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Re: Need help on Albert System

Author: Merlin Shepherd
Date: 2004-07-30 23:58

Hi Joe,

in answer to your posting

1) Vandoren markets Black Master and White Master reeds for German and Austrian mouthpieces. How can I tell if the mp, (rosewood?), I have is 'German' or 'Austrian' ..... which reeds will fit?

So you've decided to use your favourite mouthpiece. Well maybe you need to think about this. If you use a modern French mouthpiece then your clarinet will not sound the way it was designed. I play a Martin Frere C clarinet from the end of the 19th Century and to my ear it sounds not good at all with a French mouthpiece. Different to a French clarinet but not anything like as interesting. If you're not going for the sound, why bother playing a simple (or Albert) system?The Vandoren reeds are designed as you rightly said for two types of mouthpieces, the primary difference being that the Austria has a more closed tip and a longer lay. I use the Austrian on the Martin Frere with a variety of reeds.

2) Is it possible to 'alter' the reeds I use for Boehm mp to fit and work on German/Austrian mps?

The German/Austrian reed is cut with a thicker heart, therefore even if you shave and trim a French reed, it still won't quite sound or feel right.

3) I've replaced corks and pads on Boehms many times. Is there anything peculiar to re-padding an Albert that I should be aware of?

Old clarinets are often padded using shellac, not glue. So it may be useful to warm the back of the key with a gas flame (gently so as not to discolour the metal) in order to melt the shellac to get the old pad out. Sometimes they used glue so try to pry on out first. If you're going really authentic you may want to use shellac to ut the new ones in.

hope this helps,

all the best

Merlin

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