Klarinet Archive - Posting 000786.txt from 1998/02

From: masiello@-----.com
Subj: Re: Bass Clarinet Reeds.
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 21:49:33 -0500

Dear Ben,

It is the reverse of what you said. The tenor sax reeds are usually
longer than the bass clarinet reeds. If your having problems with the
instrument responding in all registers, I suspect that the instrument may
have some coverage problems or is out of adustment. You may also consider
getting a better quality mouthpiece like a Selmer C* or other good quality
bass clarinet mouthpiece. In any case, bass clarinet reeds are preferable
to tenor sax reeds. In a pinch, tenor reeds will work, but I think your
better off playing on reeds designed for the mouthpiece. Some people have
used clarinet reeds for e flat clarinet, but then again, I think your better
off sticking to the reeds that are designed for the size of the mouthpiece
that one plays the instrument with.

Best Regards,
Tony Masiello

At 05:21 PM 2/20/98 -0600, you wrote:
>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
>
>