 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2019-01-22 14:00
When did strength and size get confused when it comes to reeds?
In future if anyone asks "What size reed do you use/should I use on [instrument]?", I'm going to reply with "I use [instrument] reeds on [instrument]."
Is it the same tine the words 'tune' and 'song' got mixed up?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris_C ★2017
Date: 2019-01-22 14:47
Fully agree. The answer to "what size reed should I use on my Eflat clarinet" is often "I use Bflat". Ditto using alto sax reeds on alto clarinet.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2019-01-22 14:55
Alto sax reeds on alto clarinet and tenor sax reeds on bass clarinet are fine, but they're still types or kinds of reeds as opposed to sizes.
It's not like they're buying shoes or clothing or a big telly.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Dibbs
Date: 2019-01-22 15:13
I see that written online but assume that the author is either not a native English speakers or a beginner. In either case it's excusable but maybe we should gently correct them.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-01-22 16:14
Dealing with students regularly I have become habituated to the "noise."
Interestingly though there is a greater tendency for different SIZES to be used more freely these days.
Many great players who double on Eb use Bb reeds. German players can use Boehm Eb flat reeds on their Bb horns and even Boehm Bb reeds (though the size is WAY too big for the German mouthpiece. Somewhere I saw a Leister video where he basically said he's used every kind of Vandoren reed on his Oehlers).
So, I realize that wasn't the thrust of this thread but it's an "ironicle" twist on the theme.
....................Paul Aviles (size: extra large)
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2019-01-22 18:06
Not your point, but different size reeds can be annoying; even the Legere "European cut" reeds are way wide, and if you play a relatively narrow mouthpiece, that can be a problem. Similarly, some "German cut" reeds won't work on wide mouthpieces. Maybe an EU agency could start imposing fines for noncompliance with a standardized reed size.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2019-01-22 18:12
I heard a horror story about a local music shop where a parent had gone in to buy a clarinet reed for their kid, but were sold a tenor sax reed instead and another parent was sold an Eb clarinet reed. The same shop also hired out an A clarinet to a beginner and a solid silver flute instead of an entry level one.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2019-01-22 18:24
Chris P wrote:
> When did strength and size get confused when it comes to reeds?
>
I think most (if not all) of the time "size" is used by players who are either new to reed instruments or self-taught and haven't been indoctrinated into the correct jargon. I try when I answer posts here or students' questions in my studio to just make sure I use the term "strength" and don't reinforce the idea of "size" at my end of the discussion.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-01-22 20:14
Dorjepismo,
Can you be specific on what the problem is with wider reeds on narrow facings. Does this affect the sound, or one's ability to play properly?
................Paul Aviles
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2019-01-22 20:32
It can affect the sound, and in an extreme case can cause air to leak out from where the reed overhangs the rails. With Legeres, I get a lot better and more authentic sound if I sand them narrower, but then you can get loose fibers hanging off the reed. I've mostly tried them on a Pillinger, and he tends to make some very narrow mouthpieces.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-01-22 21:06
Hmmmm..........
I don't know that I have that happen with air leaking from around where reed extends past edges of rails (there are plenty of folks using standard Bb reeds on Eb clarinet mouthpieces). One thing that I could think though as a possible factor is that most ligatures bind AROUND the reed. With the reed sticking out on both sides of a facing the ligature is actually putting stress downward on the edges of the reed. I have actually caused stress fractures on Legere European Signatures with metal ligatures that wrap the tension around the system.
The possible solution, if that is the issue is to try the BG Duo. They not only have very prominent vertical rails that only touch the MIDDLE of the reed (an exaggerated Bonade rail), they feature the same prominent rails on either side of the mouthpiece. Therefore there is NO pressure exerted on the edge of the reed at all.........voila. I don't advocate jumping on the latest gadget, but the BG Duo is perhaps the best Legere ligature bar none.
.................Paul Aviles
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