 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-12-06 05:20
Attachment: 1206050054.jpg (26k)
Attachment: 1206050057.jpg (23k)
Once again, an amateur review on something. This time, Vandoren Blackmaster reeds (I have size 3.5) on my french mouthpieces (tested with a Charles Bay MC-M and a Ted Lane Kaspar facing - that of the K11)
First Day --> Looks - Rail to Rail, slightly slimmer than the V12, but slightly wider than the Vandoren White Master. Much easier to fit on a mouthpiece (any of the ones I tried it on). Tip to butt, slightly smaller than the V12, however still can line it up with a ligature. Thickness, about the same thickness of a V12. The file cut curve on every reed in the box is very even and all very slight curves (not so much a half-circle, but more of a slighter arc. Similar to the V12). As to the location of the curve, it is slightly closer to the tip than the curve of the V12. It is also file-cut like the V12 instead just one scrape right from the tip like the white master or blue box vandoren.
A little stiff for my mouthpieces. EVER so slightly. But I really like the way the lower notes sound (they have a very deep resonant sound, not at all shrill or edgy), and the altissimo comes out very easily and well. Articulation doesn't seem to suffer any with these reeds and they show good promise. The reed itself needs slight care when positioning over the rails of the mouthpiece, but it's nothing I'd worry about. I'm hoping that after a warmup/break-in period, it'll soften up a bit. If not, I'll try adjusting it.
A Few Days Later --> I am very impressed with them. I used one of the four that I have been breaking in for a concert on Sunday and felt very good control. I do wish I had adjusted it a little more and taken a little more wood off of it (was a LITTLE airy with a light embouchure and I had to REALLY firm up), but otherwise, control and soundwise I thought I really hit the mark that day. Nice piano entrances, I was able to really make it sing.
Tonight (Monday) I used a second one and once again wished I had adjusted it and made it a little softer in the tip. But overall, they play very nicely. Let's see how the rest of the box pans out and how well they adjust. I'm also going to try a box of 3's to see how they feel.
I also feel that these particular reeds would sound a little better with a ligature that allows a better response to the reed (hence the reason I'm searching around for a bonade to try them out, and simultaneously kicking myself in the rear for selling my Francois Louis about a month ago). I currently use a Rovner MKIII.
I've attached some pictures with some notes that I found on comparisons. Poor quality photos taken with a cellphone camera. But hopefully the notes will help illustrate what I'm trying to get across.
Also, I ordered them from www.usareeds.com, which had a good price on the reeds, as well as $1 shipping to the continental US (shipped USPS First Class mail). I received them in about three days. A good site, and I ended up ordering a clarinet neckstrap (by neotech) from there as well, and it sure takes the edge off of practicing for hours on end. My right thumb is much happier now.
Any questions, feel free to ask.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bass9396
Date: 2005-12-06 22:48
Thanks for the review. I'm enjoying them as well. Definitely something for others to try.
Maybe I should get a little more in-depth myself!?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
