 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: fredackerman
Date: 2004-01-07 18:55
I just returned from a wonderful vacation and waiting for me was my order from the doctor. Everything looks [feels] so professional and I thank all of you for sending me to him. I must mention that the mouthpiece pouch is so well made and that Clarinet pin that he sells is just plain beautiful. I can also use his products for my bow [as in bow & arrow] the wood cleaner and wax. The mouthpiece bag is great for other stuff including my good watches! My second order is in! Run, don't walk to his web-site, the doctor is the best. To a great New Year, Fred
Fred
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-01-08 01:28
Yep! I agree! Have you tried his cork grease? What about his mouthpiece cleaner? I simply won't use anything else anymore.
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Author: markeymark
Date: 2004-01-08 01:38
Who is the "doctor"?
nevermind... i found him...
Markey
Post Edited (2004-01-08 01:52)
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Author: fredackerman
Date: 2004-01-09 22:41
Hey LeWhite, Yes, I've tried his "Dr Syntec" cork grease, very slippery, excellent product. I'm trying to use [as I said before] the doctors lubricants and cleaners [wax] in other areas. I'm thinking tools and my model trains and....you get the idea. Next, I try the reeds, all you guys have been making such a thing about! I just received the Gonzalez Reed in 2 3/4 and I can't wait to disturb the folks next door!
Fred
Post Edited (2004-01-10 04:06)
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-01-09 23:33
Fred - I use Dr. Slick, because I have a new instrument with new corks. Good luck with the Gonzalez, I made the mistake of buying them at the same thickness as my Vandorens - and they were way too hard. Waste of 2 boxes.
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Author: fredackerman
Date: 2004-01-10 00:23
Yes, I read the warnings about the two...That's why I chose the 2 3/4! I don't think any reeds are a waste...try them in the future. I'm going to get some more of those Clarinet pins of his...stocking stuffers for next year.
Fred
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-10 02:42
Lewhite,
Either keep them for when your embouchre gets stronger and you can handle a thicker reed, or sand them down. I find I get better results with a too hard reed that's sanded down than a reed that's the proper thickness out of the box. I don't know why, but I have a few fours that were hard and I sanded them down and for me they seem to blow easier than my 3.75s, but sound better than them.
You have twenty reeds to work with. It'd hardly be a loss to experiment on a few!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-01-10 03:48
I carved them up like you wouldn't believe!!!
Somehow, sanding a reed seems to do the opposite for me - they play worse. I like reeds that are the right thickness out of the box. I played on them for about 2 to 3 months, a few softened, and adjusting seemed to ruin some of them. That or I don't know what I'm doing.
My theory is if you have to alter a reed, then chances are you could probably play any brand you want because you're just altering them. However I don't like to do anything to my reeds - if it plays well, it plays well. A bad reed will always be a bad reed. I used to complain about reeds a lot but as soon as I started practising more, I realised it wasn't the reeds at all...
All you need to do is keep them clean and don't play on ONE at a time; rotate.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2004-01-10 04:49
I certainly agree with you, LeWhite. In my beginning years, way back in grammar school, I scraped 'em, clipped 'em, even made reeds from scratch... just because I could. Most kids like to prove something to themselves and I chose whittling reeds instead of making stink bombs. Now that reedmaking is stored in my mental tool box, should the need ever arise, I buy mine by the box. Aside from attaching or taking a reed off the mouthpiece I don't touch it.
I realized early on, asyou did, that when things weren't going well, 99% of the time it wasn't the reed 
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-10 04:52
Good points LeWhite, but different reeds coem from different quality cane, different ages cane, with different tips and different densities, different file cuts, so not just ANY reed will work (as you've found out).
You might want to invest in some sort of book or reed finishing system (I use the ATG system by Tom Ridenour. The 'system' itself obviously isn't even close to that price to produce and distribute, but with the supplemental DVD instructional video and book I got, I think it was money well spent). I'm not saying you're doing it wrong, but since I don't know what you're doing, maybe you are.
As for a "bad reed will always be a bad reed", well if by bad you mean too thick, then I disagree with that. I experimented and clipped a size 4 reed to a thickness that I couldn't even get a sound on. After MUCH sanding, I got it to play very nicely (it's actually my second favorite!)
Alexi
Incidentally LeWhite, what size Gonzalez did you buy? If it's the right size, you can contact me off the board and we'll work out a deal since I need a box of reeds myself anyways.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-01-11 04:38
I got 3 3/4, much too hard for me. They are obviously excellent reeds, just too hard. And yeah, when I say bad reed, I mean bad reed. Luckily I only got 2 completely unplayable reeds in my last box of Vandorens, and 2 'performance' ones. The rest are just different grades of 'practise' reeds.
Maybe one day I'll learn more about adjusting reeds - my teacher has taught me HEAPS but I prefer not to use it, for me most of the time it didn't work. I like the V12s because they're made thicker, but not thicker as in hard if you know what I mean. So sanding down hard reeds doesn't really do it for me. The blue box Vandorens don't work for me either.
Honestly, there's nothing nicer than a Vandoren that's a perfect strength, is even, 'sings', and does so right out of the box. I've had about 2 of them in my lifetime so far, looking forward to finding more as times goes on, but next time I'm going to put them aside!
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