 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2008-08-26 01:14
I'm an older guy who has been playing for a long time, and for a number of reasons, I no longer want to play on thick blank reeds or reeds that require a lot of breaking in. I want something that plays decently out of the box, something that doesn't require a lot of adjusting, and something that blows without a lot of effort.
I recently tried Mitchell Lurie Premiums (3 1/2), and for the most part, I really liked them. The only problem was that they didn't last quite as long as I hoped they would. Still, I think they're a nice reed for someone in my situation. Does anyone have any other recommendations for a similar type of reed in a similar reed strength?
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-08-26 02:04
Although I don't use them myself, you should perhaps search the BB for threads about the Legere synthetic reeds. Many people use them for those very reasons,
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2008-08-26 04:10
Thanks for the suggestion. I've used these reeds in the past, and I've had mixed results with them. I know that they work better on some mouthpieces than others. I've tried them on my current mouthpiece, a Vandoren M-15, but they just don't sound very good. Perhaps the Ontario cut is worth a try.
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Author: Ryder
Date: 2008-08-26 04:31
spend some money and try 'em all. that's the only way to be sure your not missing anything, if not actually you'll at least have peace of mind. Sounds obserd? yes.
____________________
Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-08-26 07:46
I am using standard (vs. Premium) Mitchell Luries and get some 30-odd hours of playing out of each. They work (for me) right out of the box.
--
Ben
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Author: William
Date: 2008-08-26 15:52
I recently had good results with some Rico Reserve 3.5 reeds. Out of box of five, they all initially played well, with three I would classify as "exceptional". What I noticed was that the tips were more rounded like the older Vandorans and were a perfect fit on my Chicago Kaspar mouthpiece. Having had terrible results with two recent boxes of "flow pak" V12s, I bought this box of Rico Reserves totally "on a whim" and was very surprised at how well they played. I may just become a Rico convert if the next box plays as well, or better.
BTW, I have some Legere "Ontario" style soprano clarinet reeds on order and will report on how they play when they arrive from Guy. I use his traditional style reeds exclusively on my Grabner CXBS bass clarinet mouthpiece.
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Author: Michelle
Date: 2008-08-26 19:18
For "straight out of the box" I've found you can't beat Rico Royal. I find them to be superior to Mitchell Lurie's in all respects, but that is of course my opinion. I always keep a box of them handy for emergencies and they last quite a while for me. I rotate on an irregular basis, switching reeds only when one feels stuffy to me.
I also have Legere's on hand, but for an emergency grab it's always the Rico Royal.
Best of luck in your never-ending reed search ...
Michelle
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-08-26 19:23
Michelle wrote:
> For "straight out of the box" I've found you can't beat Rico
> Royal. I find them to be superior to Mitchell Lurie's in all
> respects, but that is of course my opinion.
Hmm. I have 9 out of 10 playable reeds in a box of ML's. And for some reason I like the Orange Ricos better than the Royals. (But sometimes I think that, given it's all "Rico" anyway, they just grab a handful out of the same pile before they individually stamp, measure and put them into the Blue or Orange or Brownish boxes...)
Yeah, tastes are different. Maybe climates are, too. IME MLs play better here than RRs. <shrug>
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Ben
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-08-27 01:04
You might also like the Rico Grand Concert Select reeds. I found them to be a decent reed, before I went over to egeres.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: redkel
Date: 2008-08-27 16:27
I used ML's for YEARS before switching to Gonzales. As I've gotten older and have to play with students on a regular basis, I like to have a reed that plays right out of the box as well.
The Gonzales reeds come in 1/4 sizes, not just 1/2 and have been solid performers for me now for about 5 years.
Woodwind Brasswind carries them as does Sam Ash Music Stores.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-08-27 17:05
Hint: for those looking for cheap Gonzalez reeds, check out Selmer Primos (made by Gonzalez). They come in limited strengths only, but for a wide range of instruments.
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Ben
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2008-08-27 19:40
Rico Royal....free blowing... Just forget about the guilt from not using a Vandoren and it will be fine. If you want , mark the reeds with a big V to indicate Vandoren.
Freelance woodwind performer
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