 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Margaret
Date: 2009-01-16 01:42
Hello,
I realize that much has been written on this board about reeds, but I cannot find an answer to my questions in the archives.
First, a bit of background: I initially only played Rico reeds (they were all that was available to me for years), 'till some guy at a music store (before I had a teacher to say otherwise) told me that going up a half strength was the way to improvement, and sold me a box of Rico Royal reeds: size 4. I couldn't get any sound out of them and they sat around for years.
Feeling discouraged, I found a reed strength comparison chart online and it said that when going from R to RR, you need to go down a half size, so I bought a box of 3s and also got no sound. They, too, sat around for years.
My teacher showed me how to do basic reed alterations and I decided to use these reeds rather than buy new. Some don't work (I pitched them), some are okay and a few are just stunning- if I can hear that much of a difference, it's a big difference. The stunning ones are also easier to play, and they feel 'nice'. Some of the junked reeds made me squirm- they not only sounded bad, they felt bad, if that makes any sense.
So now I am confused and in quest of the perfect (or as close to it as possible) reed. I can play regular Rico reeds in size 3.5, but couldn't play the RR 3s (the 4s being unplayable does not surprise me, but the 3s sort of did).
Can anyone list all of the types of reeds available and what might be useful to experiment with- and the size they'd recommend based on what I've said above. The archives have reed lists in various posts, but obviously not size recommendations for me. I don't want to get stuck with more boxes of unplayable (for me) reeds. Everyone I know plays Vandorens, but from what I've read on this board, they are very inconsistent and there aren't many good ones in each box. In addition to which, I'd have no idea what size Vs to get.
After my alterations, the best sounding ones are all former RR 4s- I obviously took off quite a bit of wood to make them suitable for me.
I hope that these details will help. I've looked at reed strength comparison charts, but after buying the RR3s, based on one, I am confused. They also seem to be conflicting.
Thanks,
Margaret
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-01-16 02:28
Margaret wrote:
> So now I am confused and in quest of the perfect (or as close
> to it as possible) reed.
The short answer:
There is none.
Don't let the reed play you. Learn to play the reed.
The strength reed that one chooses has many determining factors, with the primary one being its suitability to the mouthpiece type and facing you have chosen.
...GBK
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Author: Margaret
Date: 2009-01-16 02:44
Hi,
I have a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, if this helps.
Thanks,
Margaret
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Author: Johnny Galaga
Date: 2009-01-16 03:22
The resistance you feel when you play depends on not just the reed, but on the reed-mouthpiece combination. I have a B45 as well, and a size 3 Gonzalez FOF or regular Vandoren reed feels just right for me. I also have a Portnoy BP02 mouthpiece and a size 4 feels just right on that mouthpiece. But a size 4 on a B45 would be very tough to play on.
The "facing" is the physical distance between the tip of the mouthpiece and the tip of the reed. The more "open" the mouthpiece facing, the more distance there is between the reed and the mouthpiece and the more resistance you'll feel when you play. The more "closed" the facing is, the less distance there is and the less resistance you'll get, with the same reed.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2009-01-16 10:17
Vandoren have this helpful table in which they suggest reed strengths:
http://www.vandoren.fr/en/tab3.html
I'd take the 'vandoren are inconsistent' thing with a pinch of salt. They're not right for everyone, but they're worth trying, especially as a lot of retailers will sell them individually. Start with the 'traditional' (blue box) and get a couple of each recommended strength (tho you have to be a bit keen to play 3.5 trad on a B45 imho); see how it goes!
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Author: D
Date: 2009-01-16 20:10
I found that V56 3 and 3.5 are great on my 5RV, but pretty hopeless on my B40 where I prefer a trad or V12 3. For someone else it might be different. I also have a bashed up old reed with a big chip out of the corner and marker pen on the back which plays beautifully! No idea what it is other than some kind of Vandoren - that's the only bit still legible on it!
Don't be surprised by anything a reed does to you. I think they are a semi-sentient lifeform.
Post Edited (2009-01-17 06:54)
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Author: Margaret
Date: 2009-01-16 21:03
Thanks everyone,
Taking all of this into account, I think I will try a V traditional 2.5 and see if it works out.
Margaret
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