 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: MGT91123
Date: 2013-04-06 23:17
Hi,
So today, along with a Buffet E-11, I chose a Vandoren 5RV traditional. All works great, expect I'm squeaking on the higher register. I've also had this same problem on a B-45. Is it just me, or should I try something else for a MP.
MG
Buffet E-11
Buffet Moening Barrel, 65 mm, Backun Protege 65mm
Vadoren BD5 Mouthpiece
Vandoren M/O series gold Lig.
Gonzala's FOF Reeds 2.5
Post Edited (2013-04-06 23:18)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2013-04-07 00:20
Check with a good teacher.
“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."
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Author: curlyev
Date: 2013-04-07 01:02
It could be that you are adjusting to the new mouthpiece, but my "guess" is either that you need a harder reed than a 3 or that you need a more advanced mouthpiece, depending on how long you've been playing. I play on a hard rubber vintage blank G8 mouthpiece now, but I also have an old 2RV (the earlier version of the 5RV) that I can still play.
I do agree that checking with a good teacher/professional would be a good idea. I just know that if I tried to play a Rico Grand Concert Select at a 3 strength, I wouldn't have a very good sound in the upper register. Good luck and happy playing!!! Congrats on your new purchase!
Clarinet: Wooden Bundy 1950s
Mthpc: WW Co. B6 refaced by Kurtzweil
Lig: Various Rovners
Barrel/Bell: Backun
Reeds: Legere 3.75
OKC Symphonic Band (just started this summer)
*playing 22 years (with a 5 year hiatus) and counting*
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Author: clarinetics
Date: 2013-04-07 04:03
In my opinion, I do not think needing a higher level mouthpiece has to have anything to do with squeaking. Experiment with the amount of mouthpiece you take in. I play on a 5RV and I have to take in less mouthpiece than say on an M15. If all else fails, try a harder reed. Always question yourself with ways to get better.
Alexander May
Buffet R-13 Prestige
Vandoren 5RV
Vandoren Optimum
Vandoren V12
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2013-04-07 19:13
A 3 blue box reed should work fine on a B45 even a 2 1/2 should enable altissimo without a problem.
The 5RV will generally require a reed between 1/2 and 1 stronger than the B45 so a 3 should work but may be better with 3 1/2.
Vandoren mouthpieces are used by very many players including some very good professional players so you don't need anything more to play the entire register.
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Author: curlyev
Date: 2013-04-07 20:42
Clarinetics, I do think you are probably right about the "level" of mouthpiece. That was just a thought. It is possible, but unlikely.
The only reason I mentioned reed strength is because of that particular brand (Grand Concert Select) at a 3 not being strong enough for me personally, so of course there are plenty of people for whom it would work nicely. If it were a Vandoren, then a 3 would work fine for me. Choosing a reed is such a personal thing, though, and we are all so different and unique in this respect.
I think it's just an adjustment period right now. You can experiment until you get the right combo for you. Keep plugging away, my friend!
Clarinet: Wooden Bundy 1950s
Mthpc: WW Co. B6 refaced by Kurtzweil
Lig: Various Rovners
Barrel/Bell: Backun
Reeds: Legere 3.75
OKC Symphonic Band (just started this summer)
*playing 22 years (with a 5 year hiatus) and counting*
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2013-04-08 16:28
Buy a box of Blue Box 3's and you can be pretty sure it's not a reed problem. The mouthpiece is a bit on the open side, but should work just fine with a soft reed (although the GCS 3 is probably a bit too soft).
If you still have these problems, it's an embouchure\voicing\air problem.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-04-08 18:49
B45 is quite open (119). 5RV has a medium tip opening (106) on the edge of what most players would call close. If the problem follows you from one to the other, it isn't likely that the mouthpieces themselves are causing the squeaks. Mouthpiece-generated squeaks usually come from damaged or very uneven facing rails, and it's not likely that both mouthpieces are damaged (but you can check). It's always possible that a different mouthpiece could allow you to play with less effort and might reduce tension, but the only way to know is to try other mouthpieces - particularly ones that aren't made by Vandoren, since you've already tried two of their models and had the same problem.
If the reeds you'e using don't respond well (whether the strength is ideal or not), they may be more sensitive to something you're doing to encourage the squeaks - a squeak after all is only an unintended and uncontrolled harmonic of the note you intend to play, so anything in the setup that is a little unstable will make it easier to produce the accidental harmonic. BTW, it's a little hard to imagine that the same reeds play well on both the B45 and the 5RV.
One problem is that simply blaming "embouchure" produces an almost impossibly wide target and misses other potential issues. Squeaks can result from pinching the reed, which can result from any number of embouchure distortions.
Squeaks can also come from a reed that has a flaw - a hard spike or a very soft spot - in the tip area that can encourage the reed to vibrate in partials - probably not your problem since different reeds don't seem to stop the problem. But if you make a habit of playing every reed in the box unselectively, trying to make the less responsive ones play can introduce tension in your embouchure that can cause pinching and squeaks.
Squeaks can come from poor closure of holes, either by your fingers or by a pad. Has the instrument been checked by a repair tech?
The player can encourage squeaks by taking too much mouthpiece, and too little mouthpiece in your mouth can cause pinching.
You really need to track the problem down more analytically. Making blind embouchure changes hoping they will help can make things worse as easily as not.
You didn't really describe the squeaking problem except that it happens in the "upper register." Do you mean the clarion (2nd) register or the altissimo (3rd)? Does it happen only when you tongue a note, or do the squeaks happen in slurred intervals? Does it tend to happen more on specific notes than others? These are, of course, things an in-person teacher could easily observe, but for you to get any meaningful help here, you'll need to provide the kind of detail that can help narrow the problem down.
Karl
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-04-09 12:11
Good advice, Karl. One possible correction. The squeak may not be a harmonic but a vibration of the reed which is not controlled by the clarinet bore.
Steve Ocone
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