 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: gsurosey
Date: 2012-03-12 17:40
I finally tossed out the last Eb reed I had last night (it was long past dead). I remembered I had a couple Bb reeds left over that were the same strength (Vandoren 3) from when I used a different Bb setup. So, I used the dead reed to measure how much of the Bb reed I needed to chop off the end and voila! The Bb reed plays much better than any of the Eb reeds I had of the same strength! I'm guessing thicker heart. I may need to adjust a little still, but I think I've become a convert to chopping Bb reeds for the little guy.
That discovery having been made, I'm wondering if I can get away with using my current Bb reeds on a different Eb mouthpiece (I've been wanting to get a different one, and now I have an excuse). Current Eb piece is a Vandoren B40. Current Bb reeds are Vandoren V12 4, so if a new mouthpiece is the way to go, I need something closer than what I have. All of my other setups have been converted to closer/longer with harder reeds and it's working well. So, what Eb mouthpieces are out there that will work well with a V12 4 Bb reed? I'm looking at the Fobes mouthpieces (an Eb would round out the collection and the Nova would fit nicely into my summer budget). What else will work well? I should have more money to work with this summer, so I can at least look at many different ones.
Suggestions?
----------
Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2012-03-12 18:19
I use one of Brad Redwine's Eb mouthpieces and it works well with Bb reeds. There are also folks who sell barrels for Eb that have a cut out space so you don't have to even cut off the back of a Bb reed to use in on an Eb mouthpiece.
http://www.redwinejazz.com/Mouthpieces.htm
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2012-03-12 18:27
You may also want to look at the Vandoren White Master Bb reeds. This is what my daughter uses (wqith very good results) on her Eefer. They are marginally narrower than French style reeds, and this fits the Eefer mputhpieces even better. You still have to cut off the tail end of thereeds to shorten them.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2012-03-12 21:11
I have a Yamaha 681 effer and use an old stock Selmer HS* mpc with cut down Forestone 3.5 Bb reeds. Corresponding V12 strength would be about 2.5 to 3.0. The tuning in my high register-- D6 thru G6--is particularly easy to control. Maybe I'm just lucky.........
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2012-03-13 06:57
I also use White Master Vandoren reeds on a Vandoren B40 mouthpiece for my Eb. 4's sound quite hard for how open of a facing it is. Try using some softer reeds, just my opinion. But definitely give the White Masters a try. They work better than Eb and french Bb reeds, imo.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gsurosey
Date: 2012-03-14 03:53
With the B40, I'm using a cut-off Traditional 3. I know it's usually better to match reeds to a mouthpiece rather than the other way around, but like I said, I'm looking for a closer mouthpiece anyway, so I'm looking for something to match reeds to if I can. No big deal if I can't use my V12 4s, but I still want something closer than the B40.
Too bad I didn't have something different now. I'm playing Eb and bass clarinets in 'Bolero' in a couple weeks.
----------
Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2012-03-14 09:33
The Fobes and Smith and Grabner Eb mpcs hover around 1mm in tip opening. Compared to the B40 which is around 1.10mm. Not a huge different but a differnece nonetheless and will affect reed strength by about half a strength. If you want to stay more towards the inexpensive route, then the Vandoren B44 might be a better option for you. Those can use 3.5-4 in V12 strength just fine. That tip opening is just above 1mm as well.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
