Klarinet Archive - Posting 001402.txt from 1997/10

From: Jrykorten@-----.com
Subj: Re: Reed Strengths and types
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 05:37:54 -0500

This is a very interesting thread that keeps coming up from listserv
subscribers in Europe. They seem to use reeds that are a lot less strong than
those we use. Are there any Europeans who are studying here in the states who
can try a US student's setup to see if we are really playing harder setups?
Or do we work our reeds down to an equivalent strength? Or are there any US
subscribers over in Europe who can try a European clarinet player's setup and
report back to us?

I did hear someplace that, in France, a performer will come in to the
Vandoren factory and chose a reed to play for a concert that night. This
means it is not being broken in like we do here in the states. My reeds drop
a full 1/2 strength (at least) after the third or fourth time I am playing
them during the breaking period (I buy 3 - 4 depending on brand and make).
Does this account for the difference in reed strengths? What do you Europeans
do to reeds when you buy them? Do you stop playing them after 4 times?

The other issue that is of interest to me is the assignment of a particular
reed to a particular school (white master to German, black master to
Austrian, French cut for the rest of us). I am currently playing white
masters on a Hawkins mouthpiece (Zinner blank) and on an Vandoren M13.
Perhaps it is because both of these have a closer facing that this works. I
was always taught that a short vamp (as on the white master) would result in
a sharper pitch. But I have not found that to be the case on my setup so far.
I do like the sound of the white master reed though, a little more alive and
resonant. By the way, the literature describes a german vamp as longer than a
french vamp, yet the white master vamp is shorter. Any input?

Is anybody else out there using white master reeds on non-german setups? Does
the close and long facing of an M13 make it a german setup? Does a Zinner
blank mouthpiece qualify it as a german setup?

Jerry Korten
NYC