Klarinet Archive - Posting 000328.txt from 2001/10

From: "Robert Moody" <LetsReason@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Eb Reeds for Eb mouthpieces
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 22:13:18 -0400

I had said, "Despite 'opinions' to the contrary, your facing only gives a
general idea of what strength reeds may work best for you." to which
someone replied, "Robert I cannot agree with your "opinion" stated above.
Since the Eb clarinet mouthpiece and reed are smaller than their Bb
equivalents, the facing and tip opening makes even more impact than usual in
trying to find compatibility with reeds." to which someone else agreed with,
saying, "All else being equal, the facing of the mouthpiece will have the
major influence on the strength of reed necessary to produce acceptable
pitch, tone, and attack on the eb clarinet." to which I now respond...

Wow. I kinda feel like Tony has claimed all along. Very interesting.

Here is what is interesting--I agree! with both of these opinions (though I
am by no means an "eefer" expert). But I think, unfortunately, that someone
is implying something definitely not said about my comment. In fact, my
comment lends itself to exactly the points they are making here. If I tell
someone my facing on my mouthpiece, the BEST! that they are going to respond
back to me is an estimation of what strength reed I could/would/should use.
The "law of physics" face-o-the-matter is, we are all different and would
therefore play different strengths on the same facing. [This does not negate
the probability that "most" would play in the same general area of
strength.]

The original post I responded to said that they played on a 3.5 strength
Vandoren and felt that it was too hard. Another response to this post came
across as a little condescending and so I made the comment. I could have
simply said to the original question: Well if the 3.5 is too strong, just
try a 3.0 or a 2.5. That is a logical response and probably quicker at
getting results if tried than starting a conversation about "Oh you have
THIS name brand EEFER mouthpiece with this FACING and since everyone knows
that MORGAN'S mouthpieces also have this CHARACTERISTIC you should use a
VANDOREN "GIGLIOTTI" ALTO TRUMPET REED trimmed down to play backwards on the
bell of the saxophone your great-great-great-grandfather played in the
1700s.

Though I'm sure this may have been the more accurate answer IF the original
poster had given their namebrand and specs, if they're asking about what
strength reed to use because the one their using is a little to stiff, they
probably (just a guess) don't know the facing on their mouthpiece. Then
we'd need a whole new thread for this list...but alas...we HAVE started a
new thread! LMBO!

Still...my opinion is as I stated from the beginning, with all due respect
for eefer players and everyone else more knowledgeable than me: "Your facing
ONLY gives a GENERAL idea of what reed strengths will work best for you."

Ton...er...Robert.

P.S. In fact, sometimes humidity makes that guess more off that it might be.

----- Original Message -----
From: <GrabnerWG@-----.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] Re: Eb Reeds for Eb mouthpieces

> Elise said:
>
> << Robert said, in response to a question from Josh about Eb clarinet
reeds:
>
> << <<Despite "opinions" to the contrary, your facing only gives a general
idea of what strength reeds may work best for you. >> >>
>
> <<Robert I cannot agree with your "opinion" stated above. Since the Eb
clarinet mouthpiece and reed are smaller than their Bb equivalents, the
facing and tip opening makes even more impact than usual in trying to find
compatibility with reeds.>>
>
> Elise - you're right - people may have opinions, but there are facts -
laws as it were - that govern the physical world.
>
> To quote a NEW law of Physics, "All else being equal, the facing of the
mouthpiece will have the major influence on the strength of reed necessary
to produce acceptable pitch, tone, and attack on the eb clarinet."
>
> There Sir Issac Newton,,,,ya MISSED that one!!!!!!
>
> Walter (only slightly tongue-in cheek) Grabner
> (who has played the eefer professionally, AND lived!)
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

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