 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ashley91489
Date: 2008-11-17 05:08
I'm currently switching back to Vandorens on my professors recommendation and am using V12s (3.5). After they are decently broken in, they respond well but I still get a fuzzy tone sometimes. It's almost like the sound I get from a reed that is too hard yet I don't feel the resistance that I get from a too hard reed. Overall, the attack and response is great but there is a slight fuzzy sound even though it doesn't feel resistant.
I've never tried the traditional reeds before but was wondering which were better and if I should go w/ a 3.5 as well or go up to a 4 on those. 4 is what I normally play w/ the Mitchell Luries I was using but I went down when I switched since v12s are harder.
So, Traditional or V12? Pros/cons?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-11-17 08:40
Whatever you feel comfortable with. I think the ultimate goal of playing is to be comfortable while playing. Worry about the notes and making it sound musical, not about fighting your setup (including reeds). So if you prefer a traditional blank versus a thick blank, that that's what you should go with.
As for sizing, there's a chart on MANY websites, including Vandoren's website I'm sure that includes Mitchel Luries. I don't know it off the top of my head though.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-11-17 12:24
Vandoren Traditional are harder so if you play V-12 #3.5 you should try Traditional #3. Your problem with them sounding fuzzy is most likely do to poorly balanced reed. To get the reeds balanced and you not fighting the reeds and having to bite to get decent result you should check out Tom Ridenour's ATG reed finishing system his website is <www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com>
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2008-11-17 17:35
I believe Iceland is correct. The V12's are harder than the traditional Vandorens. I play a 3 Blue Box and a 3.5 V12. That seems to be about right---about a half-step difference in strength.
The Lurie numbering system, incidentally, seems to widely out of synch with most listed strengths for Vandoren or other reeds.
My teacher said another pupil of his who plays Vandoren 3's found that the corresponding Lurie strength for him is 4.5. It works that way for me, too.
Post Edited (2008-11-17 19:46)
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2008-11-17 22:03
weberfan
Your statement concerning the the relative hardness of Blue Box vs. V12 seems to be the reverse of your example. ??????
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2008-11-17 22:53
saxlite, you're correct of course.
apologies to all.
what i should have said, as you suggest, is that the Blue Box 3 seems to correspond to the V12 3.5.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-11-19 03:04
And as Iceland wrote, try to balance your reeds. I find that a fuzzy, not so responsive reed can become excellent if I just balance it better. Shave off a little bit of reed here, thin it a little more there, and VOILA! It sounds great. MUCH better than before.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2008-11-20 02:33
Well, for what it's worth, I use both VD Traditional #5 and V12 #4.5 on my current mouthpiece. I have noticed I think the sound is "cleaner" (if that means anything as a description) or "clearer" using the traditional (thinner blank) reeds. But I think it depends on what sound you're looking for whether you'll actually prefer one to the other - they both are capable if properly balanced (by whatever method) of good response and power.
I once heard someone insist that the traditional reeds were harder because they are thinner and, therefore, mostly consist of wood closer to the bark, which this person said was naturally harder than the wood farther into the interior of the cane's cross-section. So the thicker blank of the V12 produced a tip of softer interior wood. I don't know if the interior wood is really softer or not, but my experience has been that traditional VanDoren reeds "softer" than #5 generally seem more resistant than the same strength in a V12 (of course, they've never distibuted anything labelled #4-1/2 in traditional "blue box" VanDorens, so who knows?) I do find #5 V12s stuffier out of the box than the "blue box" #5s, though.
Post Edited (2008-11-20 04:03)
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2008-11-20 02:43
I forgot my (maybe) most important point: the only way really to know what reeds suit your equipment and way of playing best is try at least a box (or two if you can bring yourself to spend the money) of whatever you're considering and see what actually works. And every once in a while, repeat the trial process with freshly bought boxes - cane batches can be different and the reeds that are cut from them will vary as well.
Post Edited (2008-11-20 04:15)
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Author: mrn
Date: 2008-11-20 16:27
You just have to experiment. Try the traditionals and see what you think, but you might want to try a different strength V12 first.
I also wouldn't rule out the possibility that that your current batch of V12s is actually too soft. I've found that sometimes the overly soft ones will play tricks with you and do some of the unpleasant things the overly hard reeds do (especially if they are closing up on the mouthpiece).
I'm mentioning this in part because the recent change in weather (in the direction of coldness) seems to have wreaked havoc with my reeds--north Texas weather always seems to change VERY SUDDENLY, so the resulting effect on reeds is dramatic. Many formerly excellent reeds of mine now sound either thin/brittle or buzzy (like a kazoo). As a result, I'm now having to play on about a half-strength higher to make the same pleasant sounds I did a month or two ago. I have searched around on here, and this is apparently a common problem--dry winter air makes reeds lose their strength. This was less of a problem for me when I lived in Houston, I think, because down there the winters are milder and the humidity there is almost always higher than it is here.
If you're getting a crummy sound from reeds that seem to respond well, maybe what you have are reeds that because of the weather are too soft, but just don't sound right because they are out of balance (or maybe they're just not the right cut for you). There is at least one reed of mine that I am aware is like this. While you're experimenting with reeds, I'd try buying a box of 4s, balance them, and see if that doesn't improve things for now.
Also, the overly soft ones seem to choke up very quickly if you tighten your embouchure (something a hard reed wouldn't do so readily), so that may be a good test to figure out what you're dealing with.
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2008-11-21 18:58
I agree with mrn, that the reeds tend to play softer in winter, so I use a half strength stiffer one in the winter than in the summer. I reiterate that balancing the reeds can make a big difference as well, but takes time to learn.
Lori
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