Klarinet Archive - Posting 001141.txt from 1999/04

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Bb reeds on Eb...was.......Reeds?
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 21:04:12 -0400

In a message dated 4/28/99 9:29:23 AM Central Daylight Time,=20
pshapiro@-----.com writes:

<<=20
I have found that Bb reeds generally don't work well because they don't
seal properly on the mouthpiece.=A0 If you're going to use Bb reeds, which
I don't recommend, try a German cut reed.=A0 It will be narrower and may
seal better.
=20
As to size, I think that you should look for a harder size than you
would use on Bb.=A0 The higher the pitch, the faster the reed has to
vibrate.=A0 There is also the higher air pressure of the smaller
instrument to deal with.=A0 If you play 4's on the Bb I'd try 5's on the
Eb.=A0 You can always take a little wood off of a harder reed, but an Eb
with too soft a setup can sound pretty awful.
>>
Here's a totally dissenting opinion.

I play Eb a lot, and have played professionally. All the standard Strauss,=20
Mahler, Stravinsky, Ravel, Berlioz.=20

My best results came when I used a normal Bb reed, what ever I WAS USING AT=20
THE TIME, and sawed off enough of the butt to fit on the Eb mouthpiece.

The extra width at the tip imparts a stability that standard Eb reeds just d=
o=20
not have. When you really NEED a big sound, an Eb reed just seems to close u=
p.

Secondly.....I am not a fan of really hard reeds. This totally depends on th=
e=20
facing of your mouthpiece, and some on your embouchure development.

I found that a Bb reed that spoke nicely, with a nice tone, but was slightly=20
SOFT, made a great Eb reed. This works for ME, maybe not for anyone else.

Turns out that my Eb mouthpiece is more open than my Bb, so a softer reed=20
works well.

Anyway, my two cents worth.

Walter Grabner=20
who is playing more bass than Eb these days. Must be gettin old.

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