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Branching out into synthetic reeds

Author: gsurosey
Date: 2012-02-25 19:49

After I got a new bass clarinet mouthpiece for Christmas (Fobes Debut), I switch from cane to synthetic reeds on bass. I've always had better luck with synthetics than cane on bass and that hasn't changed. I now play that mouthpiece with a Legere #3 and am happy with it.

I haven't had nearly as good luck with synthetics on Bb clarinet, so I will keep what I have for now. However, I'm looking into synthetics for Eb clarinet and alto sax. I don't have many opportunities to play those; a concert or two a year at the most. I don't like keeping reeds around for super long periods of time and don't want to have to break in a new one or two when I dust off the instruments.

Other than Legere, who makes synthetics for Eb clarinet and alto sax? I've been looking at the Forestone threads (and their website). I see they make alto sax, but not Eb clarinet as of yet. What others do you all suggest I look at? I want to compile a list and get some opinions before I start buying things.

My Eb clarinet mouthpiece is a Vandoren B40 and my alto sax mouthpiece is a Hite Premiere. I'm thinking about getting a closer one for the eefer in the future, so I'm going to hold off on buying reeds until I decide on whether or not to change mouthpieces.

Thanks!

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Rachel

Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max

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Re: Branching out into synthetic reeds

Author: Katrina
Date: 2012-02-25 20:21

Here's my experience:

I got some 3.25 Legeres for my Eb clarinet and can't stand them on the Vandoren B40 (which is all I have for it). They're really stuffy and too hard. I haven't gone down a quarter strength yet because I don't really play it often enough to bother. All of the V12 3's I have are working fine for the little use I have for the instrument.

I tried 3.25 (maybe 3?) on my alto sax and was also dissatisfied. I've been using Rico Royal 3s on it and only have a basic student mouthpiece.

I've also tried Legere on my soprano sax and am happiest with the cane reeds I have for it too.

The conclusion I drew from these experiments is that since Bb clarinet is by far the instrument I use the most (i.e. I play and practice much more on it) that I'm more apt to be able to adapt to a new type of reed situation. It did take me a while to adjust to Legere reeds on the Bb but I've been playing them now for more than 10 years. The first 2-3 years were ok but after that I think I really developed a good sound for myself with them on my Borbeck mouthpiece. I chalk it up to my years spent on soprano clarinet alone.

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Re: Branching out into synthetic reeds

Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2012-02-25 22:43

A rule of thumb which most synthetic reed-users discover is that the larger the mouthpiece, the better the synthetic reed works on it and the easier it is to find a synthetic reed for it. Some people even find the larger the mouthpiece, the more the synthetic reed sounds *better* than a cane reed on it. I find this to be the case for contrabass clarinet, bass clarinet, basset horn/alto clarinet and alto sax.
Conversely, the smaller the mpc, the harder it is to find a synthetic reed that works on it. A Legere that sounds good on a Bb mpc is scarce (but they do exist) and I have never found a Legere that sounds good on an Eb mpc.
------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Aldrich

Clarinet Faculty - McGill University
Principal Clarinet - Orchestre Metropolitain de Montreal
Principal Clarinet - Orchestre de l'Opera de Montreal
Artistic Director - Jeffery Summer Concerts
Clarinet - Nouvel Ensemble Moderne

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