Klarinet Archive - Posting 000784.txt from 1998/02
From: "Jason Hsien" <jasonavhs@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Bass Clarinet Reeds.
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 21:04:45 -0500
-----Original Message-----
From: Benjamin Leon <bleon@-----.edu>
:Greetings!
:
:OK...here goes....
:a band director I work with (who is a fine clarinetist in his own right)
:Mentioned that I should not use bass clarinet reeds.
:Instead, he mentioned using tenor sax reeds. Usually med soft ala LaVoz.
:I asked why and was told that the length of the bass Cl reed is usually
longer
:than that of the normal positioning of the reed on the mouthpiece.
:
:Has anyone used something different on the bass clarine (reeds) to get the
:instrument to speak in all registers? Anyone have any tips on playing in a
cl
:choir with this instrument??
:
:Thanks in advance.
:
:Ben
:BLeon@-----.edu
:
Hi Ben!
I play both tenor sax and bass clarinet, and I have found in my experience
that while, size-wise, tenors seem to fit bass clarinets better and bass
clarinet reeds seem to fit tenors better, the better one is definately the
tenor sax reed for bass clarinet.
Tenor Sax reeds seem to be more consistant? with their tone. I'm not sure if
that sounds right, but I don't know how else to put it. The sound is better,
but, because I have found that tenor reeds are a tad thicker on the part we
use to play, and reed rush really helps. Just be careful.
Also, about using LaVoz... I personally don't like using LaVoz. I mean, how
specific can you get with soft, med, med hard and hard sizes. I would
recommend Vandoren regulars. I use Size 3.5, but you can use others.
Also, bass clarinet reeds are, on average, more expensive, than tenor sax
reeds. I've seen them range anywhere from $0.50 to $10 difference in a box
of 10. (United States Dollars, of course) Both can be interchanged between
tenor sax and bass clarinet (which is great for those who play both or have
to double), and I have found that tenor sax reeds are better than bass
clarinets, despite the bass clarinet's high price difference.
If you buy your stuff from Woodwind/Brasswind, the difference is much
smaller, Tenor Sax reeds at $11.19 and Bass Clarinet Reeds at $11.49, so
just take your pick, but before buying, you may just want to go down to a
local music shop and try both by buying a single reed, and not the whole
box. See which one _YOU_ like better.(and that is the important thing)
Good luck on your reed hunting! :-)
Jason Hsien
Student, Amador Valley High School
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