 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: fernie51296
Date: 2015-12-15 04:41
So has reed strengths changed for Vandoren? The chart here shows blue box 4's equal to V12 4's
http://www.vandoren-en.com/file/163072/
Yet here, on an older chart the blue box 4 is harder.
http://www.saxplus.com/reed-strength-chart.html
I do notice the older one does not have the new V21.
I'm asking because I was going to purchase a box of V12's online strength 4 1/2 like I normally do as they've always been pretty equal to blue box 4's. I generally switch between the two. Should I start purchasing V12's at strength 4?
Fernando
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2015-12-15 08:37
Fernando:
Looking at your evidence I'd surmise that Vandoren may believe blue box 4's to be ever so slightly harder than V12 4's but pretty much in the same category.
That said, and if I can make an analogy, we might be arguing over whether "2 scribed lines in metal, laid out 1 US Mile away from one another, is a 1/16" off or not." In other words we may be seeking a level of precision that neither really exists nor much matters in the larger scheme of things.
A maker's (including Vandoren's) particular brand of reed, for a particular (sized) instrument: say Bb/A clarinet is cut identically for all strength reeds. The manufacturer subjects the reed to a very quick mechanical test that usually involves a puff of air against the reed, for a calibrated pressure and time frame, during which the distance the reed deflects is noted. This determine's what strength box it ends up in. The less the deflection the higher strength the box it will get assigned to.
(Alternate tests might measure the force need to deflect the reed a known distance.)
Who knows what the individual reed will do once wet..once played...played often, and on what mouthpiece. Vandoren is likely dealing with tests results its found against a large sample size of reeds.
With this said, unless you really find the 4.5's absolutely too strong, stay with them, especially if you adjust reeds--which you should learn if you don't know.
We "adjusters" balk at those frustrated that a Vandoren reed often doesn't play amazing right out of the box. To us it's a reed-like piece of wood requiring testing, adjustment, and removal of material to get right. The fact that each side is symmetrical to less than a human hair's thickness is so utterly negated by the variability Mother Nature places in cane, even within the same reed, not to mention our mouth and mouthpiece variability.
Others may report different Vandoren intentions here or mistakes, or large differences in hardness within the 4 to 4.5 range. Heed their anecdotes no less than my opinion.
Post Edited (2015-12-15 08:39)
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