 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: easheehan
Date: 2004-02-28 02:56
Hello,
I am currently using a Vandoren B45 13 mouthpiece with a Yamaha YCL-34 clarinet. I seem to have a problem getting air through. I don't know if I am clamping down too hard on the reed or what. I'll be going along fine and then it seems to seize up. I frequently have a "spitty" sound and sometimes the sound feels forced out and the reed is very wet. Maybe I need a harder reed? I am using a Mitchell Lurie 2 1/2. I have fiddled with reed and ligature placement and still have the problem. Is this mouthpiece wrong for this instrument? I read that it is really for the Buffet. A little history....I played from 4th grade through high school and then didn't play for about 25 years. I have recently joined a community band and I am loving it! The Yamaha is a new purchase. Thanks for the input.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-02-28 04:11
Try a harder reed. If I use reeds that are too soft (I bought some 1.5s as a novelty), they seize up if I blow too hard. Mouthpiece compatibility with the clarinet shouldn't make a difference in this regard. Also, think of pushing air "through" the mouthpiece to the rest of the clarinet, not blowing "at" the mouthpiece.
Also, if your reed gets spitty, dry it out. If you don't have time to take it off the clarinet, then (as gross as it sounds) suck the excess spit out. Ideally, I'd' recommend soaking your reed only in water and not saliva (though I think opinions differ on this issue). The saliva tends to build up and make it a bit stuffier than necessary.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Dee
Date: 2004-02-28 11:49
I believe that reed is too soft for the B45. If I remember correctly, Vandoren recommends using the equivalent of a Vandoren 2.5 to 3.5 on that mouthpiece. In a Mitchell Lurie, that would be 3.0 to 4.0 to work well.
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-02-28 21:21
Elise,
I attended a performance about four years ago where the sax soloist cleared his mouthpiece/reed by blowing into it from the side; i.e., across the mouthpiece. Often there isn't time to remove the reed and wipe it properly, so I have used this technique since and find that it usually works well.
Regards,
Hans
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