 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetfreak
Date: 2002-03-10 06:46
I normally use Vandoren or Grand Concert select evolution reeds but wanted to try something different and bought a few Alexander Classique. The same strenght (#3 with my Vandoren B45 mouthpiece) that I normally use. I found the Alexander reeds are really good in the chalumeau register, but higher up they are extremely squeaky. I normally donīt have any problems with that and itīs really embarrasing at the orchestra rehearsals. Anybody else experienced the same problem or am I doing something wrong? (or maybe the Alexander reeds are softer than Rico evolution and I need #3.5?)
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Author: jbuter
Date: 2002-03-10 14:38
Tom Alexander suggests that you use a half strength harder reed with the Classique Reeds since he thins the tip a little more. You can get the scoop from his website http://www.superial.com I find the DC reeds to be more to my liking.
jbutler
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-03-11 06:03
I like Alexander reeds for soprano sax(Superial) and clarinet(Classic). Since its tip is diamond cut very thinner than Vandoren, ppp playing becomes easier. But this may require players' sabtle jaw/lip pressure and lower lip positioning control.
Cf. Older Vandoren had a thinner tip thickness. I know a pro who
has measured it more than 30 years by micrometer.
BTW Alexander Classic was designed on the base of old MORRE.
It may better match a certain type of mouthpiece,
i.e. Kasper-Cicero or Chicago type.
Soprano Sax reed match very well with Selmer Supersession
(round throat) made of hard rubber. (I am looking for a Selmer
Soloist now not available.)
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Author: graham
Date: 2002-03-11 08:57
I find they chirp rather than squeak, but it is probably a matter of getting used to them. At present I am focusing more on Glotins and Marcas, but will probably go back to Classique for a further try in due course.
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2002-03-11 09:42
The website seems to be saying that the DC's are more suited to jazz players? Is this right? I got some DC's today and I quite like them. I usually tend to go for the harder tips rather than the V12 style thin tips. I would be interested in trying the classiques.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-03-11 21:16
I've found that older Olivieri reeds exhibit the same phenomenon of occasional squeakiness, and it may be because they have relatively thin, short tips (like the 'French' oboe reed cut, I believe). Quite a few Olivieris are unplayable because of this squeaking tendency, but on the other hand, when they're good, they're REALLY good --- perhaps this is a worthwhile tradeoff, quality for quantity (i.e. percentage of usable reeds). I've never played and Alexander clarinet reed, but from the posts above it appears that they may have a cut similar to the Olivieris, which would go along with my theory.
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Author: jbuter
Date: 2002-03-12 01:04
David,
The Classique reed has a thicker heart than most reeds, as well as a thinner tip. I tried Olivieri's years ago. I liked the alto sax reeds quite a bit, but couldn't find the locally so I stopped using them. The Superial Classique does do a nice job when you buy the proper strength. I've had no "chirps" or "burps" with them when I've used the proper strength for the mouthpiece. I do like the DC's better. They have a more traditional cut with a little more reed in the tip than the Classique. BTW I recently tried a box of Glotin's with mixed results. Seems about inline with VanDoren's. Out of a box about half are good and the rest need a little tweaking.
jbutler
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