 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Krisat
Date: 2004-03-22 22:49
I play on a Vandoren B45, and I've had no problems with it until I bought a box of Vandoren reeds (3.5) I found that they don't "fit" my mouthpiece, meaning the sides of the tip of the mouthpiece can still be seen when the reed is on. Its almost as though the tip of the reed is too thin. I never noticed this with Mitchell Lurie's. Is this a different cut? This just seemed odd since Vadoren recommends that size for that mouthpiece (and of course they want you to buy their reeds and their mouthpieces) I don't know if I've noticed any real problems with the reeds being like that per se, except that it was difficult to find many good reeds in the box (normal, right?)
Sorry if I'm rambling, I'm just really confused!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-03-22 23:11
Vandoren has altered the tip profile of their reeds in recent years.
The first significant change occurred a few years ago when they went to a "flatter" tip shape, from the previously "more rounded" one.
After a number clarinetists were quite vocal about their disatisfaction with the change, they recently have gone back to what many think is now a compromise between the two shapes ("rounded" and "flatter").
It is peculiar that the reeds don't match the tip of the current Vandoren mouthpiece, because that was the initial purpose of the tip change...GBK
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-03-23 02:10
I tend to compensate for the problem with my trusty Codier clipper!!!
David Dow
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Author: John Scorgie
Date: 2004-03-23 17:39
Krisat --
Understand that the following suggestion comes from a confirmed "hard reed" player:
Are you sure that the tip configuration of your new Vandoren reeds is the problem? You said that you did not have this problem with Lurie reeds.
Are you aware that a typical 3 1/2 Vandoren is about the same strength as a typical 4 or 4 1/2 Lurie?
Although I regularly use 4 1/2 or 5 reeds on my close lay mouthpieces, a 3 1/2 Vandoren is about the strongest reed I would ever use when I play on my B45.
Most players are more comfortable with reeds no stronger than #3 Vandorens on their B45.
I'll bet that if you try #3 Vandorens (or even strong 2 1/2s) on your B45, your problems will go away.
Let us know.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-03-23 18:23
Dear Kristat
Good advice from John Scorgie here...when playing on B40s and B45s its pretty important to match the reed to the facing...although the tip design seems to be a fetish for some it is not so for me. I work alot on my cane with reed knives and such and generally encounter no trouble whatsoever.
It may be possible that the reeds you have in this box got past quality control...which makes no sense because they are machine cut.
David Dow
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