 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dano
Date: 2005-02-10 05:56
Am I missing something? I have used a Vandoren 5JB mouthpiece and a #2 reed, sometimes a #2 1/2, for about 20 years and I can't seem to play on anything harder. I notice that most clarinetists use harder reeds even with a mouthpiece like the 5JB and I can't help but wonder if I am unusual in my choice. I can't believe that my chops are not ripe after 40 years of playing and wonder what makes people use such hard reeds like 3, 4s and even 5s. Any opinions, facts or ridicule?
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Author: buedsma
Date: 2005-02-10 10:12
always played very soft reeds ( maximum 2 ) for nearly 30 years
Switched this year to #3 because studying classical music.
My remarks : 1)
it took me a lot of staccato studies to get more embouchure ( was nevertheless also playing jazz for hours in pubs and jam sessions )
2) Softer reeds make a very clear sound in the throat tones and sound crisp clear without any "noise" You have to get used to the fact that throat tones can sound a bit more stuffy or different from what you were used to . Also the stuffiness is not really heard by the audience , but only by yourself and can disappear completely by using extra fingerings -
But for jazz and folk : i advise softer reeds : youcan play somewhat faster , have better response from your instrument and nearly all reeds in the box are playable.You can bend notes very easy in a controllable way and at high speed. But : you can forget a part that "fat tonal color" that you have with harder reeds
Can't imagine i would be playing on number 4 reeds - i already play a resistant selmer 10SII clarinet . ALso a concept worth checking out : is your resistance located in the mouthpiece ( don't blow to hard or you overblow your reeds ) or in the bore ( very free blowing , you have to concentrate the air precisely or the sound is a bit out of center ?
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Author: Fred
Date: 2005-02-10 11:09
The 5JB is one of the most open-tipped mouthpieces on the market. Most people that play one would probably play 2-2.5 reeds. Sounds like you're doing fine.
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Author: clarispark
Date: 2005-02-10 13:03
It could be the mouthpiece. As Fred said it is pretty open-tipped so don't worry. As long as you're doing fine on it, why change it?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-10 13:29
I've recently came to the notion that I'm going to dispell all reed/mouthpiece recommendations and just go with what works.
So don't look at the numbers. Just go with what's comfortable and sounds good.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-02-10 13:40
If you can play Hoagy Carmichael and King Oliver on the same reed - keep it.
The "sweet spot" lets you play all dynamics, articulate well and in tune.
Over and above that, it's just more Blood, Sweat and Tears.
(Hang what you hear about other players, attend to what you hear.)
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-02-10 13:56
I have never heard of anyone playing anything harder than a 2.5 on a 5JB. That mouthpiece works best with 2's...
Katrina
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Author: ned
Date: 2005-02-14 05:53
I have played a 5JB for a number of years now and find that I can get the sound I want only by using a 3+1/2 reed, usually a standard Rico.
Sometimes (only very occasionally) I will need to use a # 4. This is NOT masochism on my part I assure you, the lower rated reeds just do not work for me. Overcoming the discomfort barrier takes about 10 minutes or so when practicing and I always warm up at home before going out to do the job.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-02-14 14:20
Thanks for the info, John...
Good to know that there are exceptions.
Katrina (who always likes finding out more stuff like that)
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Author: Dee
Date: 2005-02-14 20:27
Remember reed strengths are not the same in the various brands. A number 2 Vandoren for example is much harder than a number 2 Mitchell Lurie.
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Author: Ken Mills
Date: 2005-02-17 22:33
Dear Dano; I really like my 5JB with the #2 Marca. I used to use the #2 Mitchel Lurie. The Bore of the 5JB is small. The outlet is slightly the smallist diameter in the whole length of my 15mm clarinet. So the air flow has a great outlet to open up into. It feels truly different. Why should this section of the bore be the largest diameter of the typical instrument or like a Selmer Recital that goes into a small barrel and then a large top of the joint? That is not good for me. I filed the bottom of the sidewalls a bit to help drive the harder #2 Marca with the air flow through that region where it really matters, but it gets a darker sound than the Lurie. Let the air out! Thanks for joining the club, Ken
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Author: ned
Date: 2005-02-18 01:36
As an additional piece of information, I was practicing with a friend the other night, when my Rico 3+1/2 gave up the ghost and I went for a new reed in a box of ''Royals" nearby.
I had my specs off at the time and grabbed the first to hand to save time and at the same time expecting the usual grumbles about reeds. Lo and behold - it played perfectly straight off ! A little later I looked at the setup whist cleaning up and discovered, to my surprise it was a #4 Rico Royal which I had grabbed and was using with the aforementioned 5JB!!
Just goes to show, I think, the great discrepancies that there are in boxes of reeds which are supposed to be of the same strength.
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