Klarinet Archive - Posting 000340.txt from 2001/08

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Was - I need Reed information. Now -
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 16:10:14 -0400

I'm just remembering watching Bob Harrison at the convention booth at the
MENC conference as a student. He would talk about how his reed cases would
allow reeds to last much longer than other reed cases on the market. He
said that the reeds he had in the case and was demonstrating from were 10
years old. I have several of his cases and several other kinds of cases -
and, surprisingly, the old one with plexiglass and the fake leatherette
cover (a real cheapo!) works best for my reeds! The Selmer is a close
second place. The Harrioson cases are just fine - but no better.

He also said that his ligature was far superior to others - that they would
keep the reed from squeaking. As an example, he would put the person's
ligature on his mouthpiece/reed/horn combination and play. He proceeded
to squeak a great deal. Then, he would put his ligature on the
reed/mouthpiece/horn combination and play - not a squeak to be heard.

These are examples of myths - things people do to sell products.

My impression is that there is no mouthpiece/reed compatability that will
allow reeds to last significantly longer. My experience is that the reed
is fit to the mouthpiece - that the mouthpiece is the constant. You have
to find a brand that appears to "snap" best on a mouthpiece - but once that
happens, the rest is all up to the player to adapt.

There are mouthpiece makers who adapt their mouthpiece design to a
particular kind of reed. For example, I was told once that Jim Pyne used
to allow for the heaviness of one side of the Vic Olevieri reeds to
influence him to some degree - but I can't say that is a fact - just
something I heard from people who used the combination. I have also heard
of people doing the same for other mouthpieces.

My problem with this is that sometimes, reed manufacturers change the way
they manufacture a reed, discontinue a particular model of reed, or, worse,
close up shop. For example, the reeds made by Vandoren now are
significantly different from those made in the 70s and 80s. All it takes
are a few measuring devices to determine this! It is my understanding that
the Olivieri reeds changed at some point in the mid-80s - although I could
be wrong. What do you do once the manufacturer decides to tweak the
production of the reed line or if you decide to change reed brands - change
mouthpieces? Get it refaced to match the new style? For pete's sake.

It seems to me that a person is best served by finding a mouthpiece that
works for them - no trickery, no magic, no silliness - just find the one
that works and adapt reeds to play on it.

One of the main things I have learned since entering into the mouthpiece
arena two and a half years ago is that I am a lot more flexible with regard
to mouthpieces than I ever thought I was or could be. In other words -
while I didn't really know I could, I realized I can play on most brands
and openings - with slight adjustments in the reed. I have preferences,
but I really can play on most mouthpieces that are made properly. You find
these things out after play-testing over 1000 mouthpieces. I'll bet a lot
of people are like this.

Therefore - I don't think it is important to a consumer that a mouthpiece
be designed with a brand reed in mind. Rather, I would like to see the
craftsmanship of the mouthpiece allow for several kinds of reeds to work
equally well on it.

Best wishes,
Roger Garrett

Clarinet Professor
Director, Symphonic Winds
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
Phone: (309) 556-3268
Fax: (309) 556-3121

"If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me,
this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very
best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until
the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't
amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, 10 angels swearing I
was right would make no difference."
-Abraham Lincoln

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