Klarinet Archive - Posting 000013.txt from 1998/10

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] sax reeds for alto clarinet
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 12:24:37 -0400

Awhile back, I mentioned that Vandoren V-16 sax reeds (jazz-type reeds) work
well on my Selmer "A" series Eb alto clarinet and give it a brighter, louder
tone (closer to Bb clarinet tone) than I'd been getting with Vandoren "blue
box" alto clarinet reeds. The recent discussion between Merlin Williams,
Duncan McRoberts, Dave Spiegenthal, Roger Garrett and Kelly Abraham about
using sax reeds on clarinets reminded me to try all my other alto sax reeds on
my alto clarinet (Selmer HS* mouthpiece). I haven't got Rico Royals or Rico
Jazz (among the reeds easily available), but the ones I did try all fit and
all functioned properly.

At the bottom end, I don't like "plain old Ricos" or La Voz alto sax reeds on
either instument. The quality control seems poor, with a high percentage of
lopsided cuts and other problems that aren't easily sanded away. I can't get
my best tone out of the ones that look okay, either. (That's also been my
experience with the Bb clarinet reeds in these brands.) They'll stay in the
Drawer of Last Resort.

The Hemke Premium alto sax reed, my favorite for classical sax, gives a
mellow, balanced tone. (On sax, it plays particularly well on a "dark"
mouthpiece. I use Hemkes on my "vintage" 1920s saxes except for the bass.
Hemkes aren't available for bass, alas.) On alto clarinet, the Hemke alto sax
reed isn't as loud or as bright as the Vandoren V-16 alto sax reed and
probably wouldn't cut through a big, brass-heavy ensemble as well (although
I'm guessing about that, since I'm an amateur and not playing in public). The
Hemke gives me a darker tone quality than a Vandoren "blue box" alto clarinet
reed, with the significant advantage that I can play louder without the tone
deteriorating, although not as loudly as I can play on a V-16. I play mostly
classical music and prefer the mellow Hemke tone to the bright V-16 tone.

Hemkes are made by Rico, but I've found them a great deal more consistent than
"plain old Ricos." Hemkes, like the Rico Mitchell Luries for Bb clarinet, are
French cut rather than V cut. Some alto sax players say Hemkes don't last as
long as Vandorens, but some of us think the consistency of Hemke Premiums more
than outweighs the slight difference in durability, if there really is any --
I haven't noticed it, but then I'm not playing at top volume in a band and I
never play outdoors. I generally play 5 out of 5 Hemkes in a box and rarely
have to throw one away before it wears out.

For students who want to experiment with alto sax reeds on alto clarinet, I'd
recommend starting with Hemkes instead of V-16s. The rather radical cut of
the V-16s makes them harder to control. I'm more likely to squeak or get
other unintended results with V-16s than I am with Hemkes. I do think the
V-16s are well worth the trouble of learning them, for their extra power,
especially for those benighted souls who must march with an alto clarinet. At
any rate, for me, all the alto sax reeds I've tried so far perform better than
alto clarinet reeds on my alto clarinet.

Lelia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Power is so far from being desirable in itself, that it sometimes ought to be
refused, and sometimes to be resigned."
--Cicero (quoted grossly out of context...!)
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