 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Josh Schultze
Date: 2001-08-13 17:37
Last night, after playing most of the day, my mouth got really tired and I couldn't continue playing. I had a two year old box of Vandoren V12 #2 reeds. I took off my 3.5 strength reed and put on the 2 strength to my Morgan RM06 mouthpiece. To my surprise I could continue playing.
Also the notes in general spoke very quickly because the reed was more responsive. I've always had trouble with one note in particular, second ledger line C (register key only). I always get a subtone before the sound of the note begins. If I keep my tongue high it helps to shorten the period of time between the subtone and the note but the subtone is always there. When I used the #2 reed I heard no subtone at all! The note started immediately.
My questions are these: Why is it commonly regarded that as one advances one uses a stiffer reed. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a strong reed versus a weak reed?
Thanks
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Author: Mario
Date: 2001-08-13 17:58
No. It is not commonly regarded that as one advances one uses a stiffer reed. At any given point in time, the right reed to use is a function of the embouchure set-up (mouthpiece and ligature), the attributes of your horn, your physical condition, the music you play, etc.
The only determinant as to what is the right reed strong is to listen a lot and choose the solution that make sense in a particular context: tone, intonation and response across all registers must be balanced against each other to select the right middle-ground.
So, if you sound better with a 2, then it means that some of the elements around your horn are meant to be played with 2's.
The right reed is a life-long search that never stops.
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Author: John Gibson
Date: 2001-08-13 21:30
AND....I hate it....with four different mouthpieces on two different horns....with three types of ligatures...and countless strenghts of reeds....everyday is different....
Why can't I just stick to ONE HORN....ONE MPC....ONE STRENGTH OF REED...
ONE LIGATURE...and call it quits? Because then all I'd have to complain about is....practicing....
The life of a clarinetist.........
John Gibson
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-08-13 22:20
I agree entirely. There's never a moment where I don't wonder if there's a better combination out there...
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Author: KevinS
Date: 2001-08-14 02:03
Josh,
You may wish to have either an excellent technician, such as those mentioned on this board (Brannen, etc.) replace the register vent tube in your horn. If you play Buffet, and are in the Southern California region you might even schedule a tour of Buffet's USA distributorship. My teacher had a problem that sounds like yours. He would get a slight subtone before the C as you describe. Buffet replaced his register tube... No more problem!
Good Luck!
Kevin
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Author: Jerry McD.
Date: 2001-08-14 13:58
If someone had clued me 25 years ago about reeds, I would have chosen a brass instrument!!!!!!!! Just kidding. The right mouthpiece/reed combo is equivalent to the Holy Grail: so cose, yet so far..... Good Luck!
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Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2001-08-14 19:46
Hey, guys and gals - There is NO PERFECT REED OUT THERE!! There is also NO PERFECT MOUTHPIECE OUT THERE!! What makes you think that you will ever find the PERFECT COMBINATION?? I have been playing a Selmer HS* crystal mouthpiece, the same one, since 1947 or before. I have played this mouthpiece so long that I know what it will do. I use (and switch between) Mitchell Lurie #3 and Zonda 2 1/2 reeds and KNOW what they will do. If I need to doctor one a LITTLE I don't mind, but I am not going to spend all night trying out every reed in a box to find the perfect one. Consistency is the name of the game in my books, Consistency!!
Bob Curtis
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Author: Josh Schultze
Date: 2001-08-16 14:06
I have just a little more to add about this issue of Strong and Weak Reeds. When I started playing about 2 1/2 years ago I started on Vandoren V12 #2. For the next year my teacher gradually encouraged me to use harder reeds. About a year later he asked me, "What strength reeds are you using now?" "I've been using 3's" "Good!" he said.
Some time later he told me a story of how he was playing with a symphony player who had the "thickest, most resonant sound" that he had ever heard. When my teacher asked him about his setup he was "shocked" to find out that he used Vandoren V12 #2 reeds. He said that his secret is "breath support".
I find this very revealing because of the perception among clarinetists that a hard reed is better and that a soft reeds belong to the realm of the beginner.
Thanks for all your replys.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-16 16:05
Josh, respectfully, in oirder to properly evaluate a Vandoren V12 #2 with the "thickest, most resonant sound" ... we would have to know the mouthpiece (& facing, etc). AND, depending upon the actual mouthpiece used, the result might be (very much) EXPECTED.
Best,
mw
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