 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2016-09-13 01:51
If people have just played with good reeds then change to another and that reed just sounds stuffy, hard to blow, squawks, and have to adjust fingers and embouchure and still not good, is there a ecommended procedure to go through? Like figure the day is bad for that reed and try another day and switch to another? Or analyze, adjust, rewet and keep trying? I know a reed can be good one day and bad another. And if dont play much may need a warm up time. But if takle another reed and it instantly works better, do I just wait and try again later? Wasting an awful lot of practice time to sit there analyzing reed and technique when another reed works well.
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2016-09-13 02:34
I've been studying oboe, which seems to be just what you describe, I waste tons of time on reeds, and they really do change every day, even during a session. Clarinet reeds should be more trivial. I would not spend much time on a bum reed, not if there are some available that play.
That said, most reeds can easily be made playable in a short period of time using the ride Rideneur ATG system, which I highly recommend. The system includes a booklet and DVD that are critical for learning to "finish" reeds.
Jim
Jim C.
CT, USA
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2016-09-13 03:16
I have plenty of reeds and usually just play one each day for 15 - 20 minutes and use next the next day. But if I get to one that was not as good I dont know what to do. Hate to start messing with and changing them and today I just took out yesterday's and it was much better. may just start noting its performance and go on to next reed instead of wasting time with one that seems poor. Then if record shows consistently poor I may take time to examine it other than practice time. They are 2, 2.5, 3 strengths and several different brands, and played on 14 times since break in.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2016-09-13 04:55
I play every reed I have. Every one. I want to know what it feels like to fight through and have the capability to in the event I need to. So stuffy, light, uneven, etc, I play it. I also use it as opportunities to figure out how to make a reed respond better by sliding it up or down, left or right, askew, using different ligatures, etc.
Now for a PERFORMANCE, I only use whatever is responding best that day. But for practice, I use them all, and I make very very small, if any, adjustments.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2016-09-13 07:28
If you search Youtube on "Clarinet reed adjustments" you will find all the information you need.
Tony F.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2016-09-13 15:30
I have less problems with 56 Rue Lepic than others ... better balanced out of box, fairly consistent and seem to be stable with proper break-in. Typical small adjustment on balance and you are in business.
If you play 3 1/2 and 3 1/2+ strengths, Vandoren has helped us out by effectively offering 1/4 strength grades.
Tom
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2016-09-13 17:45
I think Tony F's advice is the best. As several have, I recommend the ATG as a great way to get started on reed adjustment.
Right now you have two choices: learn about reed preparation and adjustment, or don't learn about it.
If you feel you don't have the time to learn and employ techniques to improve your reeds, AND bad reeds are interfering with your practice substantially: just throw out the ones that are wasting your time.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-09-13 18:16
sfalexi wrote:
> I play every reed I have. Every one. I want to know what it
> feels like to fight through and have the capability to in the
> event I need to. So stuffy, light, uneven, etc, I play it.
I wouldn't argue with you that you find some benefit in doing this, but I don't think it's a good practice for someone who isn't secure about his technique and sound concept. It's too easy, IMO, for an inexperienced player to develop bad habits by responding to reeds that don't play well.
Tobin wrote:
> Right now you have two choices: learn about reed preparation
> and adjustment, or don't learn about it.
>
> If you feel you don't have the time to learn and employ
> techniques to improve your reeds, AND bad reeds are interfering
> with your practice substantially: just throw out the ones that
> are wasting your time.
This is spot on. There are lots of players who just don't fool with reeds. They take one out of the box. If it plays well, they use it until it doesn't. If it's a clunker, it goes in the trash can and they get out the next one. Other players work on adjusting less stellar reeds until either they play acceptably or they've been irretrievably compromised. The one group spends more money and less time on reeds, the other spends more time and less money. Either can be justified. Your choice.
Of course, increasingly the third choice for many has become synthetic reeds.
I don't find that "wait and see what it feels like tomorrow" works very well. Temperature and humidity have some influence on the way a reed plays if it's marginal, but a reed that just doesn't respond today probably won't respond any better in tomorrow's atmospheric conditions if you're still using the same mouthpiece. I keep a lot of reeds around that didn't play well when I took them out of the box, but only because I don't know what mouthpiece I'm going to be using next year or five years down the road.
Karl
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2016-09-14 01:06
I usually practice in the same room with my parrots. If a reed sounds decent but is too hard or maybe stuffy in the low register, I will work on it, but it it's like the one you described, I give it to one of the parrots. A competent parrot can turn a clarinet reed completely into toothpicks in about a minute, and it's pretty fun to watch.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-09-14 03:14
Just hope it isn't laced with insecticide.
Karl
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2016-09-14 05:34
Uh. What? Karl?
Brings to mind Alkan's really quite funny Marcia Funebre sulla morte d'un Pappagallo. But I'm having trouble understanding your reference to insecticide.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-09-14 06:07
Philip Caron wrote:
> But I'm having trouble understanding
> your reference to insecticide.
dorjepismo wrote:
> A competent parrot
> can turn a clarinet reed completely into toothpicks in about a
> minute, and it's pretty fun to watch.
I'm assuming they're doing this with their beaks. Bob Bernardo has already very publicly complained here about one major reed maker he worked for and their heavy use of insecticides, putting players in danger.
It was sent with tongue in cheek and maybe lacked a little in taste (although William's parrots apparently like the taste well enough).
Karl
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2016-09-14 06:42
Quote:
The one group spends more money and less time on reeds, the other spends more time and less money. Either can be justified. Your choice.
Well said Karl!
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2016-09-14 17:37
I try to improve reeds, up to a point (got to keep those cheapskate credentials up-to-date or else my flea market karma might go in the trash along with some playable reeds). However, a few years ago, we discussed (semi-seriously) "giving reeds the wall-test." I've forgotten who came up with that perfect definitition of an excellent way to deal with a whole drawer-full of reeds that don't seem quite bad enough to toss but just sit there . . . and sit there . . . for years . . . .
So you hold the reed by the bark-end and jam the tip into the wall as hard as you can. Oops -- golly! That reed sure does look unplayable now, doesn't it? Bin it. No regrets.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2016-09-14 17:42)
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2016-09-14 19:19
>I'm assuming they're doing this with their beaks. Bob Bernardo has already
>very publicly complained here about one major reed maker he worked for
>and their heavy use of insecticides, putting players in danger.
Bought most of them from Bob, so they're presumably safe for this method of disposal. Hasten to add that the percentage that meet this fate before their natural lifespan has elapsed is thankfully small.
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2016-09-14 20:13
Decades ago in my first incarnation as a nobody clarinetist, I kept sort of a rogues gallery of reeds. It was a box of dead reeds that had drawn my ire, that I'd then executed by varying means. One had been smashed with a sledge hammer, one had been boiled in oil, one had been stabbed with a pointy knife, one had been run over by my car. Etc. One I hung by the "neck", a method that was in effect purely symbolic.
Looking back, it all was pretty weird, and I don't seem to have that kind of imagination any more. Except when the music indicates it.
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Author: Anton Jakimenko
Date: 2016-09-16 02:42
Im using the "legere" reeds and I must say its not bad! One reed is good to use for some month compare to the wooden reeds.
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Author: Anton Jakimenko
Date: 2016-09-16 02:44
Im using the "legere" reeds and I must say its not bad! One reed is good to use for some month compare to the wooden reeds.
Post Edited (2016-09-16 02:46)
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Author: Wes
Date: 2016-09-16 23:36
.To check my old "Earl Handlon" reeds from 1948 and toss them if they do not play well enough would not be much fun. I usually play every day and my V12 reeds often last a month or more, with good sound and tuning to high A or so. Perhaps it is good to never put a reed away wet after playing. I usually backwards scrape only the surface after playing, with a single edge blade, removing moisture and any debris, but not removing any cane. You might not wish to do this.
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2016-09-19 22:35
I can usually get most reeds to play, but sometimes it's not worth it. I would suggest using Mitchell Lurie Reeds for a while. They seem to be more consistently playable out of the box. They aren't perfect, and they typically don't last as long as other high quality reeds. At least this will give you a feel for what to expect from a playable reed.
{Edit: delete reed adjustment tips.}
Laurie (he/him)
Post Edited (2016-09-20 06:23)
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2016-09-20 06:19
Another thought: sometimes playing inconsistencies are caused by slightly misplaced fingers: not fully covering a tone hole, bumping a key between the fingers or grazing a side key.
Laurie (he/him)
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-09-21 08:44
Yes Rico/D'Addario uses pesticides. They've had plenty of chances to sue me, but haven't. I liked working there, but they messed up my life! People shouldn't play these reeds. Parrots shouldn't make toothpicks! That cracked me up!
The Steuer reeds are 100 percent pesticide free, this includes the soil, the water, fiertalizers, and have been since 1945 when they opened the company in East Germany. I talked with Vandoren's head people not long ago and they said they do NOT use pesticides on their cane so I believe them. They stopped by my booth at the ClarinetFest. Nice folks. D'Addario stopped by too, there's no hard feelings. Deep down we are all still friends and I look forward to seeing everyone in Tampa at the next Clarinetfest in Aug. 2017.
If Rico ever writes, calls, or invites me to the plant, and tells me that they no longer use pesticides I will surely let everyone know. I hope they do contact me and I look forward to that call.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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