The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Reed Matching For X5

Author: Exiawolf
Date: 2015-08-12 04:19

Greetings

I recently picked up an X5 and love it's feeling and response, but before I go out and purchase extra boxes of a higher strength, I just want to see what most people pair this with. Two of the Daddario artists and another person I've seen use Reserve Classic 4's, although I've heard a few good things about 3.75's on the mpc. What do you use/recommend?
(As a note 3.5's are DEFINIETELY too soft for me on the mouthpiece.)

Reply To Message

Re: Reed Matching For X5

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2015-08-12 04:33

When I played an X0 briefly a few summers ago, I found 3-1/2+ (3.75?) Rico Reserve Classics worked well, although I eventually moved up to #4 when the weather cooled and the humidity dropped a little. Of course, d'Addario reeds are a different design than the Rico RCs of the time, so I might have a different result if I tried them now with my X0 (or the X5 I bought but never played beyond the initial test).

I know you're concerned about wasting money on reeds you may not be able to use, but what other players use really isn't a solid indication of what you will like, either. So, my suggestion, if #3-1/2 is "DEFINITELY"

too soft, would be to buy a box of #3-1/2+ and see how they work. If they turn out to be not quite what you need, you can clip the ones most nearly useable and then try a box of #4. My suspicion is that you won't go any higher than that with an X5, but different players need different kinds of response to blow against to feel comfortable.

Karl

Reply To Message

Re: Reed Matching For X5

Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2015-08-12 05:28

Hi,

I play Rico Reserve X10s and have had good luck with VanDoren Blue Box 3.5 and Rico Reserve 3.5+. However, I have pretty well switched over to Legere' reeds and find the 3.0 just right and the 3.25 a little bit stiff.

You could use my numbers as a starting point but my X10 is a tad more open and thus, I can use a little softer reed. I tried some 4.0 VDs and they were just too stiff. I hope this helps. BTW, I really like the MP. I have a whole arsenal of classic MPs (too many to name them all) to select from but always come back to the X10.

HRL

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums | Threaded View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

The Clarinet Pages

For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.