 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-04-29 03:23
I just switched to Gonzalez FOF reeds. I'm using size 4.0/3.75, giving them both as thorough of a test to see which one does the job better.
I have nearly broken in two 3.75's and three 4.0's, however ran into a little snag tonight. I played the first 4.0 and it worked fine. After about twenty minutes, I let that one sit aside to dry and pulled the next 4.0. Once again, everything went well so after a bit I pulled that one off and let that on aside. The third 4.0 that I tried was not nearly as good as the others. The main problem was (after realizing that it was warped a bit at the tip), when I tried to use it, it required MUCH more air pressure and was VERY hard to play. The others were much more freeblowing and easy than this one, and I felt the blood rushing to my head and I could feel my face getting beet red from the effort required to get air through the instrument.
I immediately switched to a 3.75 and all was fine again.
Is there a way to save this reed or is it just a bad apple?
On a sidenote, is it better to choose a reed that projects more with a little less tone quality thinking that I can work on the tone (3.75) or one that has better tone quality but less projection/differences in dynamics (4.0)? They both allow the same range, but the tone is different. I figure maybe the tone of the 3.75 is "harsher" since I'm playing with the force required for a 4.0, and if I just softened up my embouchre a bit and adjusted to the resistance, maybe I could get a better tone.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: PJ
Date: 2003-04-29 03:48
As you break in reeds, there will be days when they feel/sound better than others. I've found that on a 5 day break in, days 3 and 5 usually are the days that some of the reeds sound their worst. On day six is when I will make a judgement as to whether each reed needs some adjustment to be playable.
I would suggest (and others my feel differently) that you give them a couple more days to stabilize. Granted, I've not tried the FOF's and they could be more seasoned than some of the others I've tried. However, since you're in a trial process it couldn't hurt to give them a couple more days. After that, if the particularly hard reed you mentioned is still too tough, give it a little scrape along the heart. This works for me. Take A LITTLE, try it, then a little more if necessary.
It is my thinking (and again, others may feel differently) that good tone is important first and foremost. There are different ways to get better projection (i.e. different barrels, m/p's, etc.). It is more important to blend within an ensemble, if this is your venue, than to project over it. Music is all about balance. Additionally, a harder reed doesn't mean that you are more advanced. But, I think you know this. It could just mean that you need a strength somewhere between the 3.75 and 4.0. A reed knife or a bit of sand paper can make this possible. (I started with 4.5's and brought them down to where I needed them in the brands that I've used, and in making reeds I've learned to start harder and to work them down rather than just copying my last good reed.)
One final thought, these reeds may not be compatible with your combo.. Just a thought. Give it more time. A couple of weeks using them will tell you whether or not they are for you. If they aren't, there SOOO many other brands to try.
Good luck!
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Author: PJ
Date: 2003-04-29 03:53
P.S. Speaking of the warped tips... How are you storing your reeds? If you aren't drying them on something completely flat (like glass), then they will definately warp.
Do you use a reed case of any kind?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-04-29 04:12
Coincidentally, it's the fifth day of the breakin process! I have never adjusted reeds before in my life (just picked the best ones out of the package and played those). I'm pretty impressed with the reeds I have now, but this one may need adjusting. Or maybe it's the humidity? Who knows with a reed . . . .
I'll give my hand a go at adjusting. I have one of the Doctor's reed stones which I use to dry the reeds to help prevent warping before it occurs and the other side is usable for sanding the back of the reed. And from my searches, I guess that I'm only supposed to sand the bottom of the heart of the reed (the part which touches the mouthpiece table). I'll give that a go.
And one more question . . . to save a warped reed I was taught to rub the tip in a circular motion on a piece of white paper (like the back of my music or similar). Is this good or would it damage the tip? It's the smooth paper, not rough like construction paper.
Thanks.
Alexi
EDIT
The reedstone from Doc to dry it, and to store it I use a plastic Lavoz case that holds four reeds (I think I need something a little better than that though . . . I'm looking into a selmer or that 25 dollar case from whosits that was on a post a little earlier. Glass with velvet to hold the reeds flat, made out of a nice wood).
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2003-04-29 05:15)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-04-29 13:51
Alexi -
All reed tips warp until they're thoroughly wet. Put a little water in a saucer and drop the reed in for 5 or 10 minutes. The tip should flatten out. There's no way to hurry it.
If the tip is still warped after 10 minutes, throw the reed away, or use a reed clipper to take 1/4" off the tip, sand the bottom flat and re-cut the vamp.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Dee
Date: 2003-04-29 16:39
Here's a couple of things you can try before going the adjustment route.
1) Move the reed down on the mouthpiece a hair compared to how you usually place the reeds.
2) Move the ligature down on the mouthpiece a little bit more than you normally do.
These two approaches will make it play like a less stiff reed.
If the tip of the reed seems to be curling under, flatten it out on a smooth surface before putting it on the mouthpiece. This will often make them blow easier.
Finally if the reed still plays too hard, it is probably just a bit stiffer than usual and should be fixable by very lightly sanding it down.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-04-29 21:04
funkymunky said: "...http://www.jewelmusic.com/interesting%20articles/reedadjusting.htm..."
Hmmm ...I wonder if Larry Teal knows that Jewel Music is using his reed adjustment chart from The Art of Saxophone Playing without citing where it originated? ...GBK
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-04-29 22:51
Larry Liberson wrote: "...Well, he may know it but I highly doubt he'll be personally doing anything about it here on this earth!
(Larry passed away close to 20 years ago)
I've really got to open a newpaper more often. 
Still wondering about the "legality" of using his chart ...GBK
Post Edited (2003-04-29 23:54)
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-04-29 22:58
GBK wrote:
> Still wondering about the "legality" of using his chart ...GBK
Not the exact picture and wording ...
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Author: funkymunky
Date: 2003-04-30 06:07
Hey I was gonna suggest using sandpaper instead of a rush. but that chart at saxlessons already has it said. I guess thats the big difference.
and how do you put WWW in a click shortcut like GBK put instead of cut and paste like i put. I tried and gave up.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-04-30 06:30
I am still just pulling them out of the box, wetting them in my mouth, putting them on the mouthpiece and playing. I throw away 1 or 2 out of every 10 but only after I have used them for scale practice a couple of times and have totally given up. If you spend too much time mucking around with reeds you will run out of time to play.
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Author: DezzaG
Date: 2003-04-30 12:31
Well Mark how about you just use a Legere-if you dont have time to adjust?
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