 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ErnieK
Date: 2011-02-03 18:09
Hi to all,
I am looking for some advice. I am new to the board, although, I have been lurking for a while. I am also a late starter, didn't play for 43 years, until I started playing again a few years ago. Anyway, my problem is reeds. I just don't seem to do well with cane reeds. I tried a Fibercell reed, and sounded terrible. My wife got me a Forestone reed, 3.25, about two years ago. The sound with this reed is quite unfocused. My set up is Buffet R-13 (1993), Chadash barrel, Greg Smith MP, Spriggs ligature, and #4 Rico Reserve reeds.
When I use a Vandoren 5RV/Lyre MP the Forestone reed sounds much better. My question for those who use who are enthralled by the Forestone reeds is this: Would I get a more focused sound if I were toe use a stiffer Forestone like a 4 or 4.5? My thanks to those who respond with suggestions.
Ernie Kundert
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Author: skennedy
Date: 2011-02-03 19:23
If you try a 5, I think you will find them to be not as stiff as the number suggests. I use them with a 1.02 or 1.03 opening, and my 20 or so boxes of V12's have been put in long term storage somewhere in the house about a year ago. FWIW, I bought a complete selection of Forestone reeds and it is easy to find the right strength for any mouthpiece.
Good luck,
Steve Kennedy
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Author: William
Date: 2011-02-03 19:29
I've been using Forestone reeds for nearly two years and have pretty much settled on the F4 strength for my Chicago Kaspar #14 mpc. Too soft, and focus is lost in the upper register--too hard, and your embouchure becomes fatigued too easily. Do not make the mistake of trying to play too stiff a Forestone in hopes that it will "settle in" as cane reeds tend to do when they become broken in. There is no break-in time for Forestones--the strength you start with will remain consistant and should last for many hours of playing time. Some of my old reeds still play reasonably well even after one year in my case. Hope this helps a bit......
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-02-03 19:54
One of the problems I find with both Forestone and Legere reeds is that their tips are softer than an equivalent strength of most of the popular cane reeds (I use mostly Vandoren V12 these days). So you have to find the balance between overall resistance and the soft tip that works best on whatever mouthpiece you're using.
My personal experience has been that either synthetic plays better on some of my mouthpieces than others, because there are many variables among facings, baffle height and shape, chamber size, throat shape and size, etc., that can make mouthpieces react very differently. If you want to commit to a synthetic reed in order to avoid reed hassles, you may need to experiment with mouthpieces a little to find the match you're most comfortable with. Some of my mouthpieces just don't sound good with either synthetic no matter what strength or style (of Legere) I try on them. A few do sound acceptable, and I use one of those when I'm playing pit work where I need the synthetic to avoid dry reeds during a show.
Karl
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2011-02-04 03:58
My experience with Forestone reeds is that they are much, much softer than their numbering system implies. Try the three hardest that they make.
Bob Phillips
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Author: luca1
Date: 2011-02-04 04:05
I second Bob's posting. I usually play a 3.5, 3.75, or 4.0 VanDoren or Rico etc ... but with the Forestone reed even the 4.5 was too soft. I was impressed with the product nevertheless! I plan to order the 5 in the future (unless they have a harder one in the works ....).
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Author: William
Date: 2011-02-04 15:11
FWIW, I have had success clipping some of my softer Forestones to strengthen the tip and give it a better shape. However, you need to be ultra careful to take off only a slight amount--the tiniest of slivers. If you clip a Forestone as you would a cane reed, you may take too much off too soon and ruin your reed. The clipped reed--or the Forestone that is too stiff--may be scraped to slightly soften it. I use a reed knife and shave a thin area just below the tip all the way across the reed. For me, as the reeds are already well shaped, it is not necessary to balance them to my mouthpiece, just adjusting the strength of the tip area seems to work well.
So, Forestones: clip if too soft; shave if too stiff......but always play well with the confidence of optimum performance a Forestone reed will always deliver.
It should also be mentioned that Forestone reeds are not just for the clarinetist--their new saxophone reeds are simply awesome. If you play the sax, you need to try some.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2011-02-05 14:30
My playing experience is very like yours. I played at school and a bit in the Air Force, and then gave it up for 45 years. I had problems with cane reeds, and tried synthetics. I tries Legere, Forestone and Fibrecell, and for me the results, on a B45, were that the Fibrecell sounded awful and the Legere and Forestone both worked well.
I've decided on the Legere as it seems to work better for me. I use a half strength lower than a corresponding Vandoren. I've found that as long as care is used, all 3 can be clipped and scraped. Switching to synthetics fixed most of the reed problems I was experiencing, although they don't work well in all mouthpieces
Tony F.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2011-02-05 15:49
Pretty well any brand of reed will work if it is suited or adjusted to the mouthpiece and player. I play on those awful fibracell reeds with good results in my estimation . I'm a professional multi instrumentalist who does musicals and has to play in styles ranging from classical to dixieland. I make it work. There is nothing wrong with making snap decisions on what works for you on first attempts but many times evaluations can be skewed with inappropriate reed strengths. In addition these synthetic reed manufacturers advise that reed placement on the mouthpiece can influence the results greatly. I have used the ATG adjustment on fibracell reeds but many times it isn't necessary.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: William
Date: 2011-02-05 16:28
Well said, Arnold. So much depends on mpc adjustment and the player. I've grown to like the Forestones, but they seemed to work on my equipement right from the beginning. Luck, I guess..............
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Author: ErnieK
Date: 2011-02-05 18:01
I would like to thank all of you for your great responses. I really appreciate it. I use Fibercell reeds on my bass with a San Francisco MP. I usually use a No. 4 and a No. 3 cane reed. The tip of the reed is softer on the synthetic ones, and I am glad to have that confirmed. I will take your advice and get a fairly stiff reed. I am planning on a F5, and hope that it not too stiff. I'll try to adjust it if needed.
BTW, Forestone claims that their reeds as better than other synthetic reeds because of the bamboo content. Does anyone think that they are superior to other synthetics?
Thanks again for all your comments.
Ernie Kundert
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Author: William
Date: 2011-02-06 16:29
"Does anyone think that they are superior to other synthetics?"
Yes--and mostly, for one reason: the quality of sound the Forestone reed produces in the clarion register (G5 & on up). Legere & others just seem to become dull & "thuddy" during articulation while the Forestone sound remains crisp and focused. I do think that the Bamboo component of the material has a lot to do with this improved sound.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-02-06 17:26
This, again, is, IMO, mouthpiece-dependent. I don't particularly like the sound *either* of them makes on my current mouthpiece in the upper clarion and, especially, altissimo registers. Apart from tone quality, I find both Forestone and Legere reeds more difficult to keep focused and in tune (they both tend to go flat for me if I don't work at keeping the pitch up) in the altissimo area. I'm fairly certain I could find a way with a clipper and a knife to improve this, but since I don't have any such difficulty with (selected and balanced) cane reeds I haven't yet taken the trouble (and each experiment costs $$$).
Again, IMO, it's very much an issue of what the natural tendencies the rest of your equipment and your playing style contribute and of what you want to hear.
Karl
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2011-02-06 17:37
Same issues as Karl... although I've only tried Legere Signatures and Quebecs.
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