 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2020-02-19 06:38
I've started using the Fibracell Premier reeds having finally given up on the Legeres. Why? I loved the ease of playing with the Legere European cut but did not like their sound. Too "blatty", as confirmed by recordings I made. Ugh. They were also consistently flat over the full range relative to cane reeds. I had resigned myself to going back to cane & all the trials/tribulations but just for the fun of it ordered 1 Fibracell to see how it was. My reviews indicated some people like them, many don't, so I didn't know what to expect. I am now in the first camp.
I find these to be amazing reeds that play with any mouthpiece in my collection, with any ligature. They sound very close to what I hear with cane reeds, both from my seat as well as in recordings I have made. That in itself is pretty amazing. They are generally much closer to being in tune than the Legeres as well. Since they are still a touch flat, I decided to try a new barrel. I purchased a Backun Fat Boy 1mm shorter than standard. What a difference that made! A great addition. Basically, this combination to me is the closest I've been to clarinet heaven.
So I am now playing:
Yamaha SEV (A/Bb)
Woodwind "Larry Combs" (thank you, Ruben!) or Greg Smith mpc, depending on my mood
Vandoren Optimum ligature
Fibracell #4.0 or #4.5, depending on mood again!
Amazing what a reed can do.
Note that I am only a decent amateur player, not a pro, but I'm now a much happier amateur!
MOO
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2020-02-19 19:32
I've tried a few synthetic reeds over the years--including various Legeres--and the only ones I've found satisfactory are the Fibracell Premiers.
During your next playing session, take careful notice of when the tendency towards blowing flat begins to set in. Does the flatness occur to the same degree all the time, or does it gradually get worse the longer you play the reed?
In my case, the Fibracells start blowing flat after about 45 minutes of playing, and it's most noticeable when playing in the altissimo register. I keep a reed case with multiple Fibracells in all the strengths that I use, and rotate them when I notice my pitch lowering. I had to do this with Legere reeds in order to stay up to pitch, as well.
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2020-02-24 06:07
Interesting. I have only checked tuning after the clarinet is well warmed up & having been playing for a while. I'll need to try it when fresh.
Thanks for the perspective.
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