Klarinet Archive - Posting 000150.txt from 2010/01

From: "Lelia Loban" <lelialoban@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] contra alto reeds
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:18:08 -0500

Deborah Shaw asked,
>What reeds can be used on a contralto clarinet? Bari sax?
>

I play a plastic Bundy EEb contra-alto (the model now called Selmer USA
1440) from the 1980s, with a Selmer C* mouthpiece. I'm an amateur. I use
three different reeds. So far, the cheapest reed seems to be the better one
for me -- and I don't think that's just because I'm a cheapskate, although I
do make sure to keep my Cheapskate Credential up to date.

The Rico Royal for baritone sax barely fits that mouthpiece. The reed is a
little bit on the narrow side for that lay and I have to position it
carefully or else it's a Squeak-O-Matic, but otherwise I like that reed. I
also use the "plain old Rico" labelled for EEb contra-alto or BBb contrabass
clarinet and bass sax. I don't feel or hear a difference in the
responsiveness between the "plain old Rico" and the Royal. Though the
percentage of good reeds in the box is better with the Rico Royal and I
normally prefer a French file cut, I've been replacing the Royals with the
cheapie "plain old Rico" lately, because the cheapie, which I've been buying
anyway because it's the only reed that fits my 1926 bass sax mouthpiece, is
a tad wider and fits my contra-alto mouthpiece exactly. I also use the
Vandoren that's labelled for BBb contrabass clarinet. It fits the
mouthpiece exactly, too. However, I've found the Vandorens variable in
hardness and thus somewhat annoying, because I double on so many instruments
that it helps me to switch between them if I can reduce the variables as
much as possible by using consistent reeds.

Because contra-alto mouthpieces can vary quite a bit in size and shape, I
made a rubbing of the lay of mine on a piece of paper that I carry with me
to the store or the music festival, in case I find another reed that looks
as if it might fit. These big reeds seem a lot less sensitive to cane that
looks as if it might have problems. I've worn out quite a few cheap Rico
reeds that look terrible (wavy grain, very coarse grain, uneven grain -- I
never buy those for soprano clarinets) that play perfectly well on contra
clarinet and bass sax.

Lelia Loban
http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/Lelia_Loban

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