 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Melissa
Date: 2003-03-10 16:03
What are some signs that tell you, you should move to a larger reed strength?
Melissa
Post Edited (2003-03-10 17:59)
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-03-10 16:24
Assuming you're staying within the appropriate reed strength range for your mouthpiece, I'd go up if it takes so little effort to produce a sound that it's a struggle not to overblow. You need to have lots of air support behind your sound to maintain proper control, but if your reed is too soft, that air support could mean blaring notes, honks, squeaks, and all kinds of things you don't want.
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Melissa
Date: 2003-03-10 23:08
I use 2.5 vandoren reeds, but when I play fast runs with staccatos or accents I squeak. So I tried a 3, and I didn't squeak, but (I tried the 3's for a week or so) it was impossible to play them without feeling light headed, and out of breath. I also found them a lot more airy sounding (probably because I wasn't used to them?). So what should I use? Should I just keep with the 2.5's or work into the 3's?
Melissa
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-03-11 03:06
Keep on the 3's but try a bunch of them. Vandorens are extremely inconsistent. A box of 10 may yield 2 or 3 playable ones out of the box. That's why so many players become "amateur carpenters" and learn how to work unplayable reeds until they do play. Anyway, from what you said, it sounds like you're ready to leave the 2.5's behind and move on.
BTW, what's your mouthpiece? All mouthpieces have a recommended reed strength range. If you're outside that range, you're probably not doing yourself any favors.
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Dee
Date: 2003-03-11 16:52
If you are only getting a couple of good reeds per box, then something needs to change. It doesn't necessarily mean a problem with the reeds themselves. Here are things to look at.
1) Is that reed strength compatible with that mouthpiece design?
2) How do you mount your reeds on the mouthpiece? Every reed is slightly different and may need a slightly different position.
3) Is it really the right strength for YOU or are you going on what works for some one else?
4) Different brands of reeds are cut slightly differently (thick blank, thin blank, thick tip, thin tip, etc). Maybe the cut is not right for you or your mouthpiece. Then you need something different despite whether other people think well of the brand or not.
You see I find 8 to 10 good reeds in each box of Vandorens with some being downright great.
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Author: Melissa
Date: 2003-03-11 22:51
Well I use a unbranded really horrible piece of plastic mouthpiece. It is just a temp since my fantabulous mouthpiece was chipped really badly. I am considering buying a Vandoren B45, but I really have no clue what is good.
Melissa
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-03-11 23:06
Going too flat towards the top of the second register. Honky tone, quacking and general deterioration of the altissimo.
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Author: Allie
Date: 2003-03-12 01:38
Just don't move to a stronger reed and change mp at the same time! I was playing on a B45 with a vandoren 3 1/2. I went to the woodwinds/brasswinds store to try out some clarinets (mainly an R13). One of their sales men that I ended up working with asked what my set up was, and with out even hearing me play, rolled his eyes and said "Oh, you're blowing your head off!". He brought me some different mouth pieces to try, and, lo and behold, he was right! I now play on an M13 (with a Selmer signet horn) with MUCH better control, and good support.
Yeah.
All that to say, if you're going to switch mouth pieces, be careful to get the one that's right for you. It will spare you a lot of grief. Also, I am starting to feel like I'm in shop class every time I get a new box of Vandoren reeds. Should it really be this way?!!
~Allie
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Author: PJ
Date: 2003-03-12 04:21
I have to be honest here, I have several different mouthpieces, all different brands/types and the Zondas have been the best for all of them...for my anyway. Even when I've auditioned different mouthpieces I've never had to pull 4 or 5 reeds out of the case to find the best one. I may have to swap strenghts for different facings, but that's about it.
As for the issue at hand, I would suggest buying a quality mouthpiece - Vandoren M30 is good mouthpiece and won't break you up. Once you've adjusted to the new mouthpiece, then experiement with reed strengths. HOWEVER...make sure that your embouchure and air stream is stable and focused and that you're NOT changing these things to suit suit set-ups or situations. That could lead to a whole pleathora of problems!
What about your horn? What kind of horn do you play on?
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Author: squeaker
Date: 2003-03-12 05:14
I play on a buffer R13 clarinet with a Vandoren M13Lyre mouthpiece. I really enjoy my setup, but I have found that vandoren reeds are not very good any more. All the boxes of Vandorens seem to be very inconsistant. If your lucky, you get 3 good reeds in a box. I have started playing on Alexander Classique reeds, and they are the absolute best thing that ever happened to me! Every reed I have ever gotten from them is great, but you can only find them on WWBW. As for switching strengths, I think that you should stick with trying the 3. I don't know how old you are, but there comes a certin point when you need to move up because your reeds will not let you play the harder literature. I play on a 3.5, and have been since I was a frosh in high school. I highly reccomend moving up!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-03-12 07:21
squeaker said: "...Alexander Classique reeds....but you can only find them on WWBW..."
Not correct. Even doing a simple Google search will bring up a number of sites that sell Alexander reeds.
squeaker also said: ''...there comes a certin point when you need to move up because your reeds will not let you play the harder literature..."
Hmmm...Using that logic, does that mean that if the Brahms sonatas take a #4 reed the Françaix Concerto takes a #5?
Somehow, I think not...GBK
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Author: squeaker
Date: 2003-03-12 21:27
GBK -
Are you telling me that you could play the Weber Conertino with a 1.5 reed? As you get better as a player, your embouchure strengthens and you need to move in reed strength. As for the only finding Alexander reeds on WWBW, it's true that you can find them other places but that is where they are the cheapest.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-03-12 21:56
Squeaker...Reed strength is relative to the external and internal measurements of the mouthpiece. The reed and mouthpiece must coexist. Although separate entities, they work together.
Tip opening, facing curve, baffle, rails, and numerous other factors have a great influence on, not only selection, but the way one adjusts a reed to fit a particular mouthpiece.
A hard and fast rule of a stronger reed for "harder literature" (your words) is simply not true.
To answer your question directly - with a mouthpiece that was faced to accept a lower strength reed, yes, I could play the Weber.
Doing a bit of research you will discover many players who preferred lower strength reeds. Probably quite a few, whose sound you admire ...GBK
Post Edited (2003-03-12 23:17)
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