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Bright reeds / Dark reeds

Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2004-12-08 12:07

Having previously posted on the Klarinet List, I am prepared for the onslaught of responses arguing the differences between "bright" and "dark" sounds. I'd prefer we save that debate for later. [up]

For my purposes I will describe "bright" as having more prominence of upper-mid to high frequencies (overtones?) present in the sound. "Dark", by me, might then be described as having more prominence of lower-mid to low frequencies in the sound. [Man there is room for a couple of PHd studies on this subject.]

My question is then: Does anyone have a means of keeping a reed that initially produces a naturally dark sound from turning to the evil side and producing a primarily bright sound. (Bright being undesireable is my personal opinion [right]

)

Case in point: In preparing for the Army Field Band audition tomorrow, I have been going insane with trying to produce and keep a "darker" sound. My previous audition for them appeared (from feedback from SGM Heffernan) to be primarily rejected on my bright sound not being able to "blend" with the timbre they were attempting to create and maintain in the section [admittedly, I too thought my sound was brighter than I wanted that day]. People I play with on a daily basis insist that I do not play with a bright sound at all. But on any given day, at anytime during that day, a reed I thought responding well (and the response DID continue to be good) would produce a brighter sound. At that point it seemed that short of water-logging the reed, there was nothing I could do in voicing with my throat or adjusting my embouchure that would return the dark sound. The next day...the reed may respond darker again. Go figure.

At this point, I am simply going to appear in front of the Field Band clarinet section (assuming I make the final round again) and pray the reed that was dark in the practice room downstairs has not found new unwanted brilliancy in the new environment.

Opinions (nice or not) are welcome. [right]

Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!

Post Edited (2004-12-08 12:27)

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Re: Bright reeds / Dark reeds

Author: GBK
Date: 2004-12-08 12:41

Try some of these reed adjusting techniques:

Generally, to darken the sound from a reed, providing that the blank is not already too thin (less than about 2.8mm) you could try removing some material from the shoulder area on the vamp (just below the left and right "upper ears") tapering in (but not reaching) the heart.

Another area to try, which can "darken" the sound is to remove some material directly in the center of the vamp, just below the heart, approximately where your lip contacts the reed.

A final idea, the most obvious, to get the sound a bit more mellow, is to change to a thicker blank reed. Combine that with a ligature which seemingly removes some of the upper partials (eg: Rovner).

Interesting problem, but not unsolvable...GBK

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Re: Bright reeds / Dark reeds

Author: Nathan
Date: 2004-12-08 17:03

Out of curiosity, what are some of the thicker blank reeds out there? I am under the impression that V12's are, but don't know which other ones are. In turn, what are thicker blank reeds other primary attributes besides creating a darker sound? If any of this has been covered previously I apologize for the redundancy.

Thanks,
Nathan

Post Edited (2004-12-08 17:41)

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Re: Bright reeds / Dark reeds

Author: Pappy
Date: 2004-12-10 17:53

V12's and Gonzales' are thick blanks.

I would think the darkness or brightness is more a function of your mouthpiece than your reed.....at least not primarily the reed.

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Re: Bright reeds / Dark reeds

Author: Nathan
Date: 2004-12-10 18:04

Are you referring to the Gonzales' F.O.F. or the Regular Cut?

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Re: Bright reeds / Dark reeds

Author: DavieCane01
Date: 2004-12-11 02:35

Actually, as I no longer have a functioning micrometer, these number are from memory. If anybody would care to do a more accurate job and correct me if I'm wrong I'd be most appreciative.
As I remember:
FOF - 3.3mm blank, .10 mm tip
RC - 2.7mm blank, .11mm tip
Mozart - 3.0 mm blank, .12mm tip

-Phil

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Re: Bright reeds / Dark reeds

Author: Lon Roach
Date: 2004-12-11 04:30

Robert... Since your audition is so close at hand, a lot of advice on different reed brands may not help much. I like the thicker blank varieties and do find that the Gonzales FOF reeds do sound somewhat darker (or less bright) as a whole. I also tend to agree that your mouthpiece and ligature probably play a much greater role too. With little time left It's too late to be switching around if you can even find the one that works best for you. I'm also one of those people who believes that no matter what you put in your mouth, you will eventually adapt to it and the tone you produce will be YOU or whatever your aural inner ear hears as your sound. It may also be that the people who listen to you this time will not hear you as being as bright as they did last time. It's all subjective. You'll be compared to whatever else thy're hearing that day. If there are guys that are alot brighter sounding than you , you may be considered dark.

Also couldn't help responding because I was the solo chair at CONARC back in 1969-70. Dear old Fortress Mundane, as we called it, just down the road from Fort Useless(Eustace) When I left for Alaska in Nov 70 they had just taken over Bldg 9 from the MP's. We had offices and barracks in Randolph Hall and the rehearsal hall was a hanger out on the airstrip with parashuts hanging from the ceiling for sound. At the time we had one Sp4 tuba player make the main band. His name was Jeff Arwood. He's now retired.

Good luck on that audition. To reply with personal Monroe talk , my e-mail is on the address by clicking my name above. Lon Roach

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Re: Bright reeds / Dark reeds

Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-12-11 13:53

A good cl f[r]iend, much better than I, has a brand-new [beautiful] box [10] of Vandoren "super-premium?" Bb cl reeds, $50 !!! . Has anyone had experience with them, please ?? Don

Thanx, Mark, Don

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