 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TooYung
Date: 2010-06-15 04:17
I can't really find the answer to this question on google, so could you help me out?
I'm switching from Bb clarinet (4 years exp) to bass clarinet, and I just need
to know what reed brand, strength 3, would be the best for me.
Thanks.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2010-06-15 04:40
Can't go too far wrong with good old Vandoren. There are thinner, "freer-blowing" reeds out there for sure, but you'll sound more like a flatulent chainsaw than a bass clarinet with those.
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Author: Curinfinwe
Date: 2010-06-15 12:27
I found that Rico Grand Concert Evolutions worked much better than Vandorens when I picked up bass clarinet. They were much more freeblowing, (I used a size 2.5 or 3) and they lasted for months and months.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-06-15 12:37
Try any make of tenor sax reeds as you'll be spoilt for choice with the variety that's out there. I like Vandoren Java and V16 tenor sax reeds on bass.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2010-06-15 14:16
There are no hard and fast rules to this. I've used everything from a Rico Tenor Sax reed, to Vandoren Tenor and Bass Clarinet, to a Legere Bass clarinet reed. Check out a bunch of them before you commit to stocking up on one in particular, though. No sense in throwing money away.
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-06-15 15:25
I stopped buying Vandoren once I got my hands on some Gonzalez. On Bb they were close enough that I rotate through both. On bass, for me, the difference was dramatic.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-06-15 21:59
The only way your will ever know what reed you will like is to try several brands. No other person can tell you what you will like. I use Rico Grand Concerts #3 1/2, you may love them, you may hate them. Don't take others advise, try them yourself. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-06-16 02:16
Vandoren has the best sound but if you need something that sounds almost as good but a little easier blowing, try the Fibracell reeds. I think I used the same strength but the reeds get a nice woody sound with a slightly less effort.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-06-16 02:33
Paul, with all due respect I don't know how you can simply say that Vandoren's get the best sound. That may be true for you, and many others, but if that was true for everyone, the other brands would be out of business. Personally, I think the Rico's get the best sound that's why I use them most of the time. I do sometimes use Vandoren's because I have a few boxes left over from when I switch to the Rico's. I think for me at least, the Rico's get the best sound most of the time. I've had great sounding Vandoren's and I've had great sounding Rico's. So like I implied above, nothing is best for everyone. My advice remains the same, try several brands to see which one sounds best for you, not for Paul or me or anyone else but YOU. ESP
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-06-16 12:43
I never found a brand with a better "heart" to the reed. I'd be happy to endorse one if I found it.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: Ed
Date: 2010-06-16 13:15
It all depends on your set up and your playing. I have found the Rico products (grand concert, reserve) to be fine reeds with a really good response and tone. I have found them to be more consistent than many other reeds I have tried.
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2010-06-16 13:45
I use Vandoren ZZ tenor sax reeds on a Grabner mouthpiece. It's very free blowing for me and has a very powerful sound. I should mention I use it in shows/big band, not orchestral settings.
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2010-06-16 13:49
FWIW, I would think the mouthpiece has more to do with "free blowing" than the reed....assuming you and I are thinking of the same thing when we say "free blowing"!!!
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-06-16 15:10
What kind of bass clarinet will you have and what mouthpiece will you be playing?
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-06-16 19:49
Paul once again you are missing my point. For you Vandoren's are the best sounding bass reed you've ever played, so be it. That does not make it so. I for one, a professional bass clarinet player that does like Vandoren's thinks that the Rico Grand concerts sound at least as good and often better for ME, not for you, maybe not for the the person that asked the question in the first place but for me. If you don't or can't, see my point that your opinion does not make it a fact of life but simply your opinion then I can't make you see what i'm telling the person that posted the question in the first place. Only he will know what the best sounding and or free blowing reed is once he tries them. Vandoren's, Grand Concerts and what ever else is out there. Simply stating "Vandoren's are the best sounding reed" is simply your opinion, certainly not mine. I think the person that posted the question is probably smart enough to realize that, I certainly hope you are as well. Judging from some other posts you've posted I think you certainly are. Give it a break. ESP
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Author: TazJMT
Date: 2010-09-08 03:34
Do Grand Concert Evolution reeds even exist for Bass Clarinet? I cant seem to find those anywhere and someone mentioned they have used them. I thought for Bass Clarinet, if you wanted to use Rico, you were only going to be able to use The Reserve Classic (which I personally dont like the shape of) or the Grand Concert Traditonal
Author: Curinfinwe (---.eastlink.ca - (EastLink) Dartmouth, NS Canada)
Date: 2010-06-15 12:27
I found that Rico Grand Concert Evolutions worked much better than Vandorens when I picked up bass clarinet. They were much more freeblowing, (I used a size 2.5 or 3) and they lasted for months and months.
Post Edited (2010-09-08 03:42)
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Author: graham
Date: 2010-09-08 09:02
Grand Concert for a free blowing entirely consistent register to register response. I use them in passages where I need something smooth and easy. Then I change back to the more interesting but more challenging reeds such as Alexander Superial or Steuer for most of my playing.
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Author: William
Date: 2010-09-08 14:59
I play on a Grabner CX_BS mpc (customized Selmer C*) and have had great success for many years with Legere 3.0's. However, I am currently testing some prototype Forestone bass clarinet reeds that are amazing, but not yet available. As for cane reeds, I gave up on them shortly after I bought my Buffet Prestige 1193-2 low C because they dry out if the bass is left sitting on the stand (musicals, etc), and they tend to go soft during use for longer gigs. I just like the consistancy of the synthetic reeds and can get the same sound as if I were using any cane product, Vandoran or Rico. And, no, I DO NOT sound like David's "flatulent chainsaw" with a synthetic reed, but rather always get compliments on "how well" my bass clarinet sounds. I always credit Walter Grabner's mpc :>) BTW, although I have not tried his newest "Lawrie Bloom" model, most players give it rave reviews. Walter is a master mouthpiece maker, repair & restoration techie and truely, one of the "good guys" in the business. He also plays pretty good........
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Author: BflatNH
Date: 2010-09-08 19:08
Perhaps consider that "free blowing", alone, is not the ultimate goal.
I've noticed that some B.Cl., mpc and reed combinations play extremely freely (to the point that the quality suffers) on some range of notes, yet adjacent notes or groups of notes are resistant, stuffy, etc. (Sort of reminds me of a high "Q" resonant circuit with no damping.)
My preferred combination is full, consistent bass clarinet tone over the range I expect to play with fair but consistent ease of playing (so that I can play 2 - 4 hours), yet some resistance so that I can control the sound and the instrument (to blend and musically express).
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2010-09-09 01:57
I use both Vandoren #3 1/2 and Rico Grand Concert #4. I prefer the Ricos in most playing situations.
I have a few boxes of the new Rico Classic Reserve reeds but have not given them a real test yet.
However, as Eddie says, nobody can tell you what is best for you. No one plays on your bass clarinet, with your mouthpiece, and your embouchure.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
New and Used Buffet Clarinets
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Author: TazJMT
Date: 2010-09-09 02:01
I'm not sure why i am getting these specific responses. All i asked was do Rico Grand Concert Evolution Reeds exist for Bass clarinet. Someone here said they used them, and i would like to, but i have checked many websites and dont think that evolution reed exists for Bass Clarinet
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Author: Curinfinwe
Date: 2010-09-09 02:04
Sorry, I was wrong about the Evolution reeds. I use Grand Concert Select, #3. When I wrote my initial post I didn't have the reeds anywhere near me, so I relied on my memory, which apparently is not very good. :]
Sorry for the confusion!
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