 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bandfreak
Date: 2008-07-31 15:47
If you don't know the difference, French style cut reeds, ie. Vandorens and most reeds out there, are single cut where the blade cut the right, left, and middle of the reed equaly. Where as Double cut reeds, the American style of cutting reeds mostly lost except for in a few rare jazz clarinet reeds and the Rico Grand Master Select Evolution, are cut one on the left side of the reed and also once on the right this leaves the middle of "Heart" of the reed slightly thicker.
Personally I use only double cut reeds, specificallly the Rico GCSE or Bracher Jazz, but I know I'm the minority in this subject. I think that the raised middle of the reed gives it the reed a good open tone with ease.
Just curious what others think and if anyone else uses double cut reeds.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2008-07-31 17:16
I thought "French file cut" reeds (e.g., Vandoren blue box--where the bark ends in a little horizontal cut before the vamp of the reed begins) were the "double cut" reeds, and the other kind (without the little horizontal cut--e.g., Mitchell Lurie, Vandoren 56 Rue Lepic) were "single cut." I've known plenty of people who've used both.
Incidentally, *all* usable clarinet reeds are slightly thicker in the "heart" of the reed than on the sides. (Hold up a good blue box Vandoren to a light bulb and you'll see what I mean.) Of course, some reeds are cut with a thicker "heart" than others.
When you read a sales ad and it says something about a reed being thicker in the heart, they mean thicker as compared to other reeds. It does not mean that other reeds are cut to look like a wheelchair ramp (with the same thickness all the way across and no additional thickness in the middle). Put another way, if the ad says X > Y, it doesn't mean that Y=0.
(By the way, one of the easiest ways to irritate people on this board--or any board, for that matter--is to recite as fact something that is merely a personal theory. This is especially true if you make the presumption that others on this board will not know what you are talking about. Some very prominent and knowledgable people either post on or read this board--including some of the top players in the world. And you might be surprised as to who regularly reads this board without posting--or who on this board is a close, personal friend or a teacher or student of some prominent person [so also be careful what you say about people--always assume they are reading what you post]. The flip side of this, though, is that if you do have a theory about how something works and would like to verify it or simply get the answer to something, there is usually somebody on this board who can give you an authoritative answer. One of the great things about this board is that so many top notch players/teachers are really very approachable people and happy to answer your questions.)
Post Edited (2008-07-31 18:35)
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