -

Luuk van Buul's comments may be more accurate than one might imagine.
Recently, Marcus Ely, Quality Control Musician for Rico International,
tested a new reed concept with many clarinetists attending the Oklahoma
Clarinet Symposium and elsewhere during his travels around the country. It
seems Rico was (and I emphasize was) going to market an individualized reed
that one could order directly from Rico once the clarinetist had tested
several different strength reeds on their own mouthpiece. Marcus measured
each person's mouthpice and noted their setup. These reeds were numbered
from the low teens to the 40's or more? For example, after trying several
different reeds of various strengths (and receiving several free boxes of
one or two strengths of reeds that seemed to suit my mouthpiece and clarinet
setup) and deciding that the #27s were the best for me, I would tell Rico
and they would note that Alan Stanek always wanted "Alan Stanek" reeds and
they would be sent (for an undetermined sum of $). All of the #27s I tried
were very consistent - I'm still playing on some of them two and a half
years later. Perhaps Rico speculated there would be a market for such highly
selective reeds. I would have been happy to pay most anything to get such
consistency from an entire box of reeds - something I have never been able
to do.

When I recently called Marcus to find out what happened to Rico's project he
indicated it was "on hold" because Rico had or wanted to spend more time and
$$ on their GRAND CONCERT line of reeds with the thicker reed blanks and
quarter strengths. Marcus, if this isn't true please set the record
straight! (If someone wants to call Marcus and get the scoop his number is
1-800-556-4321)

Maybe Tom Ascher's comments (speculations I presume) also make some kind of
logical business sense. Just because it seems logical doesn't make such
statements true. Does anyone out there on the klarinet list have more to
offer in the search for the truth about reed strengths from the various reed
manufacturers?

Nate's observation about playing whatever reed that works and throwing away
the rest is the best advice I've seen concerning the age-old problem we
clarinetists must endure. For those who spend uncountable hours fussing with
reeds, please don't offer to help me change any light bulbs!

May the reed god be with you! CHEERS!
Alan Stanek, Professor of Music at Idaho State University
Pocatello, ID 83209-8099 e-mail <stanalan@-----.edu>
President-elect - International Clarinet Association