 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-02-06 17:00
I just got a Grabner K14 mpc. today and will be trialing it to see how it plays for me. For those of you who play the K14, what reeds do you find to be a good match for this mpc.?
I've ordered a Legere Quebec #3 and a regular Legere #3.5 to try out after reading numerous threads on this forum about them. But I'd like to find some really good cane reeds for both concert band and jazz playing.
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Author: ClaytonMarch
Date: 2012-02-06 17:54
I've been happy with Vandoren # 3 V12 or sometimes a 3.5 with this mouthpiece. I find that set up bright but still with a lot of core and ping in the sound. Classical players have been surprised that I get a fairly rich sound with that.
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2012-02-06 18:27
A bit more expensive than the Quebec, but I think the Legere Signature #3 plays well on the K14. I bought the Quebec first, and although "ok", the Signature is much better for me.
Having said that, I am trying to get back to and learning to adjust cane. I'm no pro, but even I can tell a bit of difference in the sound. The Legere does have its place though, and I likely will never be without them or other synthetics.
CarlT
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-02-06 18:43
I've got some V12 (3's and 3.5's) but they don't play well on the K14 I have. I've also tried Rico Grand Concert 3.5, Mitchell Lurie Premium (3.5), Mitchell Lurie regular (3.5), Gonzalez FOF (3.25 and 3).
The only reeds out of this bunch that play well and sound decent on the K14 are the Gonzalez FOF (3) and they are not really knocking me out. I'm not too thrilled with the Grabner K14 here in my first day of trying it out, at least not with the reeds I have.
I probably need to find the right reeds and allow some time for me to adjust to the K14. I've been playing a Clark Fobes Nova for the past few months and it seems to be quite different from the Grabner K14. But it's also possible that the K14 I have is not a good one. From inspecting it the side rails are very thin on one side and thick on the other side. I may need to send this one back and see if Mr. Grabner can send one that has matching side rails. The tip rail is pretty thick and the arc of it is not symetrical.
I'll keep playing the K14 and see if things get better over the next few days. Did any of you K14 owners have to spend a few days to adjust before the mpc started happening for you?
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Author: Cory
Date: 2012-02-06 23:04
I play a Walter Grabner mouthpiece K13 with Legere Signature 3-1/2 or Vandoren V-12 #3. I find both of these kind of reeds very satisfactory with that mouthpiece, and I'm also very happy with the mouthpiece.
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Author: BflatNH
Date: 2012-02-07 03:02
A friend of mine generally uses#3 VD V12, 56s and Rico GC and Reserves, sometimes 3-1/2 for her K14.
I have the K13 and do more of the 3-1/2, but sometimes 3. But I also like the Gonzalez FOF 3.25, but really like the Xilema Classic (and Pro) 3.25 (from B Redwine) so I suggest the 3's for the K14, if you want to experiment.
When I had my Mpcs for test, I had some friends try them as well.
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Author: mihalis
Date: 2012-02-07 06:05
I have two K14. I buy a box of V12 #3 and a box of V12 #3.5.
I select the best, and adjust the rest.
Mike.
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-02-07 20:26
Day two with the Walter Grabner K14 has been much better. I really like the sound I'm getting with the K14 on my R-13. The reeds I played yesterday were not new reeds so I stopped by the local music store and picked up some fresh reeds. The best clarinet reeds they had in strength of 3 was Rico Royal so I picked up a 3-pack. I never liked Rico Royal reeds on sax but was surprised to find out that they actually play well and sound good on the Grabner K14 mpc.
I've got Legere reeds on order from Muncy and will be searching for the best matching cane reeds for me and the Grabner K14. I contacted Walter Grabner and told him about my concerns about the uneven side rail and he's sending me another K14 to replace it. The imperfection on the side rail may not actually be affecting the playability of the K14 but I want to be sure by trying a second K14. It's better to nip it in the bud now instead of always wondering if the side rail is affecting the playability of the mpc.
It's good to know that Walter Grabner provides great customer service. That dude is quick as lightning I tell ya!
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-02-08 18:13
Day three with the Walter Grabner K14 and I know for sure that I'll be playing a K14 for all my playing needs. I got the Legere Qubec #3 and the regular Legere 3.5 today and played them each on the K14.
The regular Legere 3.5 was impossible to play as I could barely blow into the mpc and get a sound. I'll have to send that one back and get another strength and/or style of Legere reed.
The Quebec #3 was hard to blow at first but I remember reading that you have to place the reed against the tip rail of the mpc just right for optimum playing. After adjusting several times to see which position played best I found a position that allowed the reed to speak really well. I was pretty amazed at how well the Legere Quebec #3 plays on the K14. After about 30 minutes of playing I decided that I will for sure be using the K14 mpc and also will use the Legere Quebec #3 when I don't have a really good cane reed.
I'll be sending the Legere (regular cut) #3.5 back to the Legere for my one time replacement reed. I think I'll try the Signature version but not sure which strength would be best.
Anyway, the K14 is working out really well for me. A very nice playing and sounding mpc to say the least. It's a keeper.
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Author: Cory
Date: 2012-02-08 23:12
Rick77, you should definitely try the Legere Signature. I play a 3-1/2 with the Grabner K13 mouthpiece. I think the Signature version is an improvement over the earlier versions, i.e. regular or Quebec.
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-02-09 02:24
Cory, I think the Signature 3.5 is what I meant to order instead of the regular cut 3.5
The Quebec 3 is pretty darn good but I think I'll send the regular Legere 3.5 back to the company and get the Signature 3.5 for my "one time replacement".
I appreciate all of the input from all of you that have posted!
Thanks!
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2012-02-09 03:10
I am becoming more and more impressed by the Legere Signature clarinet reeds. They are great for so many purposes. I do a lot of my mouthpiece testing now using the Signature reeds.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-02-09 05:43
Walt, is 3.5 the right strength Legere Signature reed for the K14 mpc.?
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-02-16 17:50
Just an update on the Grabner K14 and reeds that I'm using with it. After more extensive playing of the Legere reeds I find that I really don't care for them but would use them in an emergency I guess. I still haven't tried the Signature but don't like the Quebec or the regular Legere. No big deal though, I just prefer cane reeds.
I had been using Gonzalez FOF 3's that I sanded down a bit and they played well on the K14 for me. I may try the Gonzalez FOF in size 2.75 later on.
Most recently I find that I love the Vandoren V12 (3) reeds that I'm now playing on the Grabner K14. I had bad luck with the V12's a while back so I was reluctant to try them on the K14 but I'm glad I went ahead and pulled the trigger. The V12 (3's) play great and sound great on the K14.
Bottom line, the more I play the Grabner K14 the more I like it. It allows me to get the sound I hear in my head as being the perfect clarinet sound. Big dark tone with lots of projection. This is a great all around playing mpc. I'll be using the K14 exclusively for all of my playing.
Thanks Walter for making such an awesome clarinet mpc and thanks to all who have contributed helpful advice to this thread.
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-02-17 23:46
Wow! This Grabner K14 is blowing me away. The more I play it the more I realize that this is no run of the mill mouthpiece. It outplays every other mpc I've played to date and it outplays them in every way.
With V12 (3) reeds I get get this beautiful silky smoothe, huge, dark, easy to control sound that I haven't quite been able to produce with other mouthpieces I've played.
With Rico Royal 3's or Mitchell Lurie 3.5's I can get a more lively and brilliant, yet nice & full sounding jazzy tone. I'm just loving the fact that I have a great playing and sounding mpc that can play all the styles I play.
I'm primarily a sax player so I can't give much clarinet advice to anybody but I can say this: If you are not happy with the clarinet mpc you've been playing do yourself a favor and give Walter Grabner's mpc's (especially the K14) a try. Great playing and sounding mouthpieces that are very versatile.
The Grabner K14 is worth at least twice what I paid for it. It's just that good.
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