 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2009-06-14 02:18
Well, not exactly a beginner. I took my first lesson 14 months ago when I was still 70.
But back to the subject. I'd been switching back and forth between VD 2-1/2s and VD 3s for some time. Well about a month ago I went from a 2-1/2 to a 3 VD, and voila, there it was at last...the perfect reed!
The only thing I did to the reed was what I was taught by my first instructor, and that's to rub both sides with a piece of print paper to smooth the roughness out of the reed. I did nothing special to this reed than I had done to all the others; however, the sound is so much better with this reed.
To make sure that it was the reed and not just my sound getting better (I was hoping for the latter), I tried other reeds, both 2-1/2 and 3, and alas, it's definitely this particular reed.
I realize you advanced players and pros have said many times that you get maybe one good reed out of a box. Well, it's taken me a year to get that one good reed out of several boxes. Now I'm so afraid that I'll wear it out, that I practice with other, older reeds, and I save the good one for maybe the last 10 minutes of my practice sessions.
I have Tom Ridenour's reed adjustment system, but I still have not mastered reed improvement (no reflection on TR, just my own lack of understanding on how to do it right I'm sure).
I guess my point (if there is one) is that I found out first-hand that a good reed really does make all the difference, not only is sound, but in playing ability, as well. This reed is so easy to play, it seems more like a 2 than a 3!
Am I all wet on this, or have you experienced the above, as well?
CarlT
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-06-14 02:39
Reed rule #14
14) Don't fall in love with one particular reed.
...GBK
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Author: Neal Raskin
Date: 2009-06-14 03:07
I like finding those good reeds. When I'm really into adjusting, I usually have a few that play pretty well.
Is it just me, or does anyone else like using good reeds to practice and rehearse with? I know some people that use "backup reeds" to practice, but I can't stand doing that because I have to adjust to compensate for the reed. I'll play them if I have to, but I just like playing reeds that work well too much. 
Neal
www.youtube.com/nmraskin
www.musicedforall.com
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2009-06-14 07:31
Carl,
Can you describe the specific qualities of this one perfect reed compared to the dozens of reeds you've found lacking?
Personally, I've played many good and even outstanding reeds over the decades...as well as many bad ones. But I've never played scores of reeds before find one "good" reed, much less ever finding a reed in all my years that I would describe as "perfect."
I'm curious to hear more of the story.
B.
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Author: Curinfinwe
Date: 2009-06-14 12:35
I agree. The acoustics in my room are pretty awful and make everything sound bad as it is, so if I use my second-tier reeds, I can hardly stand to listen to myself!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-06-14 13:21
I say "practice to perform". When you practice anything else, don't you practice it up to the standard to which you want to hopefully perform it? Do you just lazily throw up free-throws hoping that this weekend at the local Y you'll just magically get it? Do you go bowling with some friends and not try to hit strikes because it's not your bowling league's game yet? If someone prepares for a marathon, do they just run half the miles hoping they'll make it come the big day? So why use a backup reed for rehearsals when you want to know how to sound for a performance?
Sorry. Tired man ranting.
Alexi <- who for the record needs to do some practicing of his own. Had two weeks of R&R and it was WELL worth it. But now it's back to putting the nose on the grindstone. One day I hope that this practice will pay off, but until then, hey, at least it kills some hours of the day!
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Author: marcia
Date: 2009-06-15 04:23
>and voila, there it was at last...the perfect reed!
What? Someone has actually found the Holy Grail?? Be still my beating heart! ![[whoa]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie10.gif)
Marcia
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Author: timg
Date: 2009-06-15 11:46
sfalexi wrote:
> If someone prepares for a marathon, do they just run half the miles hoping they'll make
> it come the big day?
Bad example - for most people, that's exactly the right way to train for a marathon
But I see your point.
-Tim
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Author: beejay
Date: 2009-06-15 15:12
I think psychology plays a part. There are days when every reed sounds terrible. And other days when exactly the same reeds sound fine. Humidity has something to do with it, but the problem is surely often to do with the player rather than the reed. I throw all my discarded reeds into a box and fish one out at random from time to time. Quite often it plays just fine.
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Author: PETERCOE
Date: 2009-07-17 18:20
I remember reading that Benny Goodmans daughter remarked about the number of reeds on the floor of his living room while he searched for a satisfactory sound.
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2009-07-17 19:57
If you want some great tips for adjusting stubborn reeds, check out this Michele Gingras YouTube video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCA0kBxT3q4
Her suggestions are very easy to follow, and they really work.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2009-07-18 01:45
Wow all these reed problems ! A little while back I bit the bullet and spent some money on a couple of -3 Forestone Synthetics & tried these out for a while. The first thing I came up against was a psychological problem is that I hadn't a cane reed in my mouth. It takes a bit of getting used to. But I'm a bit of an adventurous type and kept perserving for a while. Conclusion ? I've found, to use the expression mentioned above, the Perfect Reed! Well not really perfect as nothing in this carbon based universe is perfect. Just the ideal reed for all occasions. My clarinet responds beautifully to the Forestone Synthetic with good intonation, flexibility and range. Goodbye inconsistant and unpredicable cane reeds !!!
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