 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sal
Date: 2023-10-28 23:10
I have to play sax for a gig, havent done so in awhile. I dont have any sax reeds, but I have a box of alto clarinet reeds. They sure look the same!
They sound OK, but notes above A above the staff seem thin. It certainly could be me, thats why Im not sure if the reeds are the same. I really dont want to go out and buy a box of sax reeds.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2023-10-28 23:33
If you're getting acceptable results just play them.
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Author: Jarmo Hyvakko
Date: 2023-10-29 00:26
At least it goes other way around. I play the bassethorn (alto clarinet mouthpiece) with legere American cut alto sax reeds and they work fine.
Jarmo Hyvakko, Principal Clarinet, Tampere Philharmonic, Finland
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2023-10-29 02:04
Sal,
The alto clarinet reeds are slightly narrower, but they play just fine. Be careful that they are well centered on the mouthpiece.
IMHO the sound is a little brighter which I like.
Hank
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Author: sal
Date: 2023-10-29 15:46
Excellent-thanks for the help. Ive been playing them and they seem OK-I just wanted to make sure the issues I were encountering was me, and not the reeds. I guess Im gonna have to practice
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2023-10-29 16:20
Sal,
There may be an underlying issue for you playing alto again.
I am assuming, you have been primarily playing clarinet and now going back to sax for this gig. You may be trying to use the same embouchure on sax thus closing up the reed on sax a little.
Also, my recollection is that an alto clarinet reed might have a slightly thinner vamp as well.
I am a doubler and always need to remind myself to use a little more relaxed lower lip on sax. One way to tell is when you begin to go above the staff and use a clarinet embouchure, you will begin to go very sharp (check with a tuner and play some octaves).
Don't be a biter!
Hank
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Author: pukalo
Date: 2023-10-29 23:51
They are slightly different, and an alto sax reed doesn't work as well on an alto clarinet mouthpiece as a dedicated alto clarinet reed, but in my experience they work well enough. Some alto clarinet mouthpieces, like the vandoren BD5 and the J&D Hite, are designed to be able to accept alto sax reeds comfortably. I have the Hite alto clarinet mouthpiece and I highly recommend it. It is very affordable and plays great with alto sax reeds.
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Author: sal
Date: 2023-10-30 02:41
Thanks for the advice Hank.
I was definielty trying to use the same embouchure. I have been practicing the past few days and have improved a lot. I was having issues with the low notes-I realized I have to hold the mouthpiece straight out of my mouth, and now the low notes come out nicely. It certainly doesnt help that I hold the clarinet quite parallel to my body, with my head straight- works great for me on clarinet, but horrible trying to do it on sax. I play double lip, so no biting. I was having issues with getting the LH palm keys but I worked that out.
I think you might be right about the vamps being thinner. I was thinking of shortening the reed at the tip to get it to stiffen up a little bit. But I have to play next weekend-now is not the time to ruin reeds by fixing them
I played basset horn a couple of years ago and bought the alto clarinet reeds for that. Glad i got to finish the box. I thought they were going to be in my reed drawer for the rest of my life!
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Author: donald
Date: 2023-10-30 12:00
No they're not the same, neither are Tenor Sax/Bass clarinet reeds. But they very well may work just fine. Experiment, and if it works then it's a happy experiment.
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Author: davidjsc
Date: 2023-11-04 00:26
I recall reading that historically - like back 19th and early 20th century - one of the alto's reeds, I cannot recall whcih know, was like 1mm or 2mm shorter in length to the other alto instrument.
But seems modern-manufacture alto sax and alto clarinet reeds are the same length, at least those few I have bothered to compare.
I'm with the others, experiment and if they work then so be it.
DSC
~~ Alto Clarinet; Bass Clarinet; B-flat and C Boehm Clarinets; Albert C Clarinet; Oboe ~~
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