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Re: Flat--me, barrel, or both?

Author: Library Geek
Date: 2007-04-14 18:05

Thanks all.

I went to WWBW this morning and emerged 3 hours later with a new Vandoren 5RV mouthpiece and Vandoren traditional ("Blue Box") reeds (3.5's). Yes, the MP is the same as my old one, just new. I tried 3 new 5RVs and took the one I liked best.

I did this because: I tried the "click" barrel--didn't change anything--I was flat from short to long barrel. I put the 5RV on my own barrel and clarinet, and I was in tune when I played a very low E, the lowest C, open G, and the C above that. When I played other high, middle, and low notes, I wasn't always on tune, but I was Not always consistently flat either. I was closer to "in tune" on most of the notes. Is anyone ever on tune always on every note?

The real proof came to me when I tried brand new clarinets: an E11 (what I have now), and a Buffet R-13 (might I just say, WOW!!). I was on tune (same notes) on the new E11--with the new barrel from it (64.5 mm with my handy dandy calipers). I was even in tune on the R-13 (with a barrel lenght of 65.5 or 66 mm). When I put my old mouthpiece on these instruments, I was flat.

One thing that worries me--I only really was in tune with the Blue Box reeds. (although, I was not in tune with the blue box reeds on my old mouthpiece). The Vandoren 3.5 Rue Lepic and V12's didn't work.

Has anyone found this with the 5RV--Blue Box works, other reeds don't.

Well, I have 30 days to return it, so if I find I'm not satisfied, I can return it. I'll try my new mouthpiece on bandmates' clarinets this week, just to try.

I guess I'm back to basics--5RV, Ell, and Blue box (although 4's instead of 3.5's) were what I played in high school (too bad I don't know if I was violently sharp or flat back then).

So, thanks for listening to my ramblings.

Post Edited (2007-04-14 20:38)

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Flat--me, barrel, or both? new

Library Geek

2007-04-13 01:14