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Re: M13L VS BD5

Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2018-03-28 22:17

Hi jeffyx, I just got through listening to the YouTube video of Gregory Raden. I noticed two things of importance...one in the video and one in your last posting response.

1) Gregory never mentioned playing on a #3 reed. If I remember correctly, he stated that he plays on a 3.5, 4, and sometimes 4.5, V12 reed as well as a 3.5 Blue Box.

2) You stated: "However, I have problems keeping the same dark resonant tone in the altissimo and upper clarion because I use softer reeds (3.0 blue box) for the M13L."

So, two things: Gregory plays a slightly stiffer reed. Second, you stated that 3.5 Blue Box reeds are too hard and cause you to "bite". Biting simply means a player is positioning the reed closer to the facing in order to produce a sound and in doing so changes the "texture" of the tone.

Now, from the Vandoren website, I clicked on "reeds" then clicked on "reed comparison index". According to their chart, a 3.5, V12 is equal to a 3.25 Traditional or Blue Box. As simplistic as it may sound, perhaps just changing to a 3.5, V12 reed might be a possible, easy solution for you.

If that doesn't help, I suggest sending your mouthpiece the NBeaty for an evaluation. Your M13L may simply be slightly too open. His contact information can be found on the Clarinet Mouthpiece Refacers list which is here: http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=461271&t=461271 I regard Nathan as an excellent refacer. Your mouthpiece may simply need a small "tweak" here and there to make a world of difference in your playing.

Also, please keep in mind that playing in the altissimo requires a slightly different approach. If this were not so, there wouldn't be so many articles available on this very topic through a simple Google search. And, doing a search on YouTube will also yield a fair number of videos with information on how to play the third register with greater ease.

I hope the above is useful to you.

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