 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-08-02 01:21
After being stubborn for the past 30 years and playing on Eb clarinet reeds, I finally decided to try cutting down my Bb reeds to fit my Eb mouthpiece (a Vandoren crystal), and voila!! what a revelation. (why didn't I try this sooner?) The fit seems actually better at the tip, and the overall sound quality is (to my ears) appreciably different. The question is: For all of you Eb players who cut down Bb reeds, what tool do you use to do this without tearing the butt of the reed?
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2001-08-02 10:05
I use a small vice and a metal saw with very small "teeth", (or whatever you call that in english).
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Author: Forest Aten
Date: 2001-08-02 13:14
I have used Bb reeds on my Eb clarinet for about 30 years now. After a few slight adjustments to the reed, all is well.
I decided years ago to reduce the reed work necessary at the "butt" of the reed and had my Eb barrels milled flat to match the "table" of my mouthpiece. You should have a good machinist/repairman do this work unless you have experience in this area. *This may not work on all barrels. Your top barrel ring must be "thick" enough to go through the mill work and then continue to support the top of the barrel tenon.
You simply align the mouthpiece and barrel and then place the reed on the mouthpiece and extended table.
Good luck,
F. Aten
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Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-08-02 14:29
You can grind the butt end of the reed down using a bench grinder -- work in short bursts so as not to overheat the cane and start it burning! It's a fast method and leaves an interesting black burnishing on the cane.
You might also try the Vandoren "Black Master" (German-cut) Bb clarinet reeds on Eb, since these reeds are pretty short and narrow.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-08-02 16:32
GBK -
A coping saw with a fine-tooth blade works perfectly for cutting off the end of the butt. You could also use a hacksaw, but it's heavier and clumsier. Put the reed bark up on a piece of scrap wood. Start sawing from the top of the bark and work very gently, particularly when you get almost to the bottom.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Becky Swett
Date: 2001-08-02 16:52
The unfortunate part is that most of us don't have that expensive equipment to shave off the bottom of the reed. And some of us don't have our own Eb clarinets, they are the schools.
Does anyone have any cheaper approaches?
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Author: London Silas Shavers
Date: 2001-08-02 18:28
I used to use Bb reeds on my Eb clarinet for years until I found Reeds Australia (http://www.reedsaus.com.au). They make great Eb reeds and I usually get about 8/box to play well. You might want to look into trying them.
London
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Author: Jo
Date: 2001-08-02 20:11
White masters are the shorter ones, I thought... the blackmasters are nearly the same size as the regulars.
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2001-08-03 13:32
From all I've read so far I still think my own suggestion is the easiest and the most inexpensive. It also gives a perfect result. A small vise and a little handsaw, a fine-tooth for metal, is a very small investment. To prevent the reed from splitting, just saw to the middle from one side and the rest from the other side. A few strokes with a fine sandpaper and you can't even see that something has been done to the reed.
Alphie
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-08-03 18:40
Thanks Mark...It looks like a great solution to the problem.(better than the clumsy hacksaw blade I was using) I will most likely order one today..I'll let you know how it works.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 2001-08-06 01:56
I just use a pair of sharp scissors.
Not all mouthpieces work with cut-down Bb reeds. Many of the mouthpieces made today are designed for such. But many vintage mouthpieces, such as Kaspars, are best played with Eb reeds. I do manage to use White and Black master Bb reeds on my Kaspar, but Eb reeds still work better.
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