 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Thomas Desrosiers
Date: 2013-08-01 17:28
Hello Everyone,
After playing on the same vandoren mouthpiece, both me and my instructor agreed on purchasing a new one. I settled on a Clark W Fobes San Francisco model with a CF+ facing. However, when I first tested this mouthpiece, I was using some already broken-in vandoren 3 1/2's, so they were a little softer than newly opened ones. The intonation with these already broken-in reeds was excellent, but I'm having a hard time breaking in new 3 1/2 reeds, as they are too hard. This is partially because the tip opening of the CF+ is about .06 mm larger than the M13 Lyre I used to play. Does this mean that I have to use slightly softer reeds (such as vandoren V12 3 1/2's) or should I try to adjust to the new setup?
Also, I am in marching band, and I need to get a legere plastic reed for the season. My instructor said that I should get a 3.75 legere signature reed and we can shave and sand it down when it arrives. Does anyone know how this can be done? I don't know any reed-cutting or shaving techniques that will reduce the hardness of a reed.
Thank you all for your consideration.
-Thomas Desrosiers
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2013-08-01 19:11
You might want to look at Clark Fobes' clarinet mouthpiece chart to see how his mouthpiece tip openings and facings compare to those of Vandoren mouthpieces: http://www.clarkwfobes.com/mp-chart.html Clark suggests "subtracting '5' from the Vandoren tip measurement to find the rough equivalent in my facings."
The Vandoren reeds you used to test the mouthpiece could have been slightly softer than 3 1/2 strength when you started breaking them in. When you purchase a box of 3 1/2s, some will be slightly harder and some slightly softer (I heard this from a Vandoren rep). Don't hesitate to try a slightly softer reed.
About marching band . . . you could get a Legere Signature and adjust it, but I think that's a terrible idea. Some people do shave and sand these reeds, but it isn't something the company recommends. You could easily damage it and make it unplayable, and that would be a wasted $25. My recommendation would be to buy some Rico Plasticovers. They're an excellent reed for marching band, and my own kids used them with great results. I have private students who use them for marching, and they're also quite happy with them.
Let's put it this way--when you're outdoors on the marching field, I'm assuming with a plastic clarinet, it's often hard to hear the clarinets and flutes. Nobody will ever know if you're using basic Ricos or expensive Legeres.
Post Edited (2013-08-02 00:12)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-08-01 20:30
Softer reeds may solve the problem, or learning to adjust 3-1/2s might work. The only way really to know is to experiment. Posters may try suggest different strengths that may work better with the Fobes CF+, but there are too many individual variables involved and such suggestions will be educated guesses at best.
Note that, although Clark describes the CF+ facing as 1.00 mm, he compares it to the 5RV which Vandoren indicates is 1.06 (the M13L is listed on Vandoren's chart as 1.02). Clearly, Clark is using a different tip gauge than Vandoren. I'm not sure what Vandoren considers "ML" (medium-long) and "MC" (medium short), but since none are listed as short, I'd suspect that your old M13L (ML) might be a little longer a curve than the 17 mm indicated for the CF+, which also would cause the CF+ to be a little more resistant. And not every M13L or CF+ is identical to every other, so there's enough variability to make a difference just in the facings, not to even mention the internal designs of the pieces.
Try some lighter reeds and see if you like them better.
Same with the synthetic reed - it may be cleaner to try a 3-3/4 Legere and then exchange it for one that's harder or softer if it doesn't work well. I've been told that Forestones are workable with sandpaper or (I assume) a reed knife, but I don't remember hearing much about players' successfully adjusting Legeres. And doing anything to a Legere voids their replacement guarantee.
Karl
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Author: curlyev
Date: 2013-08-01 21:02
I don't personally know how to adjust a Legere, but I know it can be done. There are some earlier threads where I have seen people discussing it. You might try searching past threads. So much awesome info. here!
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: Tony F
Date: 2013-08-02 05:37
I've had some limited success with adjusting Legere reeds, although I wouldn't particularly recommend it. It's easier to make them harder than softer. Never touch the tip or the area behind the tip. Material can be scraped from the shoulders of the reed, always working towards the tip and testing frequently. The scraper needs to be sharp, as the reed material is quite hard. Legere advise that a reed can be softened by briefly dipping it in boiling water, but the effect seems to be temporary. They can be clipped, but the clipper must be sharp and capable of a clean clip with no raggy edges. Only the slightest amount should be clipped, far less than you would clip with a cane reed.
Tony F.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-08-02 02:00
Legere suggests softening the reed slightly by dipping it in hot water in some way. You might check their website - I don't remember if the water is supposed to be at the boiling point or how long the exposure is supposed to be. Might be useful if a Legere is only slightly hard but the next strength down closes too easily.
Karl
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Author: Thomas Desrosiers
Date: 2013-08-02 17:54
Thank you all for your wonderful advise. I may take the plasticovers into consideration, or see what mt instructor recommends.
After breaking in some new 3 1/2's, it seems that there will be some that are too hard and others that are too soft, so I don't think my problem will continue once the playable reeds are broken in.
Thanks again.
-Thomas Desrosiers
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Author: hgp_atx
Date: 2013-08-05 03:19
Just buy some sandpaper. That can sand the plastic reed. As for reeds, Vandoren Traditional blue box reeds are harder in general than V12s so yes I would Recommend trying Vandoren v12s.
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