 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Jenn
Date: 2001-05-29 16:37
Almost every other clarinetist in my wind ensemble uses Vandoren reeds, while I've used Rico Royal for the past two years. I've been satisfied with the Rico Royals, but at the same time no more than satisfied with the tone quality. So, in search of better sound (like almost everyone on this board!) I bought a box of Vandoren reeds 2 weeks ago. I've been trying to break in 3 of the reeds for a week and a half now, and they're still not up to the quality I'd get with Rico Royal! Everyone tells me that they take forever to break in, but I thought they meant several days, not this long. I'm rotating between the 3 of them, and I get squeaks and fuzzy sound. How long does this last? Has anyone else had this problem with Vandorens? Is there a special way to break in Vandorens that might work better?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2001-05-29 16:50
First, you have to have the correct strength reed for your mp. Since VDs are generally stronger than Ricos, try one-half to one whole number strength softer. Ex: if using Rico Royals # 4, try VDs # 3.0 to 3.5. Next, as VDs are great reeds, but notoriously inconsistant, the first three reeds out of the box may not necessarily be the best. So, you should try all of the reeds and pick the ones that play the best. All of the new reeds tested should respond with a descent sound, but it may take some balancing on the sides and at the tip to make all of the new reeds playable on your mouthpiece. Reed hunting and taming is one of the many "joys" of clarineting. Best of Luck to You!!!!!!!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-05-29 17:34
try a very, very fine sandpaper (320) and sand the back side a little at a time. Or try rubbing the back side of the reed over a piece of typing paper. this may help.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-05-29 17:54
Bob -
I like to use sandpaper finer than 320, which, particularly when it's a new sheet, takes off stuff too fast. I use mostly 400 or 600, or a large flat file, which works even slower.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinet713
Date: 2001-05-29 19:16
What is reed rush and where do you get it?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: New Music Parent
Date: 2001-05-29 19:29
I've used a regular file from a hardware store. It's a Mill Bastard file. Very basic and does a great job for warped reeds. I bought it about 8 years ago for around $5.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: connie
Date: 2001-05-29 23:53
Reed rush is a product, looks like dried grass of some kind (surely someone out there knows the technical name!) and it's sold in some catalogs...try WWand BW or International Music. It's used for fine-tuning reeds. I've been told to use it dry, and I've been told to get it wet first. I used it some, till our local pro showed me how to fold a small square of sandpaper into a point, like with a paper airplane, and I get more consistent results with this than I did with the reed rush. FWIW, my daughter was required to get it by her clarinet instructor at JMU.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Suzanne
Date: 2001-05-30 00:46
I use Vandoren reeds, and I take forever to break them in, but then they also play forever. I have one that I started breaking in in October, that I'm still playing on. What I do is play them very, very little at a time, over the first two to three weeks, (like, not more than a minute the first week, two the second, three to four the third), and gradually increase the time as the reed ages. When they are still in the breaking-in stage, for me the key is to stop playing as soon as the reed sounds a little bit "tired" and definitely before they are even close to getting waterlogged (you know, when the tip is so soaked that you can practically see through it?) This probably sounds like a painstaking process, but if you open one box every two weeks and break in, say, the best four in the box, over time you will have a good handful of faithful reeds that are really stable. I like them best when they are 2-3 months old (!), although, I know that I break them in pretty slow. Just my experience--and I have tried everything with Vandorens over the years. They are the best reeds in my opinion, when they are broken in right.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bart Hendrix
Date: 2001-05-30 14:26
Reed rush is dried stem sections of a jointed rush (Equisetum -- sometimes called horse tail). It looks like a dried grass because that is basically what it is. The stems have lognitudinal ridges that work as a fine abrasive when rubbed on a reed. When I was playing regularly (30 to 40 years ago) that was all I ever used to balance reeds. I had a razor blade and reed trimmer for the heavy work, but only rush for the fine details. I always used it dry on a moist reed, though I see no reason why it would not work wet as well. Since I restarted, however, I have not found any -- I'll take another look at the WW&BW catalog.
If all else fails, I'll find a marsh and harvest my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
