 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: suavkue
Date: 2010-07-22 03:21
I am currently using Vandoren #3.5s (see signature for specifics), and am consistently experiencing a problem of one of these reeds lasting me two weeks of practicing every day (if I'm lucky). What happens is the cane thins out (my definition of "thin" is basically how it feels at extermination: I take the top part of the reed and bend it back toward the bottom thick part when it doesn't play well anymore - 98% of the time, it bends very easily). I was using Gonzalez FOFs until last September, and haven't experienced squeaks like I have been with the FOFs (I would say mainly due to my embouchure change); however, I recall that FOFs had this "thinning" problem a lot more often than the Vandoren reeds have been.
The way I dry the reeds may also play a factor in the thinning (if it does, I don't know how). I take the reed and dry it upside down on a flat surface (thicker part on the surface).
Any help is appreciated - thanks.
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My current equipment:
Ridenour Lyrique 576BC, Rico Reserve 4, Ridenour Hand Finished Mouthpiece, Luyben Ligature
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Author: Maestro_6
Date: 2010-07-22 04:35
I use Vandoren Blue Box #4 reeds.
Of course, I play on a closed mouthpiece, the Gigliotti P. The Vandoren M13 Lyre you use is also closed and I also found #4s to work well on that piece. They'd probably last longer than the softer strength, too. However, be confident on your first blow because the difference between 3.5 and 4 isn't the smallest step in Blue Box... IMO.
As it has been said, the way to determine your question is to buy some size #4 Vandorens, and determine which you prefer best. I would go through at least 2 boxes before making a final decision.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2010-07-22 04:42
I have few questions for you:
1.Do you break-in your reeds and how?
2.Do you rotate your reeds and how often?
3.How much do you play and how many reeds do you regularly have broken-in?
One reed playing it 2 hours a day will last much shorter than having at least 4-8 reeds properly broken-in on hand that you rotate every 30-60 minutes.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-07-22 13:15
Continual playing should not hurt reeds (as you rotate through a group of course) as long as you break them in (three days of playing no more than 5 minutes max on each reed). If you're in "the-dry-season" (Winter), it may take a day or two longer.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: suavkue
Date: 2010-07-22 18:56
Thanks everyone!
I rotate between two reeds every day for about 30 min. to 1 hour every day (no more than two since I've found that when I rotate between 3 or 4, the reeds seem to last for a shorter amount of time - perhaps it's because of exposure?). Interestingly enough, I've noticed that the room in which I practice is quite dry and cold at times (my room just happens to be under an A/C vent). As a side question, if I were to consider switching to V12s, what would be the equivalent to a Blue Box #4?
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My current equipment:
Ridenour Lyrique 576BC, Rico Reserve 4, Ridenour Hand Finished Mouthpiece, Luyben Ligature
Post Edited (2010-07-22 18:56)
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2010-07-22 21:02
#4 Vandorens on that mouthpiece is not unreasonable. V12 #4s, which are a little softer, might be an intermediate step if the Blue box #4s are too stiff.
Chris
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-07-23 20:51
The same thing happens to the tip of a reed when playing it as would a piece of cardboard or tin. If you keep bending it over and over again after a while it will not retain it's shape. That is the part that you keep bending will not "bounce" back after a while. The tip of any reed will eventually not "bounce" back to it's original shape. It looses it's response, it becomes weaker, it begins to feel softer and begins to close off with less pressure than it did before. The more you play on a singe reed the better the chance of it "dying" sooner rather then later. When you practice you're vibrating the reed constantly, no breaks like in an orchestra, constant vibration. That's the reason I use "practice" reeds to practice on, reeds that are not concert or rehearsal quality but decent enough to practice. That way my "good" reeds last for months, on rotation of course. I don't know how much you practice but I'd suggest no more than half an hour on any one reed and as Iceland suggested, rotate several. You should consider keeping your reeds climate controlled. Using a Rico Vitalizer in a sealed freezer or sandwich bag will keep them humidity controlled. If you're letting them dry out in a dry room they will soon begin to warp, that is not seal against the mouthpiece, and that will make them sound poorly and non responsive. Check my reed pages on sealing and humidity control on my website, you might pick up a few hints on stabilizing, breaking in and adjusting your reeds. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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