 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Lisa L
Date: 2001-09-07 02:24
i use vandoren v-12 and vandoren regular reeds strength 4. does anyone use strength 5? i've found them to be too hard. what are others' opinions?
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Author: Robert
Date: 2001-09-07 03:54
I've used all sorts, during my high school times I used Vandoren Traditional 5s... now however I find that sometimes I enjoy softer reeds. Also it all depends on the combination of your mpc and your reeds. What mpc are you using?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-09-07 05:12
You should remember that Vandoren numbers their Traditional (Classic) and V-12 reeds a little differently.
A Traditional #3 1/2 reed is equivalent to a V-12 #4
A Traditional #4 reed is equivalent to a V-12 #4 1/2
A Traditional #5 reed falls in between the V-12 #5 and #5+
Therefore, a good rule of thumb is if you play Traditional Vandoren reeds, the equivalent V-12 is approximately 1/2 strength more.
Hope that this helps..
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Author: Jonathan (Aus)
Date: 2001-09-07 10:14
When I was still in high school around 5 years ago, i had a J&D Hite mpc D i think which was very closed and I used the Vandoren Trad size 5. As soon as I started learning from my current teacher he thankfully showed me the light and my suggestion would be that if you need to use a Vandoren size 5 you might want to explore the possibilities of seeing what a more open mouthpiece would do to your tone. It certainly has helped me (obviously you wouldn't want to go to the other extreme of mouthpieces either - prob using something under a 3 or 2 1/2 trad). Otherwise on an "average" mouthpiece this might indicate that you were biting somewhat/have a really powerfull jaw. :-)
One reason that one might want to use 5's is that if you are starting to learn reed adjustment and u normally use a 4 or 4 1/2 then using a 5 will give u some extra leverage with taking wood off the reed.
Jonathan Farquhar (from Aus)
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-09-07 20:42
Gosh, you guys up there in the stratosphere make me envious. Vandoren 2.5 is as much as I can handle.
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Author: Ken
Date: 2001-09-07 21:09
Speaking of that, I've got probably 30+ sealed boxes of V-12 5's collecting dust I bought in 1995. I can't use these lincoln logs anymore as I drastically changed my set-up. If anyone's interested in an EVEN, box-for-box swap of "sealed" boxes of V-12 3 1/2s let me know.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-09-07 21:09
OK, I am not trying to be difficult, nor am I acting condescending in my tone or opinion. Rather, I have been taught by many on this BB & "the List" that certain physical/equipment comparisons serve us NO PURPOSE. [[ AND, if I _AM_ missing the point made or to be made here, I certainly want to be corrected ....]]
SO, who cares how a higher strength reed feels, if it doesn't work for us? (This question seems to be one that's akin to my saying "I think my dad can beat up your Dad, what do you think?")
The (ultimate) Reed Strength we use is a function of 1. our Mouthpiece's dimensions & characteristics (close, open, whatnot), 2. our (individual) embouchure & setup, & 3. a Reed (& it's relative strength) that, working in tandem with 1 & 2 will produce the (best) sound & related characteristics (dynamics, staccato, legato, etc) .
[[ I am not an engineer, nor do I wish to push the limits of "acceptable" -- for myself, most of my time is best spent practicing, not play what-if --- I sweriously doubt that I raised every issue germane to reed strength related to production of sound ]]
Thus, if a range of reed strengths of, say, #3 1/2 or #4 will work with the mouthpiece .... it matters noit what a #5 would feel like. It just won't work ... thus, we are back to "who cares".
My 12 y/o son who plays a Vandoren 3 1/2 Traditional was quite taken aback
when I suggested he try a different mouthpiece with a #3 Vandoren Traditional reed. Why? because the use of the lesser strength reed would be a step back in his development. After all, he IS trying to build his embouchure, right?
HOGWASH!
FINALLY,. unless we were all playing the EXACT equipment with the #5 Reed in question & had similar embouchures, tonal cavity & whatnot, there could be no realistic comparison anyway?
I can state unequivocably that a #5 Vandoren Reed would be darned hard to play on my Greg Smith Old Ched #1, to which you should reply ... SO WHAT!
.... and you are right!
best,
mw
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-09-07 21:13
PS - Lisa, there is NO bad (learning) question ... so keep asking them. My comments were not directed to you, but to the subject matter at hand. mw
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Author: Robert Gifford
Date: 2001-09-07 21:18
mw, I think what you said had merit though... it is a common misconception that to be a better player you must have a stronger reed. There are no bad questions, thats why we are here, is to clear up things. For years I was under the same old "If your a good player you need to use stronger reeds." Its all based on what you like, and the sound you like... and what your mouthpeice works best with. Of course all of the experimenting gets expensive, and hopefully you find your niche eairly. Anyway good luck.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2001-09-07 22:33
This topic is a recurrent one. I always found that whatever people tell me about reeds and stuff, the better way to find what works for me is experimenting.
There is a very common trend that most of us go through start soft then don't like the sound too flat or unfocused, then go harder and harder and harder until the dynamic range is limited to mp to mf. Finally look for the right combination reed mouthpiece and find a pretty good setup which is flexible but resistant enough.
I think this process is natural and even necessary. Playing very strong reeds do indeed buildup those muscles if biting can be avoided. Going to softer reeds afterwards provides much more flexibility but also emphasizes control of your embouchure versus power and strength.
Experiment, play hard reeds, soft reeds, bad reeds, plastic reeds... Your embouchure needs to be able to adapt. There no such thing as the perfect reed and the perfect mouthpiece.
-Sylvain
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Author: Wes
Date: 2001-09-07 23:35
It's amazing that some people have the strength to press these hard reeds into service. We must be physically made differently as I find V12 #3 reeds to be great and able to play to high C , C#, and D an octave higher than high C quite easily on an R13 without undue pinching. 2 1/5's are a bit on the soft side for me, however. To each her/his own! Vive la difference!
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Author: sneakers
Date: 2001-09-08 02:58
I am confused! I have tried both traditional and V12's in 3 1/2 and the V12's seem harder than the traditionals. Is there something wrong with my sense of soft and hard?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-09-08 03:03
sneakers wrote:
>
> I am confused! I have tried both traditional and V12's
> in 3 1/2 and the V12's seem harder than the traditionals. Is
> there something wrong with my sense of soft and hard?
I think each person experiences it differently. The V12s are a thick blank. When I tried them, the strength seemed about the save as the traditional. However, the V12s seemed, for me, slow and sluggish in response. Why I don't know. But one might interpret that as feeling harder.
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-09-08 05:47
For me, i've thought that the V.12's were a little softer than the traditional - but I know I'm a little odd anyway! 8^)
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Author: Lisa L
Date: 2001-09-09 13:46
I've thought the regulars are softer than the V-12s... but I could be way off!
Are there any other reeds made by Vandoren that I should check out??
I've thought about trying Zonda reeds but haven't tried them yet.
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Author: Greg Raden
Date: 2001-09-11 05:23
Dear Ken,
I would be interested in a swap. You want sealed boxes of V12 3 1/2 ?
Are you sure your #5 V12s are from 1995? Please let me know. Thank you!!
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Author: Andy
Date: 2001-09-11 11:22
the vandoren V12 also seem softer to me too!
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Author: Lisa L
Date: 2001-09-12 01:05
hello all,
does anyone have preference for vandoren reeds over zonda reeds? i heard zondas come from south america and can be bought from almost any music store.
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Author: Robert Gifford
Date: 2001-09-12 03:38
I have a preferance.... Vandorens.... mainly because I haven't seen any music store around me that carrys Zondas.
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