 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Exiawolf
Date: 2015-03-26 08:28
Greetings! I've been playing around with reed strengths on my M13 Lyre mainly 3 1/2+ vs. 3 1/2 V12 Reeds. I can see how the + would sound a bit "darker" per say but they feel abundant in resistance (even the more balanced ones, haven't quite qotten into balancing reeds myself). 3 1/2's on the other hand sound a bit more clear but maybe a bit brighter, however they play much easier.
From your experiences, is the difference in sound that noticeable if someone is using a 3 1/2 on M13 Lyre opposed to 3 1/2+ and up?
Post Edited (2015-03-26 08:28)
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Author: Monsterchef
Date: 2015-03-26 09:33
I play a M13 non lyer. Having tried reeds from 3.5 to 4+, I found anything below 4 to be uncomfortably flexible.
Also more to your question, personally I feel that softer reeds have better clarity, especially in the first register. However, constant attention on lip pressure is required in order to keep tone within a quite narrow index. Thicker reeds tend to have a more of a covered sound, with far better stability with technical passages such as register jumps etc. etc.
Moreover, most reeds brands, particularly Vandoren, is not terribly consistent in terms of the actual strength. A box of 3.5+ may be stiffer than a box of 3.5 on average. Most individual reeds from them are likely quite similar.
Post Edited (2015-03-26 09:49)
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2015-03-26 11:05
I play a M13 Lyre from time to time and the other day I picked it up and slapped a 3.5+ 56 Rue Lepic on it and was very surprised. I'm sure I'd tried that combo before, but the other day it just "worked". Right sound, right resistance.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2015-03-26 16:05
Quinton:
A couple of thoughts.
1) Learning how to balance reeds is a must, IMHO, especially if you use Vandoren Reed products. I find them to be the least playable right out of the box, but the most fixable, and thereafter the best reeds of the lot. Until such time, consider either of the D'Addario reed products, which people find to be enormously consistent.
2) If you're not doing so already, take the reeds you find weak and put them a micron higher on the mouthpiece, even a micron above the mouthpiece and they should play like they are slightly stronger reeds. Also, try moving a reed to the left or right by a micron as well to find the best spot to place it for optimal sound and response.
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