 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Mollicus
Date: 2000-12-02 23:45
I just recently got a couple of 2.5 Vandoren Tenor reeds for my bass clar. I've been practicing with both, alternating to break them in. I've noticed that the tone is really really airy in all registers and I can't get past top-of-the-staff G without squeaking horribly. I understand that some of this may be from switching brands and well, using a reed made for a sax, but will it work itself out as I get used to it more or are they always airier? I'd appreciate some insight... I play in our school's orchestra, Clarinet chamber choir and concert band, so if I should be using Bass specific reeds, please let me know! Thank you very much : )
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dave
Date: 2000-12-03 00:20
well my friend, I think we are complete freakin' opposites, I use vandoren bass calrinet reeds on my tenor sax for classical music. It is probably the best thing I've ever came upon. I do a lot of stupid things though... I did came upon this one as I was auditioning and while seting things up, brushed the top of my reed off... ina last ditch effort I tried a bari sax reed on tenor (have done this before) and found it to be too fat for classical, and bs clarinet reed. What a coincidence it gave me the sound that I wanted. I've to this date been using the setup of Vandoren 2.5 bs clar reed on a D facing piece. I also use Vandoren Java Soprano (3) on clarinet for jazz
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2000-12-03 02:28
I friend of mine who used to live in NYC and frequently subbed in the NYC Philharmonic on bass clar. uses tenor sax reeds all the time. However, he has a custom facing on his mp that allows this. He let me copy his facing on my VD B-45 and it cleared a lot of problems I was having like squeaking on high G and G#.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob gardner
Date: 2000-12-03 03:06
My understanding was that an alto sax reed was to small for a bass and a tenor sax reed was too big. Why not us bass clarinet reeds?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Willie
Date: 2000-12-03 03:28
My daughter is always pilfering my tenor sax reeds for her bass. Although I, myself haven't tried it, she says the #2 VD tenor reed plays better for her than the #2.5 VD bass reeds.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Aaron
Date: 2000-12-03 03:47
I have found the best reeds to use on the bass clarinet are the blue box Rico Royal Reeds. I use about a 3.5 to a 4 strength. The thing that I have found to be a problem with using sax reeds is that with the tenor sax reeds, the tip of the reed and the overall cut seems to dampen the effectivness of the reed on the bass clarinet mouthpiece. Concurrently, the double cut Vandoren bass clarinet reeds are basically made as a large Bb clarinet reed. This isn't the case wiht bass clarinet reeds, they just don't work the same with all the vibrations and hormonics. The single cut Rico Royal reeds seem to work wonderfully in all aspects. Yes I know that it seems crazy using Reek-O, im sorry Rico reeds for the clarinet, but they really make a difference. I have played bass clarinet off and on for about 5 years now in high school and now in with an orchestra in the Kansas City area. I got onto the Rico Royal reeds after talking with one of my teachers who plays bass and Eb for the St. louis Symphony. I have played on his horns many times during my lessons, basically him wanting to hear different mouthpieces, horns, etc, and we have similar techniques of playing and tone. Anyway, I had been using the Vandoren bass clarinet reeds because I use all vandoren reeds for the Bb. However I was unhappy with them. However, after our first time playing or so he commented about the Rico reeds, since then that's all I use. they have good sound and response for the bass clarinet, for the Bb I still use V-12s. But the rico's work very well.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2000-12-03 13:41
Aaron wrote:
>
> I have found the best reeds to use on the bass clarinet
> are the blue box Rico Royal Reeds...The single cut Rico Royal reeds seem to work
> wonderfully in all aspects. Yes I know that it seems crazy
> using Reek-O, im sorry Rico reeds for the clarinet, but they
> really make a difference.
It is only the very cheap, orange box, plain Ricos that are criticized by players. The Rico Royal is entirely different and is of good quality. Rico also happens to make the well respected Mitchell Lurie reeds and Grand Concert reeds. So there is no need to apologize for using Rico Royals.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-12-03 18:52
I use tenor sax reeds, Rico Royals and SR's and have no complaints. My earlier experience with bass cl reeds was too variable and some were not wide enough to cover the rails of Selmer C*, Bundy 3 and VD B45 mp's. Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 2000-12-04 14:36
In most brands, tenor sax reeds are identical (or darn close) in size to bass clarinet reeds, and the cuts are similar enough. I've been using tenor sax reeds in brands that don't have bass clarinet-specific sizes (such as Zonda or Olivieri) for many years (since dinosaurs walked the earth). There is inherently nothing wrong with using tenor sax reeds on bass clarinet --- try different brands and strengths and find a combination that works with you and your mouthpiece.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-12-05 00:23
I sometimes use alto sax reeds on my alto clarinet, and contrabass clarinet reeds on my bass sax. Some brands work better than others. Different brands vary quite a lot in both width and length. Take a good look with a strong magnifying glass. If the reed lets air leak at the rails (which is more obvious with a reed that's too narrow, but can also happen with a reed that's too *big*) that 's a likely reason for the breathiness and squeaking. I've had those problems with bad-fitting reeds on some of my old mouthpieces. Also check the mouthpiece itself. Any little hairline crack or tiny chip can react more with some reeds than with others.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kurt
Date: 2000-12-05 02:39
I use tenor sax reeds also. The only difference I can see is that tenor sax reeds are easier to come by and a bit longer. Not a problem on one of my horns, but it is on an old one I have.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Melanie
Date: 2000-12-05 05:57
I always use alto sax reeds on my alto clarinet and tenor sax reeds on bass. I find that they are cheaper, and for me, they play better. I play the Vandoren green box (V-16, perhaps) for them both. On bass, I use a #3 strength with a Vandoren mouthpiece...i'm not sure of the specific model and have no difficulty getting way up into the stratosphere on bass. Naturally, it's going to vary from instrument to instrument and player to player. Use whatever works best for you and gives you the results you want.
Happy Playing!
Melanie
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
