 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: The Dad
Date: 2000-11-09 15:37
I am curious as to what brands of reeds you use. Do you still experiment with different reeds and strenghts when the urge hits you?
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Author: mark weinstein
Date: 2000-11-09 16:03
reed strength is governed by the mouthpiece. given that a clarinetist has a developed embouchure, a close facing requires a higher strength reed, while an open facing requires a lower strength reed.
in terms of reed brands, many people try a lot of brands ... in search of the holy grail.
mw
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Author: The Dad
Date: 2000-11-09 16:07
I know what you are saying. I am just curious as to what is the "holy grail" that various players have found.
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Author: Pam
Date: 2000-11-09 17:51
I, personally, use Vandorens both V-12 and regular. One friend in orchestra uses Oliveri and another uses Mitchel Lurie.
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Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 2000-11-09 18:16
I like Vandoren, Zonda, Glotin, Olivieri, Rico Grand Concert (Thick Blank), Marca, and Mitchell Lurie; and I generally break in a couple of reeds of each brand at the same time, then evaluate them, work on them, and play on them based on how they play (regardless of what brand they are). This way I can not only get a variety of different response/feel/sound qualities, but I'm less affected by variations in any particular brand (for example, some players are complaining that the current crop of Vandorens are not quite up to snuff).
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Author: Meri
Date: 2000-11-09 20:23
My 'holy grail' of reeds has to be the Legeres. I almost feel like laughing when every other reed player's reed dries out while I avoid all suffering, which is a problem in the place where both my community band and college band rehearse.
For cane reeds, I really like the Grand Concert Select. They seem to be much better than the regular Vandorens, and the best out of the brands of reeds I tried. Didn't like, V12's the Olivieri or the Mitchell Lurie--the V12's and the Mitchell Lurie because they seemed to go soft rather quickly, and the Olivieri because they don't seem to fit my mouthpiece all that well.
Meri
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-11-09 20:58
I never really got into the reed thing that much, TD. I mean, I played for years and years in a wide variety of musical outfits and was perfectly happy with a plain ol' everyday #3 1/2 Rico on a Steel Ebonite mpc. I still use the same mpc with 3 1/2 Ricos. Had a plastic reed lots of years ago that I liked but it eventually got too chipped to use and I never bothered to get another one (I think they quit making them, that particular kind). I just went back to Ricos. Since I took up the horn again a couple of years ago (after a 25-30 year 'vacation') I've been happily honking using the same setup.
I'm content with any ligature that doesn't tend to slide off when I tighten it but my favorite is the Bonade (with the little rails) that I picked up somewhere along the way. I've used other things too, rubber bands, string, tape - with about the same result; if the reed doesn't come off or change position too drastically I'm happy.
I'm sure that long ago I tried different kinds/brands of reeds and I remember experimenting with making the home variety. I maintain my own instruments and follow the line of thinking that - if it's working okay, don't mess with it.
ron b.
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Author: Jenn
Date: 2000-11-09 22:21
I like Rico Royal. I wouldn't recommend the plain Rico in the orange box, unless you are really a beginner and likely to break a lot of them. I don't like La Voz at all either. I know a lot of people who use Van Doren, and they seem to like those as well.
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Author: Andy
Date: 2000-11-10 01:12
For me, you can't go past Vandroen V12's. Considering however that I am in a complelty different part of the world to most of you (Australia) the conditions we have here are better suited to the V12's. When travelling between cities the V12's will still play well in all altitudes and variances of humidity.
I tried Vonda reeds for a while, but the top register was sadly lacking in them. Grand Concert (The blue box ones) don't last nearly long enough even wit hcareful breaking in, so I say, stick with V12's
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2000-11-10 01:26
I use Glotens. I used to use Oliveri. Before that I tried Mitchell Lurie, Van Doren, Rico Royal, and Rico. Glotens are the best I've tried.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-11-10 05:12
On my Bb soprano, the VanDoren 2.5, a Harrison lig, on a 2RV mouthpiece seems to be the right set up for me. However on my LeBlanc contra alto I've been having problems with the VDs and have switched to LaVoz and they seem to play great on this horn.
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Author: graham
Date: 2000-11-10 10:59
Regal Queen or Zonda for B flat/A
Vandoren Java Alto Sax reads for the basset horn
Old left over Buffet Prestige reeds for Bass clarinet
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Author: oscar
Date: 2000-11-10 13:29
I use white master no. 1.5 for my Theodor Lotz 5 keys clarinet copy. I tried some Foglietta no. 1 and they don't succeed with my hand-made wooden mouthpiece.
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Author: William
Date: 2000-11-10 15:05
Please register my vote for Vandorens V-12 or Regular as my commercial reed of choice for my soprano clarinets. However, I have had some success with Marca traditional-cut reeds (Tom Ridenour recommended them). All cane reeds require some adjustment for our particular mp set-up and some ultimatly play better than others--but that is a whole different lesson. Selecting a good quality cane reed is the first step. I've tried many artificial reeds (plastic, fiberfill, etc--most recently the Legere version) and (IMHO) have never found one that produces the quality of sound or has the response on my, A & Bb clarinet mouthpiece, as the traditional cane reed. With VDs, I start with #4-4.5s and adjust them with my reed knife and, if necessary, my Reed Wizard. Usually, I am able to make every reed--from a box of ten--playable. At least half will be excellant--those I use for orchestra. (The others I save for concert band and jazz gigs :>) ) Good clarineting.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2000-11-10 22:28
As I said on a recent posting, I tried a box of Opera reeds "hand selected and sun dried" made by Bois-Chaux in France. I got 10 out of 10 good absolutely consistent reeds. To double check, I bought another box and they were just as good. I bought these in France. Anyway, folks, the sole distributor is Laputa Co. Ltd.. No addresss on the box, but if anyone is interested, I could track down Bois-Chaux and ask.
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Author: R. Simpson
Date: 2000-11-11 00:37
i play bass clarinet on a bundy3 mpc. i have always used Vandoren 2 1/2 to 3 1/2.
Theyve always worked for me.
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Author: Denise
Date: 2000-11-11 03:05
Where I come form using Rico is an absolute SIN!!! I like vandorens... I use that and my M-13 mouthpiece and I like it just fine.... I don't like the V-12's though their more expensive but i find them to be softer...
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Author: Quido
Date: 2000-11-11 04:18
I personally believe the Vandoren V12s are the best way to go all around. In terms of ranking them, my teacher once told me this: "In a box of Mitchell Luries, every reed you get is about a 'B-Minus,' however with the Vandoren V12s you may get two or three 'A' reeds and a bunch of 'C', 'D', or 'F' reeds. I can't agree more. So while the V12s aren't the most consistent, you can find a few really nice reeds in every box. I've tried LOTs of other reeds, but I don't think any I've tried match up to the V12 in overall playability. But like other people put forth, hardness and type totally depends on the mouthpiece. When I play on my M13, I use a 5, but with my M13-Lyre I use a 4 1/2. Maybe different mouthpieces would have completely different results with different reeds....I don't know. You just have to go and try for yourself.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-11-11 13:13
For Bb clarinet, I use mostly Mitchell Lurie Premiums, in either 3 or 3.5 depending on instrument, mouthpiece and music. The Premiums come in a package of 5, rather than 10, and for me they're worth the extra money because I can generally use 5 out of 5 with no aggravation. I've found that my metal clarinets do better with Vandoren 3, although I don't like the variability/inconsistency of the Vandorens.
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Author: Gavin
Date: 2000-11-13 07:17
Mitchell Lurie 5 and 5.1/2s. They fit my mpc nicely. I don't have enough time to be experiementing with others.
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