 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-08-06 02:11
I've heard a little bit about reed trimming, and it inspired me to do something stupid.
I had several spare contralto reeds that were getting rather old laying around in a box. I thought to myself, "What the heck, I'll take one of them and trim it a little." I got myself a spare set of nail clippers lying around my house and trimmed the reed to an uneven edge with squared off corners. I then took this reed and put it on my contralto clarinet.
It played more beautifully than any other reed I've ever used or experimented with.
Can anybody explain why? I thought that reed trimming, especially unevenly, would damage my sound beyond hope for that particular reed.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-06 03:04
David, I read somewhere recently where someone said that "squared off corners" affected the sound in a negative way.
The only reeds I have ever played that didn't have rounded corners were Steuer from Germany, which actually were not made for american style mouthpieces.
Give the Cordier clipper a try that next time you have a chance. I also like the Vandoren style clipper, too. The Vandoren is no longer being manufactured.
Best,
mw
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-08-06 03:45
To think I'm the type of student that uses the cheapest equipment, damages the reeds already in the worst condition, and yet can still sound good. Am I just a member of the odd bunch? Or is there talent beyond what lies on the surface? For two and a half years of self-lessons I'm not that bad, but I'm not that good either. You could say I'm "partway through boot camp" Early to be experimenting with clippers and contraltos, but...
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-08-06 04:29
Without actually seeing your setup, I can only guess the squared edges may fit the contour of your mouthpiece better for a better seal at the corners. I haven't yet seen e reed that has the same curve as the lip of my mouthpieces, even when they are the same brand.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-08-06 06:50
From one 'old school' guy to another, David, I've found that whatever works for you is okay :] I use plain ol' Ricos, the 25 to a box variety, directly out of the box and they work as well for me as anything else I've tired. I rarely bother to do anything to them because they last a long time just as they are... that is, for me they're fine. I'm talking several weeks per reed. Whenever I do decide I have a little too much time on my hands with nothing better to do, I fool around trimming an old reed or two. The best and quickest way I've found is to place the flat of the reed on a quarter, allow the tip to extend over the edge a tiny bit and hold a flame (match or lighter) under the edge of the quarter. Instant trim. Cheap too. I only do this when I'm bored... which is about once every six and a half years. It doesn't seen to help much though, either the temporary boredom or the reed. I only do it because I can.
- ron b -
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-08-06 13:44
Some people just get fussier and fussier about their equipment, particularly reeds, ligatures and moutpieces, while others just get better and better at adapting to get the best from whatever they have.
The advantage of the latter is that when the chips are down, say a chipped reed in the middle of a concert, they just adapt and keep going. The former falls to pieces.
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Author: Benny
Date: 2001-08-06 23:57
The only thing I can guess is that you didn't do too much damage by clipping it, and old reeds generally play better than new ones. That is because the aging process allows them to dry out more. You should try one of your other old reeds without clipping it.
Benny
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Author: Robert
Date: 2001-08-08 18:40
Also my opinion about contra... is only weird stuff happens to work well....
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