Klarinet Archive - Posting 000802.txt from 1996/10

From: David Blumberg <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Vandoren/fake Strength: I'm confused
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 22:09:19 -0500

Again, it is the density of the cane that determines the strength of the reed,
not the "thickness", unless your a parent at a music store that is saying "I
would like to buy a reed for my child-# 2 size".
David C. Blumberg
reedman@-----.com

----------
From: Klarinet - Clarinettist's Network on behalf of Fogle, Bill
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 1996 7:08 PM
Subject: Re: Vandoren/fake Strength: I'm confused

The original phrase was:
-->> > > Did you know that Vandoren sorts their Reeds by testing its
-->hardness!
-->> > > It has nothing to do with different thickness of the Reed itself!
-->> > > What a policy

Someone else wrote:
-->> > And this is bad because...?

Jeorg responded:
-->different reed hardness is a matter of sound not of strength,
-->thats it! Ciao JP

I don't understand what is meant here by reed hardness being a "matter of
sound, not strength". Another wimpy equipment query I realize, but I would
like to understand. Basically, aren't reeds just the swipe of cane made
denser just beyond the tip? And isn't reed thickness irrelevant to "hardness"
or degree of resistence? My own observation is that very *little* material
separates the #2 reed from the #5. Nothing a piece of #400 grit sandpaper
couldn't *destroy* in two minutes. Moreover, it seems to me ("he's hot now")
it is the vamp *design* or "sculpture" that makes all the difference. Add to
that the design of the mouthpiece you slap the thing onto, and your
embouchure, and you've got, it seems to me, just a crap shoot. -----Bill.