 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2005-06-05 13:48
There seem to have been a few debates lately about reed quality, and one of the things that crops up often is that you can't consistently find good reeds to play on then perhaps your mouthpiece is not right for you.
I scoffed at this idea, but having changed mouthpiece lately (from a Pyne Bel Canto to a Lomax A4) I am starting to get past the point where I can put my recent consitency of reeds down to luck with the batch of cane.
Any more thoughts on this?
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-06-05 14:48
Yes. After some point in your clarinet experience, and assuming you are serious about the subject, you should consider getting mouthpiece measuring tools so you can quantify your existing mouthpiece and any additional ones you consider acquiring.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-06-05 14:59
Dave Spiegenthal has pointed this out here.
Warpage can occur.
It is amazing how many "poor" reeds are useable on other mouthpieces.
Sometimes it has to do with the sealing on the table.
I recently found a "great" mpc playing poorly and discovered that the previously flat table is now convex.
A quick test for this follows:
The reed is good when held by your thumb, but not by the ligature.
Check the ligature...if it is ok, check the table of the mpc....the reed might rock out of balance...a quick fix by any good refacer.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: D
Date: 2005-06-05 15:08
When you say 'sealing on the table' do you mean the reed should kind of stick to the mouthpiece?
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2005-06-05 15:23
Thing is, you may find that more reeds are 'acceptable'; but then, in the end, you find you can't do as much with them as you could on the more demanding mouthpiece. So it can be a tradeoff.
Of course, I hope that's not true in your case.
Tony
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-06-05 17:19
By"not sealing" I meant that it could be wobbling slightly on a warped table.
Tony is (of course) correct.
When it comes to mouthpieces, you "gotta kiss a lotta frogs* before ya find a prince(ss)**"
*this refers to the fairy tale, not to the French, although you can draw other conclusions if you wish.
**Gawd (cosmos, diety, non-entity,random chance, whatever) forbid we are not PC (politically correct).
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: rc_clarinetlady
Date: 2005-06-06 03:13
RAMman,
Interesting that you went from a Pyne Bel Canto to a Lomax. I tried and tried my Bel Canto and had some success with it but something just wasn't right. Some reeds were okay but I couldn't get the response out of any reed like I wanted. I finally decided a mpc. change was in order. Didn't have a clue what to do or where to go so I called Michael Lomax (at the suggestion of Annette Luyben) and talked to him about my issues. He was so nice and patient with me. He ultimately sent me several to try and I chose the Lomax Elite A1G. I love it. I know most mpc. artists will send several for you to try. This is very helpful when you're paying the higher prices for these kinds of mpcs. My students love my mpc. too but I'm not giving this one up. I might be willing to give up the Bel Canto....: ) I also own a Pyne PK and don't like it either.
Glad you found something you like,
Rebecca
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-06-06 03:26
Speaking of sealing....I just gave my recently acquired Consoli Rampl....lig a full rehearsal. After I removed the lig the reed was sealed to the mp table significantly moreso than with any other lig I've ever used. Frankly I don't know if this is good or bad.
Bob Draznik
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