 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clar6580
Date: 2008-04-19 19:36
Hi, everybody,
I am having problems with the Vandoren reeds. The strength is 4, and I have tried playing them on various Vandoren and Greg Smith mouthpieces. The end result is a tone that makes my R13 sound intermediate and flat. I also am getting only two good reeds out of the box, but recently, the two reeds I have both sounded too soft, and way flat. Why would I be flat like this? The problem with the flatness is on all of my mouthpieces too.
Because of these problems, I have ordered Grand Concert Select Evolution Reeds, but just read that they die out after 3 days. If this happens, which reeds should I consider that would go with either a Vandoren(5RV Lyre or M15) or a Greg Smith mouthpiece?
Thank you for your help.
Kimberly
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2008-04-19 19:45
Well, my very favorites are the Vandoren Rue Lepic which work wonderfully on the mouthpieces you mention.
I personally think you are dealing with a LOW humidity problem up there. Get a hygrometer (5 bucks at a local hardware.....you know, the ones that have both a thermometer and humidity reading). If the humidity is below 60% in the room in which you practice, the reeds will dry out in as little as one minute on your mouthpiece.
Also, you may not be breaking them in long enough. Three day of playing on ALL the reeds in the box for ONLY 5 minutes at a time is good. But in dry conditions you may have to continue this gruelling process for five days or so.
Any way, reeds shouldn't die in 3 days. Sounds like they get water logged and just poop out.
Stick with Vandoren, just get a humidifier.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2008-04-19 20:19
I heard that the guy who puts the two good reeds in each box retired recently ![[happy]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley12.gif)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-04-19 21:10
The Evolution won't die out in 3 days - that's a myth.
I use em, Ricardo used em, Jessica Phillips of the Met still uses them, and there isn't/wasn't a dying out problem at all. If the player bites any reed it can collapse. I don't see these as being a longevity problem at all. The original Grand Concert Reeds back in the early 90's had longevity issues, but not these.
Find out for youself.
btw, I prefer the Reserve to the Evolution.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: clar6580
Date: 2008-04-19 23:20
Hi, everybody,
I soaked some of the old reeds that I have, and after that, I got better results than when I had previously tried. I also switched back to my 5RV Lyre Profile 88 and am happier than before.
Thank you for your help.
Kimberly
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2008-04-20 00:06
I am not really comfortable with the idea of "class of mouthpiece." As one who loves BOTH the Smith AND the Vandoren [let me say that again] As one who loves BOTH the Smith AND the Vandoren 5RV Lyre 88 (and M13) I would say, just like ANY two mouthpieces.....they are different.
The lay of the Smiths are incredibly uniform and thus have a consistant response as you jump through the registers, but the Vandoren products are very close, in my opinion, to achieving the same goals.
That aside, I'm glad to hear the reeds are working again. The other solution to going mad is to have some emergency Legeres on hand a quarter strenght softer (ie 3.75) just in case.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-04-20 00:42
To each his own. I wish I did like any Vandoren Mps as they are inexpensive and easy to get.
I played one back in high school.
Adding more.
Have had maybe 20 VD mouthpieces over the years. Used the 11.1 profile 88 for many students over the years, but never loved them. Tried the various M series, but still not for me.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
Post Edited (2008-04-20 00:54)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-04-20 14:44
I am an uncompensated Rico Concert Artist and I’ve been using the Grand Concert Thick Blank #4 for many years. I use at least seven - eight reeds out of a box on average. I usually find one or two that end up in my “performance” category. I’ve almost never had a reed collapse after a few days once they are broken in. I do that over about a five-day period. Sometimes after I’ve played on a reed for some time I have to clip it if it gets a bit soft but I’ve used my good reeds in rotation for months at a time. I’m sure most of my good reeds last me for over twenty hours of playing time, in concerts or rehearsals, many even more than that. I do not practice on those same reeds. Constant playing, as in a practice session, will wear a reed out much quicker then in rehearsal-performance. I do keep them humidity controlled. It’s my guess that you either apply too much lip-jaw pressure on your reed or you need to find a reed that has more wood in the heart. There are so many different cuts on the market today; Rico has four, Vandoren probably at least four too, as well as many other brands. I suggest if you can’t relax the pressure you try several other brands and cuts to find what’s best for you. There is not one of anything that works for everyone, or even most, in terms of mouthpieces and reeds. ESP
www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
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Author: William
Date: 2008-04-20 15:49
DB--does Rico have any promotional offers going on? And, since you mentioned the VD & Smith mouthpieces, what make and model(s) do you pack in your clarinet case these days?? FWIW, I do like the Smith models (own a Ched & Kaspar copy), but find that they play flat in comparison to my (very vintage) Chicago & Ann Arbor Kaspars and custom (1970) Bay. Might this have anything to do with the Zinner blank??
Post Edited (2008-04-20 15:50)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-04-20 18:10
They have the Reserve Challenge at ricoreeds.com which you buy a box and if you like it, get one free, if not a refund.
I play the Backun Camerata Mouthpiece and my spare is a 22 year old Gigliotti P which is really great also. The Gigliotti was hand picked by Tony and is much better than my 2nd P facing which Vic Matson couldn't even adjust to make it come close to my best one.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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