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Re: Mouthpiece for V12 5 reeds?

Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2016-04-06 17:11

Sam:

I hear you: "mouthpieces for V12 (or at least Vandoren) reeds in strength 5."

I don't know.

What I find odd is that your acceptable range of reed strength for an M15: a slightly more open (3/100 mm) mouthpiece than the M13, but still well within the range of small tipped long facing mouthpieces, is much less than the tip opening difference might suggest (3-3.5).

http://www.vandoren-en.com/Traditional-Bb-Clarinet-Mouthpieces_a159.html

While we all have to play on the setup that makes us comfortable, the link at the above referenced website has itself a link to Vandoren mouthpieces and suggested reed strengths. Never does Vandoren call for the M13 to take a stronger Vandoren reed brand than the M15, and sometimes less.

You've chosen to not include reasons why strength 5 reeds are your thing. Okay. But know that all reeds of a brand are cut identically, to--at least in Vandoren's case--less than a human hair's difference in thickness under Quality Assurance testing. It's mother nature that provides strength variability, not reed cut. Reeds are deflected by Vandoren with a puff of air of known strength and duration. Less deflection under this test=stronger box reed. Who knows what happens once the reed is wet, user-adjusted, and played over a period of time. So take reed strength with a "grain of salt."

When students have asked what strength reed should I use--hoping for some high numbered answer that's akin to "whatcha bench," I ask them--with deliberate tongue in cheek-what size reed someone who makes their own reeds uses. Please be careful with numbers here. Even if you've somehow inherited a boatload of #5's, learning reed adjustment--if you're not familiar with it--might be the single best use of your time and money.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chxpjIIZmPA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOO5S4vxi0o

Several mouthpiece makers (e.g.) http://www.clarkwfobes.com/pages/mouthpiece-chart offer suggestions on what size reeds best fit their product offerings, or what their mouthpieces most closely resemble in resistance to another mouthpiece maker's offerings.

With no disrespect intended, my wife might say that you've "not only asked her to find a dress to match the handbag [when it's usually the reverse] but that the handbag's pattern is a Jackson Pollack abstract [hard to match.]"

Post Edited (2016-04-06 17:13)

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Mouthpiece for V12 5 reeds? new

samoma1

2016-04-05 14:46