Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2010-10-15 16:59
You should view comparisons that draw equivalence between Reed A strength x and Reed B strength y skeptically. The profiles of each model - even within the same brand - are different from one another. Strengths are measured by the manufacturers according to the resistance of the cane the reed is made of. Actual playing responsiveness may not be the same even when two reed models/strengths are said to be equivalent. Responsiveness depends on embouchure style, mouthpiece properties and the nature of the feel the player expects.
The best way to find *your* best reeds for a particular setup is to try several out - as many as you need to until you find something you're comfortable with. And, in my own experience, I would also suggest that during the process you not try to figure out why one reed feels better than another - there is such a subtle combination of tip thickness, overall density, thickness of the blank (and the heart), rate of taper toward the sides and tip, even the shape and amount of bark left at the end of the vamp, that trying to guess from descriptions of individual models' physical dimensions can be misleading at best. Buy a box of a brand and model you want to try, make your best guess as to a starting strength, and see what it feels like. If you like the sound but not the resistance, go up or down a strength. If you hate the sound, try another brand or model of the same brand.
Meanwhile, pick a reed type that you're already comfortable with (you mention several), even though it doesn't seem perfect, and continue using it as a reference point as well as a way to keep playing when a whole box of new reeds seems unplayable. If eventually you find something you like better, then make the switch.
Karl
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The Clarinet BBoard
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