 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-05-05 13:47
I've searched for the answer to my question but don't find it. Recently GBK or someone mentioned that vd reeds were thicker on one side than the other. I recently checked some of mine and verify that the left side is thicker than the right side. Has anyone determined just why this variation exists?
Bob Draznik
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Author: jim S.
Date: 2005-05-05 15:35
The theory, as I remember it, is that many players roll the clarinet counterclockwise off their thumb, twisting the mouthpiece a little in the mouth.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-05-05 16:50
Jim S is correct.
This was initially done to compensate for the tendency of the clarinet to roll off the thumb to the left, therefore more embouchure/lip pressure was unintentionally put on the left. Therefore the reeds needed to be slightly stronger on the left side.
This was noted by Daniel Bonade who wrote about this subject in his reed adjusting manual. As Bonade was the preeminent teacher of his time, Vandoren (I would assume) was influenced by his thoughts.
There still is debate about whether Vandoren continues to intentionally cut their reeds that way. I think they do.
Personally, I always had better results with Vandorens when the left rail was slightly lowered. However, that could just have been my personal preference. (perhaps my clarinet doesn't roll off to the left as much) ...GBK
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-05-05 16:59
When I balance my reeds I find that the left side is usually the one that will be thicker. (not always, but significantly more often than the right side being heavier). I know that my mouthpiece rails are symetrical, so the discrepancy is in the reed.
I suppose that you could confirm this with a "perfectareed" guage or a thickness micrometer.
Oboists often have such setups available.
With the popularity of neck straps for horn support, it is surprising that this ritual persists.
I think that the reed companies need a new mohel.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-05-05 17:23
Alseg wrote:
> With the popularity of neck straps for horn support, it is
> surprising that this ritual persists.
> I think that the reed companies need a new mohel.
New model = retooling = $$ ...GBK
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-05-05 20:34
The difference in thickness that I observed didn't require measurement to verify it.....it was obvious. I don't know that all of my vds are that way however....but the first two I looked at were.
Bob Draznik
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