 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: charla
Date: 2010-11-21 17:02
I spend half my time trying to get a reed that plays easily. I mostly use Vandoren 3 1/2's and break them in per my teacher. Many of them, though, are so stiff that they take way too much air. I also have some Vandoren V-12's (3's) that seem to work a little better.
Are there reliable synthetic reeds that sound good and play easily? I'm an older player beginning again, and I don't have as much air as I did at 18! I also don't have unlimited funds for reeds!
I'm using a new r-13 with a Morgan mouthpiece.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2010-11-21 17:14
Both Legeres and Forestones are perfectly usable and have their strong advocates. You really will need to invest a little to find what feels best to you on your equipment. I don't find any reliable equivalence between the strengths of Vandoren or any other commercial cane reed and either synthetic. It's really takes a process of trial-and-error. Legere will replace any of their undamaged reeds with others if you find the strength you order is wrong. Forestone is willing to work with new users to help find the right strength at the lowest cost possible, which can include straight up replacement. I'm not sure they actually have a published promise to that effect, but I've personally had very good cooperation in this regard from them.
Karl
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Author: charla
Date: 2010-11-21 17:42
Karl, thanks for the suggestions. I certainly don't mind buying reeds but I just haven't found the right sound/ease combo yet. I will try the synthetics at least for practice.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2010-11-21 20:20
Why use such resistant reeds? I use Vandoren 2 or perhaps 2 & 1/2 and have no trouble getting a good sound with easy 'blowing' and full range right up to top C . The softer reed doesn't last as long as the more resisant ones though. My mouthpieces are Vandoren B45 dot and B45 and also occasionally Vandoren B40 Lyra or M13 Lyra. However the Vandoren reeds are not consistant in their resistance. The last box of V2s that I have need to be softened a touch more.
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Author: charla
Date: 2010-11-21 21:33
My teacher starts his little fourth graders out with 3's. The tone of a 3 1/2 is better, but it takes more air than I can muster at 65.
I'm just frustrated with the inconsistency of reeds...a few play, some play great, and some are still too stiff after a month of breakin. Have you used synthetic ones? I ordered a legere...I'll see how it works.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-11-21 23:34
Reed strength, to a large extent, is more dependent on the mouthpiece one uses, than on how long a person has been playing the clarinet. Don't get suckered in to the idea that the harder the reed, the better you are. That's NOT the case! Check with the mouthpiece maker to see what reed strength is an appropriate starting point, then go from there and see what works best for you.
Legere reeds work very well. Try a sample of the Quebec cuts. Look on their website for strength comparison charts. If you like these reeds, then try out one of their Signature reeds, too. They cost more, but play really nicely.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: charla
Date: 2010-11-22 00:00
Thanks...I'd rather be enjoying playing than fighting reeds!
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2010-11-22 02:00
I've had pretty good success with Legeres. I tried Legere Quebecs and Legere Signatures. I feel the Signature is really close to cane, and the Quebecs are just a little different in tone but pretty good too.
The only thing I don't like is that the pitch gets flatter as I play higher (this doesn't happen with my cane reeds) and the sound gets thinner too. I already tried exchanging for a 1/4 strength up (from 3.25 to 3.5), and I think it helped a little. I would love to try a 3.75 Legere Signature in the near future though to see if these problems are alleviated.
Also, when did you start playing clarinet again? If you just restarted clarinet recently, it wouldn't be surprising to find 3.5 reeds to be too hard to play on.
Post Edited (2010-11-22 02:01)
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Author: charla
Date: 2010-11-22 02:11
I started playing a year and a half ago but sort of seriously about four months ago. I did read that I can exchange legere's until I find one that works. I'll order tomorrow.
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2010-11-22 03:23
I, too, have picked up the clarinet at age 62, after a long layoff. Before spending a lot of money, try a Rico Plasticover #2 or 2 -1/2. These are the black plastic-coated 'poor-man's' synthetic.
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: dansil
Date: 2010-11-22 04:32
Hi Charla
Forestone reeds are my personal choice. Over the past 2 years I've bought about 10 reeds of diferent stiffnesses and of those 7 are still in good condition and playing well. The other three were damaged through lack of care.
I'll never be a professional player or even a semi-professional I still practice, and play about 10-15 hours a week depending on circumstances. So I think that the endurance of these reeds speaks volumes. I'm quite happy with the sound I get with these reeds although predictably the mouthpiece one uses is also extremely important. My Eddie Daniels MP seems to be the best with my 3.5 Forestone reeds.
Every now and then I try one of my 3 Legere Signature reeds with which I experimented and even some Vandorens just to reinforce my feelings about alternatives. But I won't be going back to cane or other synthetics unless something better than Forestone reeds turns up.
Cheers, Danny
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2010-11-22 06:52
I think Mithchell Lurie reeds are underrated. If you use V12 3 and 3.5 I would suggest ML 3.5. It has easier tone production quality, and in most case no adjustment needed. I found articulation much better with ML than any type of Vandoren. Although they not considered to be enough material in their heart, I have no problem with any Spohr concerto...
Give them a chance before buying some disgusting piece of plastic. Good luck!
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Author: charla
Date: 2010-11-22 08:59
Thanks for all your input. Lots to mull over. I might try Mitchell Lurie again. I guess the answer is to experiment a bit more.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-11-22 11:58
Disgusting piece of plastic? Have you ever used one? Synthetic reeds are cleaner than natural cane, which grows out of the ground, gets cut, and then sits out in the sun for a year or so to age. . Why is something made in a clean, lab-like area disgusting, compared to that?
Don't knock what you haven't tried.
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: William
Date: 2010-11-22 14:15
Posting regarding Legere reeds: "The only thing I don't like is that the pitch gets flatter as I play higher (this doesn't happen with my cane reeds) and the sound gets thinner too."
This has not been my experiance with Forestone reeds which play with a full, resonant sound in the altissimo, respond well and do not "play flat" as you go higher. Forestones maintain their resilience and tone production in the higher ranges making pitch control much easier with less stress on your embouchure to maintain the sound you like. I like the way my Forestones play in the upper register of all my clarinets--not at all "flat" or "thin" but rather, full and resonant.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2010-11-22 20:05
If the VD V12s are too hard, thin the tip with silicon carbide paper until they are easy to play. Many fine clarinetists play on fairly soft reeds.
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2010-11-22 20:28
I have tried both Forestone and Legere. I still say it's disgusting. You cannot argue with this, since this is my OPINION. If you hate natural things, please play the EWI (Electronic Woodwind Istrument). In this case you don't have to clean your instrument from that nasty vapour what comes out of your immortal body while playing.
Peace
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Author: TianL
Date: 2010-11-22 20:32
Charla.. your teacher starts 4th grader with V12 3's??? that's... ugh. don't know what to say..
just letting you know that my teacher, who graduated from Julliard with doctoral degree in clarinet and has been playing clarinet for 30 years.. only uses a V12 3 1/2 and sometimes 3's.
In general everyone has their own preference, but if a starter uses a much harder reed that they are supposed to, then that really can develop a lot of bad habits from the very beginning..
my suggestion would be (either for cane or synthetic), back it down a little if you feel the reed is too hard. I'd say even try 2 1/2. You might be amazed on how much better you will sound.
As for synthetic reed, I've tried both Forestone and Legere and they don't really work for me on clarinet. I do use Legere on Alto sax, but on clarinet the sound is just not comfortable enough.
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Author: senior
Date: 2010-11-22 21:38
I use a Hahn reed and find them to be the best of the synthetic reeds. I use a 2 1/2. Age here is 75. You can find the Hahn reeds here. A little pricy.
http://www.saxalley.com/reeds/reeds.html?brand=147
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Author: charla
Date: 2010-11-22 21:49
Thanks for all the great information. I've spent some time today adjusting my existing reeds so they're easier to play, and I've ordered a legere signature reed to try. I want a nice rich tone but I just don't have the air to work with a very hard reed.
It's a quest.
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Author: charla
Date: 2010-11-22 21:54
My teacher keeps Vandorens on hand, so I guess that's what he uses for the little ones. I'd think their frustration level would be pretty high. But...I have improved a lot under his teaching, so I've pretty much quit whining about his style.
At any rate, I'll have to use a reed strength that's reasonably comfortable. It isn't worth fighting my equipment.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2010-11-23 00:15
While I realize that there are a number of people who favor the synthetic reeds, I have tried the various flavors and sizes or Legere and recently tried Forestone. I have not yet found a synthetic reed that works even reasonably for me.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2010-11-23 04:13
I switched over to synthetics about 9 months ago. I've tried Legere and Forestone, they are both excellent products. My personal preference is for Legere Signature, and I like the warm, consistent tone that I get from them.. I've also tried Fibracell, which don't work well for me. I find their tone harsh and unpleasant. I play 2.5's and 2.75's. The idea of starting beginners on Vandoren 3's seems to be a certain recipe for emboucher problems.
Tony F.
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