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Re: What is wrong with Buffet?

Author: NBeaty
Date: 2017-10-29 22:07

A few things:

1) Reeds

"only get 2 -3 from a box of Vandorens or Ricos". I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt and assume you mean performance level reeds straight out of the box. The ratio should be much more like 2-3 that aren't acceptable for use. So often, the more someone complains about reeds- the more likely it is to assume they are doing something else wrong. Issues with embouchure, voicing, mouthpiece choice, reed strength, and to an extent instrument and barrel/bell choice seem to contribute to people have difficulty finding good reeds.

Also, better players tend to have better reeds that last longer. Coincidence? I think not. It's like when a teacher and student are playing the same reed brand/cut/strength and after a week of each person breaking in reeds, the teacher's 5th best reed from their box is better than the best of the students.

2) Calling people idiots, while often satisfying, is neither professional nor effective as an argument. Like if I were to say, "It's moronic to say that anyone using vandorens or ricos are doing so only because their teacher said so", I would feel satisfaction for calling someone out on saying something that's blatantly wrong, but it would not (and should not) convince anyone of anything.

3) 13 series mouthpieces

Yes, they play lower and if you're in an orchestra that plays 442, you'll probably have issues with standard length barrels. However, they've been used in orchestras across the US and Canada off and on for years, by players better than you or I will ever be, playing perfectly well in tune. As Eric mentioned, some of their renditions of the blanks play lower than others and therefore some of them make the journey up to pitch too much work (having to get a much shorter barrel or play with more jaw pressure than ideal). But as a broad statement, they are still functional mouthpieces by and large.

4) Why I haven't switched to Yamaha

They don't sound as good when I've tried them.

5) "don't want to sound like Wright/Marcellus anymore"

People should maintain a healthy respect for the greats of the past, but no one should be trying to sound the same as anyone else. Certainly we should try to incorporate qualities of others when they are better qualities than our own, as we always have room for improvement. However, the attempts to copy (whether it be Wright/Marcellus or Morales) are generally a waste of time. As Eric said, it's been done before and you'll never sound exactly like them anyway. However, allowing a healthy respect for those of the past (and present) and allowing the aspects of their playing that made them great to influence our thoughts and concepts is a good thing.

6) Making broad generalizations

Don't.

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mproper2009

2017-10-18 02:12