 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: EBC
Date: 2012-11-30 01:23
Hello all,
I recently began experimenting with "cutting" B-flat/A clarinet reeds down for the E-flat, and have had enough success that I want to buy a box of the Vandoren White Master reeds that a lot of clarinettists I know (and on this board) seem to use. My dilemma is that I'm not sure what strength I should buy, and I don't really want to buy a 40$ box of reeds that I can't use. Any advice would be appreciated.
If this info helps: I play a Vandoren B44 and used to use 3.5 Vandoren E-flat reeds. The cut-down (extremely old) reeds I'm using are 3-3.5 mystery strength 56s! (Unfortunately, they've been sanded down previously, and I don't know the actual strength, but that's my best guess.)
Also, another question: is there any "research" (in the broadest possible sense ) on whether it's better to literally cut the larger reeds to fit the mouthpiece, or whether sanding is just as effective? I've been sanding (so the heel juts out over the barrel ring without pushing the reed into the mouthpiece) because I don't really have the equipment to clip the reeds. It seems to be working, but I'm still curious.
Thanks,
Eric
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2012-11-30 13:47
Cutting or sanding the back should not effect the strength of the reed, so you should continue to use what you have been. I never thought of sanding the bottom back of the reed so it would fit over a barrel ring and it seems to me it would be the same as sawing or (cringe) clipping with a trimmer of some sort. I eliminated these issues by buying a barrel with a flat section built in so I can use regular Bb reeds without cutting them.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: Bill Patry
Date: 2012-11-30 14:34
Morrie Backun sells the Eb barrels with a cut out for using Bb reeds. They work very well.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-11-30 19:02
You can also sand down your existing barrel (or bring it to your woodwind shop for having it done). Two seconds on a belt grinder, Yee-ha!, and do remove the rings first.
No, seriously, see your machinist.
--
Ben
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2012-11-30 21:23
Yes, I got my barrel from Backun with the reed cut out area. Nice barrel!
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2012-12-09 00:20
I just took off the rings as stated above. Worked great.
No thoughts on the white box reeds, other than check Vandoren's comparison chart. It should be accurate. If you play a 3.5 V12, or whatever, just check and see what's equivalent.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: EBC
Date: 2012-12-10 18:12
To Sean: As far as I know Vandoren doesn't have a chart comparing B-flat clarinet reeds (the white masters) to E-flat clarinet reeds (blue box). That was the information I was looking for, although I might have been unclear in the asking.
Anyway, for everyone out there dying to hear the end of this story (approximately no one): White Master 3s seem to be, on average, similar strength to E-flat blue box 3.5s, although, of course, with all the benefits of using the larger reed on E-flat (better response, more rounded sound, etc.)
And they all lived happily ever after.
Eric
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-12-11 02:39
It's easy and cheap to get something to clip off the butt of the reed. Go to Home Depoit or Lowes in the garden section and buy a small branch or twig pruner. You should get one for less than $10. I've used that for many years, works well on my small tigs well too. As far as $40 a box, I haven't bought a box of those reeds but that sound like much too much to me. Have you priced them on several of the mail order stores. Weiners, Woodwind, Muncy? I used Bb reeds many times, cliping off the butt but leaving the sides wide. Our Eb player uses the Black Master Bb reeds when he doesn't make his own. Sometimes you have to use a slightly softer reed on Eb than you do on clarinet to get the flexibilty but it's so different for each player and each mouthpiece. You just have to experiment somewhat. No easy answer.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: EBC
Date: 2012-12-15 23:39
Thanks for the advice on "reed pruning," I'll look into it.
As for the price, in reality it's somewhere around 35$ (I rounded up, I suppose), and if that still seems expensive, you may want to check my IP address!
Eric
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-12-16 02:11
I "borrowed" a set of my wife's gardening secateurs. So far (5 years) she hasn't noticed and they work fine.
Tony F.
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