 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: as9934
Date: 2014-08-12 03:35
Just got my box of D'addario reserve classics. 3 the right strength for my B45?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Wind Ensemble
Buffet E11 clarinet , Vandoren Masters CL6 13 series mouthpiece w/ Pewter M/O Ligature, Vandoren V12 3.5
Yamaha 200ad clarinet, Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, Rovner ligature
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pewd
Date: 2014-08-12 03:55
No one can answer that except you.
Your mouth is shaped slightly differently than others, and you have a different level of playing experience, etc.
The only way to know is try a box.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-08-12 04:08
You go through the box, five minutes per reed and once you have them arranged in a tentative order of which plays best, you should know if they are spot on for you, too soft, or too hard (keeping in mind that they will play just a bit hard for the first two days like this).
............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: as9934
Date: 2014-08-12 04:39
So what if they are all too soft? Am I just out of luck? Because I can't be wasting $30 on reeds that are to soft. As it says in the description I was playing on Rico grand concert select thick 3.5 on my Vandoren 5rvl.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Wind Ensemble
Buffet E11 clarinet , Vandoren Masters CL6 13 series mouthpiece w/ Pewter M/O Ligature, Vandoren V12 3.5
Yamaha 200ad clarinet, Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, Rovner ligature
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pewd
Date: 2014-08-12 08:59
Wasting? Think of it as a learning experience.
Unless your teacher will sell you 2 or 3 (instead of a full box) to try, there is no way to predict the outcome. I sell individual ones to my students, but you're way too far away... You'll just have to try a box, or perhaps, will another student sell you 2 or 3 from their box for you to try out?
Good luck.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-08-12 17:56
Just be aware of clipping that you should only do as little as possible. The reed is getting thicker as you move down the length, so you begin to get unwarranted resistance this way unless you also use reed rush (or extra fine sandpaper) to thin the tip down again once clipped.
I would ask: Why do you want to move from a 5RV Lyre to a B45 anyway? What was the problem with the 5RV Lyre that you are 'solving' with the B45?
I find that more open moutpieces have the issue of forcing YOU to control timbre and pitch to a greater degree as you move note-to-note, register-to-register. It can get exhausting.
...................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ErezK
Date: 2014-08-12 18:36
Going through a full box would give you a good representative sample, but many stores sell individual reeds as well.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-08-12 19:08
I can't agree with Paul about playing them for five minutes the first day. You have to break them in slowly, especially the first two days. Read my website articles of breaking in a reed if you want to read what I've discovered as a pro for the best way to break in a new reed and how to care for it so it lasts. The first day is critical.
As far as which number to use. Every one is different because everyone's embouchure, jaw pressure, opening, air pressure etc. is different. One person may need a # 3 and someone else may need a 5 or a 2. It's just different for everyone. You just have to try it and judge up or down from there.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: as9934
Date: 2014-08-12 20:50
Unfortunately I am unable to to try just one or two reeds because my local music store only sells blue box vandorens so I have to order them online. I tried the 3s last night and they were ok but not great. As for why I switched from the 5RV lyre to the b45 it is because it gives me a richer more resonant sound and better tuning unlike my 5RVL which was constantly sharp and had a tone which I didn't like. I like having greater control because it gives me more influence on my sound . Unfortunately I don't have a reed clipper so there is no way to harden the reeds but I don't think I will need to.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Wind Ensemble
Buffet E11 clarinet , Vandoren Masters CL6 13 series mouthpiece w/ Pewter M/O Ligature, Vandoren V12 3.5
Yamaha 200ad clarinet, Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, Rovner ligature
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-08-12 21:58
Hey Ed,
I read your reed break-in process and find no objection at all. I do tend to "jump right in" a bit with my process, but only threw out "five minutes" to guide those who just pull one reed out of a brand new box and go through a 12 hour marching band camp with it.
Having to buy a box (though initially harder on your wallet) is the ONLY way to get a "mean" or "average" out of reeds so you can tell roughly what is good, and what is bad. So you are LUCKY.
There are two other pieces of advice I'd throw out about mouthpieces. As taken from Tom Puwolski on this board, do a "SQUAWK Test" to determine the right spot for your lip placement: Play an open "G" starting close to the tip of the mouthpiece and gradually move further down (while continuing to play) until you get a great big "SQUAWK." Just back off (closer to the tip) slightly from that point and THIS is the optimum spot to set your embouchure (on ANY mouthpiece....no guessing).
Also, to achieve a big, round, resonant sound (one that allows you to feel vibrations under your fingers at all times), you only need to push your air firmly from your core (pushing with your abdominals) and focus your air by having your tongue in the position as if you were saying the sound "EEEE," and finally, by ensuring that you are tonguing with the tip of your tongue to the tip of the reed (just below the edge). AIR is the secret to a big sound. The mouthpiece only makes things a little easier (or not) depending on how you play.
................Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2014-08-12 22:28)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
