Woodwind.OrgThe Clarinet BBoardThe C4 standard

 
  BBoard Equipment Study Resources Music General    
 
 New Topic  |  Go to Top  |  Go to Topic  |  Search  |  Help/Rules  |  Smileys/Notes  |  Log In   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 
 Help! advise breaking in reeds
Author: Simon 
Date:   2002-05-18 20:51

Hello all.

These past couple weeks I have been very frustrated with reeds [until sunday I had 4 "great ones" and then one day they all died]; Ive been working on breaking in 10 for the past 2 days, and none of them are anywhere near good. I am currently playing on the standard Vandoren #4s with a pyne Bel Canto mouthpiece and R-13, if that helps. Can any one suggest a brand of reed that could work well with the set up I have? Which brand is more consistent?

Thanks for you help!

Reply To Message
 
 RE: Help! advise breaking in reeds
Author: Carol 
Date:   2002-05-19 00:15

I am using Marca #3 reeds, they are working well for me.

Reply To Message
 
 RE: Help! advise breaking in reeds
Author: Mark Charette 
Date:   2002-05-19 00:29

Ah, maybe this is too easy, but why not email Jim Pyne and ask what he thinks are good matches to his mouthpieces?

Reply To Message
 
 RE: Help! advise breaking in reeds
Author: Pam 
Date:   2002-05-19 02:36

I don't know where you are from. Lately we have had a lot of rain in NE Ohio and it seems that right about the same time most of my reeds have turned into stinkers as well. Don't know if they are related or just because I have been playing on the same bunch of reeds for a while anyway.

Reply To Message
 
 RE: Help! advise breaking in reeds
Author: Melanie 
Date:   2002-05-19 03:04

I have found that changes in weather do have a pretty big affect on my reeds. My teacher actually has reeds that work in dry weather and different reeds that work in wet weather.

Reply To Message
 
 RE: Help! advise breaking in reeds
Author: David Dow 
Date:   2002-05-19 22:33

Humidity will make reeds alot harder and tend to mute the sound...break a new reeed in slowly for 10 minutes a day for 4 days and then gradually play more. At first no staccatto and only held sounds pp and form there on each day a little more sound...also don't play high notes above high 3rd ledger line on treble clef. By day 5 you should have more success with a more durable and slowly broken in cane. Europeans tend to work reed in slowly and colleagues of mine in France have good success using this method. At first If a reed is hard adjust it with a reed knife and then break it in.

Reply To Message
 
 RE: Help! advise breaking in reeds
Author: Mark Pinner 
Date:   2002-05-20 07:26

You can always build a fence with all the duds. No. 4? Why?

Reply To Message
 
 RE: Help! advise breaking in reeds
Author: Jerry McD 
Date:   2002-05-20 21:27

My routine for breaking in reeds is very similar to David D's. I only play on them for about 5 minutes a day for 2 or 3 days...I don't do anything to them until after a couple of short playings. At this point I will flatten them as necessary (no work on the vamp yet) and will play them for short periods for a couple more days... flatten them again. At this point hopefully they should be done warping. After 4 of 5 days of short playing and at least one flattening (I use 600 sandpaper on a piece of glass) I will begin the process of balancing the facings. I find that if I can force myself to be patient through this process I can get 2 or 3 performance reeds and 6-8 playable reeds out of a box of V.D's. I think the greatest benefit from breaking the reeds in slowly is they are more stable when you begin full-time playing on them.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Jerry McD.

Reply To Message
 
 RE: Help! advise breaking in reeds
Author: FT 
Date:   2002-05-23 21:43

Or try using the Vandoren V12 (I'm "very satified" with them) (I'm never satisfied with my reeds! lol)

Reply To Message
 
 RE: Help! advise breaking in reeds
Author: jblair 
Date:   2002-05-24 02:12

maybe you need to work on shaving and adjusting them.

Reply To Message
 Avail. Forums  |  Threaded View   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 


 Avail. Forums  |  Need a Login? Register Here 
 User Login
 User Name:
 Password:
 Remember my login:
   
 Forgot Your Password?
Enter your email address or user name below and a new password will be sent to the email address associated with your profile.
Search Woodwind.Org

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages
For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.

 
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org