Klarinet Archive - Posting 000075.txt from 2008/07

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] RE: Tenor Sax Mouhpieces
Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:41:06 -0400

At 11:32 PM 7/7/2008, Lee Ann wrote:
>My gist of "liking" a soft reed was to make sure the horn's mouthpiece was
>open and not closed when using a soft reed. Switching reeds is easier, of
>course. This all brings to mind the insanity of reading a
>mouthpiece chart put
>out in one of the music catalogs from a big sales house -- it will drive
>everyone nuts for a while! There is so much out there to choose
>from, I'm amazed
>that anyone can successfully put together a playable mouthpiece/reed. But
>they do -- and then usually are happy to share their success. And
>that is why
>we're so glad to be on the list!

The facing charts are useful, but very incomplete, since they do not
take facing length into account. For instance, to look at the chart,
you would conclude that a Vandoren B45 is relatively open and would
require a soft reed. However, the facing length is relatively long,
and long facings call for stiff reeds. Between the two
characteristics, a B45 works best with a medium reed, but you would
not get that information from the chart alone.

My point, as far as "liking" soft reeds is that you would, of course,
like them if your mouthpiece requires them, but there is no reason to
prefer soft or hard EXCEPT as it relates to the mouthpiece you are
currently using, so that is the driving force.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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