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Author: Charles
Date: 2001-02-28 16:42
I'm using Grand Concert Select regular 3 1/2 reed now on my Leblanc L7. I know that there are thick blank reeds in same brand. What can I expect from them? Is it harder than regular reed? Thanks in advance.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-02-28 17:37
Charles -
On a thicker blank, the part of the cane that becomes the tip of the reed comes from deeper in the blank. That is, it's made of cane that started out further from the surface than it would be if the blank were thinner.
In general, the closer the cane is to the bark, the harder it is. Thus, other things being equal, a reed cut from a thick blank will be somewhat softer than an identically cut reed with a thin blank.
However, with a thick blank, the profile of the reed has to have a steeper incline than it would if a thin blank were used. The extra stuff near the top changes the response and tends to make the reed harder. The less dense but thicker cane balances out the final strength, and within the same brand, thick and thin blank reeds should feel about the same.
There is a difference in tone, though. Thick blanks give a less bright and more covered quality.
Reed manufacturers adjust their profiling equipment to make thick and thin bland reeds come out at about the same strength. Which you use is purely a matter of personal preference. Many excellent players prefer thick blanks. I personally prefer thinner ones.
Individual blanks vary tremendously in hardness, and it's thus impossible to manufacture reeds that are perfectly consistent. You should try every brand and style you can get and pick the one that starts out closest to what you want. However, to play your best, you need to test reeds by playing them and then balancing and adjusting them to work for your mouthpiece, your lips and your preferences.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-03-01 03:35
There are several thick blank reeds:
1.Vandoren V12
2.Rico Grand Concert thick blank
3.Alexander Classique
4.Zonda
5.Marca traditional
6.Steuer
Almost all are copies of old MORRE reeds(German cut reed used
by Chicago clarinet section when Marcellus was working).
I think almost all thick blank reeds have two much width.
If you use Greg Smith reed profiler, the vibration will be very much improved.
As to the density, Alexander classique is very much dense.
By the way, thick blank reeds match Kasper mouthpieces very good.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2001-03-01 11:28
I have never found thick blank reeds much of an advantage. To me they seem stuffier and harder to produce volume. Some of my students use them however and seem to prefer them. Van Doren v12's are a thick blank reed but behave a 1/2 to full strength softer than the thin blank classics and dont last as long because the tip seems to go quicker.
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