Klarinet Archive - Posting 001099.txt from 1998/01

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Eb reeds
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 09:38:03 -0500

On Sun, 25 Jan 1998 benevolent1@-----.com wrote:
> I have never found an Eb reed that I liked (and that is just modest
> student requirements on sound). What I have been doing for the past 4
> years since I started playing the Eb clarinet is to use regular Bb reeds
> with the bottom cut off. It really has improved my tuneing, as well as
> getting the throat tones to sound more centered. That is my meager
> experience talking, however.

Sarah's experiences may be limited and "meager" in her words, but she is
doing the right thing with her "Eb" reeds. Bb reeds cut off are a great
way to go. John Yeh uses Grand Concert Bb reeds 3.75, thick blanks to be
exact! He has told me that he uses the softer reeds for his Eb. He is
especially lucky in that his mouthpiece is a thick enough blank to allow
him to just put the reed on without cutting it off. This doesn't work for
most setups.....but the missing 20 mm or so don't make any difference. No
sense investing in another set of expensive reeds when you don't have to!

Roger Garrett
IWU