 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: HBO
Date: 2009-06-09 07:57
Well, now that I read all these complaints about Forestone reeds, I have to try some in order to see how it is for myself, since I am in a dire need for plastic reeds that can save me in rehearsals.
Thing is, no one seems to be agreeing about the relative strength of Forestone reeds. Some say 3.5 is the same as the traditional 3.5, while others claim that 3 is roughly equal to traditional 3.5, while others say they are just plain too soft.
So... what is YOUR opinion? I am a poor HS student here, so I cannot sped much money on those plastic reeds. I managed to get my hands onto these by begging to my mother for weeks, and it would take A WHILE to buy reeds again after I blow the fortune away.
I use V12 3.5 currently, and the reeds are modified by the ATG system - nothing done except for taking out the material in the infamously strong left side. How would my modified reeds compare to the Forestone reeds in terms of strength?
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Author: Marie from New York
Date: 2009-06-10 01:28
I play on a Van Doren Rue Lepic 3 1/2 plus...about the same strength as the V12 3 1/2. I ordered a Forestone F 3 1/2 and the reed I received (marked CL +3) is too heavy for me. Too much resistance. I am currently having an email conversation with the very helpful Lars Heuseler at Forestone to determine what the correct reed is for me to purchase to play on my Hawkins mouthpiece. (Mouthpiece makes a difference, it seems.)
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Author: buedsma
Date: 2009-06-10 17:15
cl+3 is normally something like a vandooren 3 .
Excellent on a B45
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Author: LesterV
Date: 2009-06-10 18:51
I just received a Forestone reed and like Marie, I ordered an F 3 1/2 and received one marked CL +3. I have been using V12s, strength 4 on an M15 mouthpiece. The Forestone I received seems very soft and free blowing but also seems to have little tendency to close up like a soft cane reed.
It seems strange that different players have such different opinions as to the equivalent strength compared to cane reeds. The reed I received has no markings as to strength on the reed itself - only the plastic box it came in is marked. I would think this could easily result in a discrepancy between the actual strength and the box marking.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-06-10 19:22
Another problem this might cause is for people who keep differing strengths of reeds in their cases, so as to have something workable in various climactic conditions. It should be easy enough to mark the reeds with a label, a dor or something similar. Example: Legere puts a dot on their Quebec reeds and three dots on the ends of their Ontarios (IIRC). Additionally, htere is a label affixed to each reed, bearing a strength and a serial number.
Jeff
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2009-06-11 03:57
Received from Lars:
In rising order of strength, the new numbers F3 1/4, F3 1/2 and F4 correspond to the old numbers CL3, CL+3 and C-3.
I tried all three and found all to be extremely soft for me. I usually play on a Van Doren 4 or 3.5. I think that if you are used to a harder reed - that is, at least a 4 in a cane reed clarinet, I would try at least a 4 1/2 Forestone.
Longer report to follow when I get a chance to try to "tune" the reeds strength.
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Author: clarhorn ★2017
Date: 2009-06-11 05:09
Inside the plastic box under the cardboard holder is another brochure. Tucked inside was a paper showing on the right side of the butt end of the reed the strength indicator. Three bumps for the -3, two bumps for the "3" and no bumps for the 3+.
The difference in relative humidity may also affect cane so that comparison with Legere reed strength more accurate. For me the "CL+3" (F3 1/2) was softer than a Legere Quebec 3. The "C-3" (F4) was similar to the Legere Quebec 3 to 3 1/4, the "C3" (F4 1/4) was similar to the Quebec 3 1/2 to 3 3/4.
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Author: LesterV
Date: 2009-06-11 10:56
I checked, and I did find the piece of paper indicating the strength vs number of bumps as clarhorn described.
The fact that these bumps are molded into the reed seems to indicate that Forestone expects such consistency in the manufacturing process that the strength can be accurately predicted. If that is actually the case, I'm skeptical. Much of the reed's strength is due to the bamboo fibers, a natural and probably somewhat inconsistent factor.
Other than the strength issue, the reed seem to play well and may give cane and Legere some serious competition.
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Author: William
Date: 2009-06-11 14:06
"Much of the reed's strength is due to the bamboo fibers, a natural and probably somewhat inconsistent factor."
These new synthetic reeds--Legere & Forestone (which I prefer, btw)--are not perfectly consistant. You will find slightly different playing characteristics with each reed, but dramatically less than with your average gaggle of cane reeds. Generally, the average strengths within the synthetic reed markings are relatively consistant, but due to many uncontrolable material factors, slight variations are present.
And once more, I found that the F4 (old marking C-3) played about the same as the "average" 3.5 V12 on my Chicago Kaspar #14 mpc.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2009-06-17 17:37
I received my one Forestone Reed in the mail. -3. It is soft for me. I generally play a 3 1/2 Zonda. Upon placing the reed high on the mouthpiece I am getting favourable results. IMO....better than any Legere I've tried. This is my immediate reaction.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: hinotehud ★2017
Date: 2009-06-17 21:16
I play on an Vandoren M-30 mouthpiece and use 3 1/2 V12 reeds. I ordered the CL series and found them all too soft. (Lars is sending me an F 4 1/4.) I have a friend who plays on an M-13 and found my CL-3 just right, the others too stiff. I have a good student who plays on an M-15 and loved my CL+3. I ended up giving her my two CL reeds I had left.
Lars said they are designed for a close tip opening and a medium lay.
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Author: William
Date: 2009-06-18 15:29
FWIW, I will be playing the Beethovan Trio op. 11 tomorrow evening using a Forestone C-3 reed on my Chicago Kaspar #14 mpc. The rehearsals have gone very well and this set up is proving to be a wonderful alternative to the "evil" cane reed, especially those V12's from the current harvest.
Post Edited (2009-06-18 16:36)
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Author: DrH2O
Date: 2009-11-09 23:25
I got my order of Forestone reeds last week and after playing them for a week thought it might be helpful to add my reed strength experience to the record here.
I play a Vandoren M30 mp with Vandoren Rue 56 3.5+ (summer) or 4 (winter) reeds. I adjust them to balance them, but don't take much off of them. I have also played on Rico Grand Concert Evolution 3.5's and 4's.
After reading the somewhat conflicting information on this BB about the reed strengths, I ordered two F3.5 reeds and one F4.
The F3.5 is too soft for my setup - although it plays easily, it also closes off easily. The F4 is really very nice! I'm going to try an F4.25 to see if that's better strength for me, but the reeds are quite amazing. I went back to a cane reed after playing forestone for a week and with the possible exception of the best cane reed I've ever had, the Forestone wins hands down, especialy with the changeable weather we've been having and the resulting finicky behavior of my cane reeds. I'm just a hack amateur, and this reed may not be for everyone, but for anyone who tires of fiddling/fighting with their reeds, this is definitely worth trying.
Anne
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Author: William
Date: 2009-11-10 15:42
Just want to add, since my posting of June 8, '09, I have been playing on a set of four Forestone #4 reeds in "rotation" per gig, and all are playing quite nicely as per sound, consistancy and resilience. Again, my mouthpiece is a Chicago Kaspar #14 and my clarinets, Buffet R13's. I am awaiting the introduction of the Forestone bass clarinet and sax reeds, but it seems developement is at a standstill. I am also somewhat dismayed at the lack of advertising the Forestone folks have put "out there" and hope that it does not predict the demise of their fine product.
It is Nov 9, 2009, for the "record".
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Author: OldClarinetGuy
Date: 2009-11-10 20:20
My question is..are these worth $28,
If I buy a box of Rico Reserve Classics, as an example, and I do a little work on them and get 7 nice playing reeds that I rotate and use the others as reeds to practice with, why would I buy a Forestone. Especially when I read on this board that there seems to be a variance by player on relative reed strength, and I read on the Forestone site that I can't return it if I guess wrong.
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2009-11-11 02:40
Reeds are a gamble, are you really that surprised? I've had good luck with the Legere Signature series, and didn't like the forestones that I've tried. Others may have different thoughts though.
I would say, as for the legeres as well, it's only worth it if you can go through a pile of them and send back the bad ones until you have a handful of really respectable reeds. Slight variations between reeds can be helpful playing in different halls\rooms or when weather goes the wrong way and cane reeds die.
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Author: OldClarinetGuy
Date: 2009-11-11 02:45
NBeaty wrote:
>
> I would say, as for the legeres as well, it's only worth it if
> you can go through a pile of them and send back the bad ones
> until you have a handful of really respectable reeds.
You can't send the the Forestone back..according to their website.
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