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Re: Grabner's K14 and k13*

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2009-11-24 11:06

Walter Grabner on his website recommends 3-1/2 V12 for the K13* and 3 or 3-1/2 V12 for the K14, which is slightly more open. I use a Grabner mouthpiece (now apparently discontinued) that is slightly closer-tipped than the K11, so I can't really tell you how those strengths work from first-hand experience on K13* and K14, but I'd trust Walter's recommendation as a starting point. If you already own or are considering buying one of those, buy a box of V12 #3 and one of #3.5 and see how they feel to you.

Ligatures are a different animal - not the same issue as reed strength. Although response and sound of a given moutpiece will vary a little with different ligatures, the choice is really much more personal. A #5 V12 out of the box probably doesn't play comfortably for anyone on either of the mouthpieces you asked about, but any ligature will allow anyone to play either mouthpiece with the right reed. The differences in whatever effect each ligature has on the playing qualities of a mouthpiece-reed combination are more subtle and personal.

No ligature will make a mouthpiece unplayable with the right reed. No ligature will make the wrong reed sound good on any mouthpiece. For more opinion about ligatures, do a search for other discussion threads about them - there have been almost as many as there have been about reeds.

Good luck,
Karl

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