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 Reed Selection
Author: MGT91123 
Date:   2013-05-21 00:38

Hi,
As you can see by my signature, I have quite the list of reeds. lately, I haven't been happy with any of them. Except one good concert select. I have to stand to get a good sound out of it, though. I have two concerts coming up soon, as in tomorrow, Tuesday Morning, and Wednesday Night. Until then, I can hold out on this one reed (I Hope!) But after this, I'm willing to try anything.
The Concert Select give me the good tone I want, but playing standing up isn't my style.
The Reserve Classics give me air and squeaking.
The Vandorens make me squeak and don't feel right.

Any advice is helpful.
MG

Buffet E-11
Buffet Moening Barrel, 65 mm, Backun Protege 65mm
Vadoren BD5 Mouthpiece
Vandoren M/O series gold Lig.
Gonzala's FOF Reeds 2.5


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 Re: Reed Selection
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2013-05-21 00:49

Gosh, it sounds like you're just pulling reeds out of a box and passing judgment popping them on the mouthpiece. For me, I need at least a three day break-in period just to begin an assessment on any reed.


If you're out of reeds the day before a concert, your only choice (again, in my opinion) is a Legere at 1/4 strength weaker than what you normally use in a Vandoren (if you normally ever use Vandorens).


If you have Concert Selects that work at all I suggest you duke it out until you can break in some new reeds down the road.




....................Paul Aviles



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 Re: Reed Selection
Author: Joe Bloke 
Date:   2013-05-21 01:08

It might be the ligature or mouthpiece, and not the reeds, that's the problem. Or, the strength of the reeds.

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 Re: Reed Selection
Author: kdk 
Date:   2013-05-21 02:46

What do you do differently when you play standing up that makes the reed work better that way?

Maybe if you can figure out what's different, you can hold the clarinet the same way when you sit and at least have one reed (the Grand Concert) that works.

Karl

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 Re: Reed Selection
Author: grok 
Date:   2013-05-21 07:33

maybe you could pop into a music store and ask to try a mouthpiece or two and some ligatures with the reeds you currently have to see if you still squeak

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 Re: Reed Selection
Author: Hurstfarm 
Date:   2013-05-21 12:11

Given that you seem to have a stock of reeds and an urgent need, some work in "doctoring" a few reeds to make them playable seems worth the effort, although you lack the time you'd ideally want to play them in. It's always worth having a couple of good reeds in reserve to avoid over-reliance on one, and the feelings of panic if it gets damaged! The following links may help.
http://www.tcnj.edu/~mckinney/the%20reed.htm
http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/adjusting.htm

Good luck!

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 Re: Reed Selection
Author: kdk 
Date:   2013-05-21 13:17

Aside from the wrinkle that you can play the one Grand Concert reed only when standing up, consistent squeaking suggests something other than a reed problem may be at work. The mouthpiece has already been suggested as a possible cause. Is it damaged in any way you can see? especially scratches in the tip rail or in any of the rails up near the tip? Are you sure your clarinet doesn't have a leaky pad or two?

By the time you read this, your Tuesday morning concert will have come and gone, but the problem most likely will still be there. #3 or #3-1/2 of pretty much any of those reeds should be in the ballpark on a 5RV. All three of the reed brands you've mentioned are perfectly serviceable and should not in themselves cause these problems (though nearly everyone has a favorite among them). The ligature is as good as anything else and not likely to be causing your problem.

Once the emergency is over and you've gotten through it however you have done it, take some time to (a) try a few other mouthpieces - either at a music store or borrow from a couple of friends for a few minutes - and (b) have your clarinet checked for leaks. Even a small leak high on the instrument can act as a pressure vent, much like the register key, and cause enough instability to make squeaks more likely.

Just don't put off checking it all out until the day before the next concert. :)

Karl

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 Re: Reed Selection
Author: JonTheReeds 
Date:   2013-05-21 15:44

Could it be the number of different reeds and strengths that is causing the problem?

Using many different reeds of even the same type makes it difficult to get to know the reed, to know when it is on the verge of speaking and when it is about to squawk. Add different types of reeds and strengths into the mix and it becomes even harder to be able to play consistently

--------------------------------------
The older I get, the better I was

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 Re: Reed Selection
Author: MGT91123 
Date:   2013-05-21 19:15

I've figured it out. I dropped it on Monday, forgetting to zip the case ended in not playing today and probably playing a plastic oone tomorrow.
MG

Buffet E-11
Buffet Moening Barrel, 65 mm, Backun Protege 65mm
Vadoren BD5 Mouthpiece
Vandoren M/O series gold Lig.
Gonzala's FOF Reeds 2.5


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 Re: Reed Selection
Author: morbius 
Date:   2013-05-22 21:47

None of these prior posts mention embouchure. The tone you produce is half the mouthpiece/reed combo, BUT the other half is YOU. Is your chin pointed and firm; have you eliminated movement of the chin; is your upper lip exerting pressure on the mouthpiece; are your corners firm? All these issues must be addressed; you cannot just put in your mouth and hope. Your embouchure is the point of control over the tone of your clarinet. Also, do you understand the vibration principals of reeds: reeds vibrate from side to side as well as in and out. If the sides are not balanced, you will get poor performance from a reed. Also the point of resistance needs to be adjusted for your mouthpiece. There's a great book: A book for the Clarinet Reed Maker by Ronald Vazquez. Even the most expensive commercial reeds are incredibly inconsistent in their dimensions, let alone the quality of the cane, so it's no wonder you have trouble. Last year, I bought 4 boxes of Gonzalez FOF's #3.25.... couldn't find ONE REED THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE. So, I dug out my reed Dual and ordered some Gonzalez tube cane and went to work. I have had so many of my colleagues complement me on my sound since then that I will never go back to using commercial reeds. I control my own destiny now.

John Dorch

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 Re: Reed Selection
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2013-05-23 17:59

The best advise is to learn to break them in properly and learn to adjust them. A lot of it is trail and error but I have some good articles on my website about reeds, maybe it will help in the long run. Not for tomorrow night though.

ESP eddiesclarinet.com

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