 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: kjeks
Date: 2012-09-15 00:29
My teacher had suggested that I try these a while back. He had switched to them from V12's and seemed to be loving them, so I gave them a try. I usually use a V12 4 (on a Vandoren M13), so I got a box of 4's. It felt and sounded like I was using a V12 3.5 or even a 3. So I got a box of GCE 4.5's.
It felt nice and free blowing, but the sound was different. It sounded "reedier" (like an oboe).
Has anybody else found the sound to be this way? Or that the reeds themselves are very soft compared to V12's?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DAVE
Date: 2012-09-15 02:30
I play these reeds. To me they produce a fuller sound without me having to PUSH. The Vandorens I have just feel uncooperative. I really like the GCE reeds. Also, I can play almost every reed in the box.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: NBeaty
Date: 2012-09-15 20:18
Generally, I find the evolutions to be much harder than vandoren (blue box or v12).
The heel of the reed is quite thick (more like a 56) and the cut is somewhat resistant also. I find the 3's to be playable out of the box, and 3.5's occasionally playable out of the box.
The approach to embouchure and air support is going to be different for both reeds, so don't expect them to play their best and most EFFICIENT manner when approached the same way.
FWIW: I played a colleagues setup that had a GCSE 4 and I could only get a sound with a large quantity of jaw pressure and blowing my brains out.
Life is too short- play reeds that won't injure you or make your life harder than it needs to be with the clarinet.
A good test is to form an embouchure with just enough pressure to form a seal around the mouthpiece, and play. A reasonably good sound should come out, perhaps less focus, but should be around 80% of a good quality sound.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kjeks
Date: 2012-09-17 15:46
If the vamp of the reed was shorter than the facing of the mouthpiece, would that make it feel easier to play? I'm just asking because I've noticed that the GCEs have a shorter vamp than my V12s, and my mouthpiece (Vandoren M13) has a long facing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-09-19 08:32
These reeds can vary a lot as you play on them. The strength drops alot because of the cane quality. Rico tries to select the best cane for their designer reeds however Rico cuts cane polls too early, often up to 2 years early. The cane isn't dense enough for hard playing and the cane fibers take a beating then the reeds collapse and break down to about a 1 strenght reed.
Lately Vandoren has had cane shortages too.
I've had good luck with the VD-56 reeds from this past March shipment.
Yes they break down like all reeds but the sound is quite good and holds up here in southern California. I've been using them for the studio work and for orchestra playing. A good reed will last me about a month with 4 hours of playing per day; I take Mondays off.
When I find a few boxes that play well I usually buy most or all of the stock. It may cost a lot, but you won't have to worry about reeds for a few years.
I'm not into brand names at all. I'm after what works. I still have several boxes of Morre' reeds from the 1970's. Yes they still play and are used only for recordings. Warning - Marks Music in Pennsylvania has some but they are horrible. I believe these were the leftovers before Morre' closed shop. They are worse than playing on a 1 strength reed.
You can read some of my past posts. The only reeds I won't play on are Rico reeds of any kind. Never! Sadly the lawsuit against Rico hasn't settled yet. I've turned down a few offers so I will tell everyone about it once the case is over.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2012-09-19 08:34)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
