Klarinet Archive - Posting 000005.txt from 1996/11

From: Roger Shilcock
Subj: Re: Vandoren/fake Strength: I'm confused (fwd)
Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 04:17:12 -0500

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 16:08:26 PST
From: Fogle, Bill <bill.fogle%ASPENPUBL.COM@-----.UK>
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.
Comment:
Thickness does make a difference, though, notably with bass clarinet
reeds. If these are too thin, they are all too liable to squawk.
Roger Shilcock