 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Noah K
Date: 2012-07-08 14:27
I've recently purchased a Buffet E-11 France Bb Clarinet, and it's sounding quite airy below the break. My upper register is dark, round, clear; basically perfect. I'm using a Vandoren B-45 mouthpiece, and Vandoren 56 Rue Lepic reeds (3.5+). Is it my horn, or the reeds? Also, if I file down my reeds, they get better tone in in the lower register but the upper register becomes to bright and edgy. I just can't win. lol. Getting that perfect orchestral tone just seems impossible. Any ideas for that, too?
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Author: Merlin_Williams
Date: 2012-07-08 14:35
Personally, I think your reeds are probably too hard. A B45 wouldn't be my first choice for getting that "perfect orchestral tone".
Jupiter Canada Artist/Clinician
Stratford Shakespeare Festival musician
Woodwind Doubling Channel Creator on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WoodwindDoubling
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Author: Noah K
Date: 2012-07-08 16:16
I was thinking about upgrading to a Vandoren Masters mouthpiece. I just don't understand how my lower register is airy, but my upper is fine. If my reeds were too hard, wouldn't all of the notes be airy?
Post Edited (2012-07-08 16:16)
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Author: Campana
Date: 2012-07-08 16:31
If a beginner can be permitted a guess. A leaky register key pad would leave the upper register unaffected but surely would affect the lower register in some way.
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Author: Noah K
Date: 2012-07-08 16:51
That makes sense! I haven't had it inspected since I bought it, and I'm sure the months of it sitting on display sure didn't do it any good.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2012-07-08 17:07
The Vandoren Masters mouthpiece seems to be an A442 mouthpiece so it might be better to use one of the Vandoren A440 mouthpieces. Yes, try some #3 or even 2 1/2 reeds and see what happens. Good luck!
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Author: Noah K
Date: 2012-07-08 17:12
I promise you I don't need softer reeds. I've gradually went up over the past five years so I've already used 2.5 and 3. I don't struggle to get a sound on them. Like "putz" said, it might be an air leak. Any suggestions on reed brands/types? I trust Vandoren but I'm open to others.
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Author: Merlin_Williams
Date: 2012-07-08 17:58
Noah K wrote:
> I promise you I don't need softer reeds. I've gradually went
> up over the past five years so I've already used 2.5 and 3. I
> don't struggle to get a sound on them. Like "putz" said, it
> might be an air leak. Any suggestions on reed brands/types? I
> trust Vandoren but I'm open to others.
You may need softer reeds and not realize it. Been there, done that, learned the hard way. 35 years playing professionally have taught me there are few absolutes as far as gear and setups go.
Jupiter Canada Artist/Clinician
Stratford Shakespeare Festival musician
Woodwind Doubling Channel Creator on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WoodwindDoubling
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2012-07-08 18:53
A leaky register key is more likely to completely disable the lower register (causing notes to play in the wrong register or squeak outright) than to cause it to sound airy. But having it checked can't hurt.
I'm with the others who have suggested that the reeds you're using may explain the issue you're describing. Some excellent orchestral players decide to put up with a fair amount of air hiss in the lower register because it doesn't tend to carry, and the sound the audience hears is what they're after, not the one their ears pick up when they play. If the upper register sounds the way ("perfect") you want it to, you may need to accept the airy chalumeau. The alternative may be to alter your concept of what is "bright and edgy" above the break.
You may find a mouthpiece that will reduce the airiness without changing the upper register, but it will take a lot of trial-and-error. I doubt if any commercial reed on the market will solve your dilemma.
Karl
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-07-08 23:28
Don't dismiss the suggestion about trying a softer reed out of hand. Reed selection is not a competition, it's a search for what works best in your situation to fix your specific problem. Did you use the same mouthpiece on your previous instrument?
If this airyness started when you got your E11 and wasn't present on your previous instrument, then the first thing to do is to check out the E11. It may be that you have a leak or problem condition that is more apparent in the chalumeau register.
Check out the relationship between the G# and A keys in the lower register. There should be a slight clearance between the operation on the A key and the G# key. If there isn't, adjust the screw on the A key until there is. If there's nothing obvious, have a tech look at the instrument.
Try recording yourself playing, what you are hearing is not what a more distant listener will hear. Good luck.
Tony F.
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Author: TianL
Date: 2012-07-09 03:32
try a 2.5 V12... you may feel you have other problems with them, but the airy low register issue should be instantly resolved
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Author: Noah K
Date: 2012-07-09 03:45
I used to use V12 3.5, but they were getting to be on the softer side. So 2.5, yeah that's WAY too soft. I really liked V12's until they got soft, so decided to experiment with the 56 Rue Lepic. I might just go back to V12's and get a 3.5+.
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Author: mihalis
Date: 2012-07-09 05:15
Noah
You said that if you file your reeds you are getting a better lower register.
If there was a leak you will still be getting an airy low register.
So, try a slightly softer reed.
Mike.
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Author: Noah K
Date: 2012-07-09 17:26
Softer reeds ruin my upper register. I'd rather have my lower register suffer of airiness than my upper suffer of bad tone. I guess posting on here was pretty pointless, since I've dismissed all of your ideas, but it's just one of those things that you'd have to hear to understand. oh well! thanks anyways!
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Author: Merlin_Williams
Date: 2012-07-09 18:38
Noah K wrote:
> Softer reeds ruin my upper register. I'd rather have my lower
> register suffer of airiness than my upper suffer of bad tone. I
> guess posting on here was pretty pointless, since I've
> dismissed all of your ideas, but it's just one of those things
> that you'd have to hear to understand. oh well! thanks anyways!
>
So bad tone in the low register is OK?
The trap we can fall into with excessively hard reeds is the the upper register gets rounded off nicely - but there's a price. Airy low register and difficult articulation. Classical saxophonists often fall prey to this problem too.
I played a Vandoren B40 for about 20 years. Worked great with a #3 blue box Vandoren. More recently, I've been playing a Grabner K13* with #3.5 V12s. Great low and high registers with the Grabner, and the blowing resistance is very similar to what I was used to.
The B40 I played has the same tip opening and lay as the B45 - but it has a broader tip rail, which helps damp some upper partials. Worth a try - but try a sensible setup like a #3 on it.
Jupiter Canada Artist/Clinician
Stratford Shakespeare Festival musician
Woodwind Doubling Channel Creator on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WoodwindDoubling
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