 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Vrat
Date: 2006-09-18 17:50
I am using (mostly) Gonzales reeds from Davie Cane Company for my Bb, but they don't sell reeds for alto clarinet.
What reeds can you recommend for alto clarinet? Can alto sax reeds be used?
Thanks,
Vrat.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2006-09-18 18:17
Gonzales alto sax reeds work very well on an alto clarinet mouthpiece, I've found (I play a basset horn).
Vandoren alto clarinet reeds are also quite good and less expensive here.
Daniels makes alto clarinet reeds, but I haven't tried enough of them to comment.
Vrat: I notice you're possibly from the Czech Republic? On Saturday, my wind ensemble played all Czech music at a Bohemian beer garden (http://www.bohemianhall.com) in New York City: Dvorak, Smetana and Krommer. It was a Czech wine festival - they were serving that home-made new wine and a vintage cabernet. But I mostly drank the Pilsner Urquell.
Post Edited (2006-09-18 18:18)
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Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2006-09-18 19:12
I'll second the Gonzales alto sax reeds if you dont mind adjusting each reed a little. They don't quite fit my C* out of the box, but after adjustment they work better than Vandorens or Rico Royals.
Ben
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Author: William Hughes ★2017
Date: 2006-09-18 20:24
I play a Hite mouthpiece on a newly Speigelthal-ized Linton/Malerne alto. I purchased Vandoren Java Alto Sax reeds, 2.5, based upon a prior Clarinet BB post I had seen. The first one out of the box played very well.
Post Edited (2006-09-18 20:26)
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Author: Michelle
Date: 2006-09-19 03:30
I always keep a few softer Vandorens in the case for emergency use - for instant playability.
In addition to the Vandorens, I also have Marca reeds. I have only actually used one, and out of the box it was a bit fuzzy but with some judicious sanding here and there it cleared up nicely. Very promising - I will be keeping the box and the sandpaper handy and will be breaking in some more Marcas soon.
In my experience alto sax and alto clarinet reeds are, for the most part, interchangeable. There will always be exceptions but I have had good luck using both back and forth.
Michelle
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Author: Vrat
Date: 2006-09-19 07:20
Larryb,
Yes, I am from Czechs (how did you guess?). You've made a wise choice with Pilsner Urquell, Czech wines are nothing much, usually.
Thank you all for your advice on alto reeds.
One more question: A friend told me one needs to use soft reeds on alto to play well in clarion register. What do you think? What grade of reeds are you alto clarinet players using?
Vrat.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2006-09-19 11:44
I use Vandoren #3 or Gonzales alto sax #2-3/4
At least on the longer length basset horn, a softer reed is best (for me); probably the same with the alto clarinet (same bore diameter/mouthpiece).
I've used these strengths on Vandoren B45 and Bill Street mouthpieces.
- Larryb
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