Klarinet Archive - Posting 000788.txt from 1998/11

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Two specific questions on reeds
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 12:32:12 -0500

In a message dated 11/20/98 2:58:30 AM Central Standard Time,
roger.shilcock@-----.uk writes:

<< roger.shilcock@-----.uk (Roger Shilcock)
Reply-to: klarinet@-----.org
To: klarinet@-----.org

Presumably the resulting change of contour is the significant thing,
rather than the actual thickness.
Roger Shilcock

<<<< Roger...thicker blank equals more rounded contour, which equals more
"heart" or central core to the reed. Then it's whatever your mouthpiece and
embouchure do with it.>>>>>

On Fri, 20 Nov 1998, Hiroshi Nagatsuma wrote:

> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 09:34:47 +0900
> From: Hiroshi Nagatsuma <hiroshi@-----.jp>
> Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] Two specific questions on reeds
>
> I have a specific question about reeds:reed-heel thickness.
> French clarinettiste Guy Danguin saids in his book that standard reed heel
> thickness is 2.8 mm(0.1102") but that if its thickness bemes 3mm(0.1181")
> the tones become more rounder. Dit anyone experience this phenomena
> actually? Do anyone know any commercialy available reeds which have heel
> thickness larger than 2.8mm? >>

<<<<<< I got out the trusty old micrometer and measured batches of four
brands of reeds. Results

Vandoren V-12......all over 3.0
Zonda...................all over 3.0
Oliveri...................VERY over 3.0 (scientific, eh?)
Mitchel Lurie..........most around 2.5

This is why the ML's come out of the box playing, but never get better. They
die first, due to "spinelessness". I view ML's like disposable razors....handy
to have around, but ultimately unsatisfactory.

BTW....please don view this as a condemnation of ML's. I have used them with
fine results, when my carefully prepared VanDoren went south at the last
moment. Many years ago now, the Toledo Symphony was taping a new composition
for a PBS special. After the taping, the composer (I cant remember who
anymore) came up and said he had had several performances of the piece but had
never heard the clarinet solo played with such "Soul-stirring" tone.

I had slapped a Mitchel Lurie, right out of the box, on the mouthpiece before
the pre-taping rehearsal. It played so well I never took it off. Threw it out
the next day...I had played it to death!

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