 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: timu
Date: 2012-03-25 21:16
I play a Vandoren M15 mouthpiece and a 3 1/2 Vandoren reed. I've been playing the same strength reed for over a year.
Lately I'm finding that I'm squashing the reed against the mouthpiece and closing the airwave. I'm not biting it. This often happens with middle C and B above it.
Should I upgrade to a #4 reed?
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2012-03-25 23:39
You'll probably get a variety of opinions as well as advice about how not to close the reed, but without hearing you play everything's just a guess.
The real answer is that you need to answer the question yourself - by buying a box of #4s of whatever Vandoren model you're using and trying them. If the chalumeau register and throat notes are stuffy, breathy or otherwise not clear sounding with the stiffer reeds, or if it's hard to produce a clear, resonant long B and C,then they're too stiff. If you can produce a clear, resonant tone especially in these areas and, more generally, over the rest of the clarinet's range without having to strain your embouchure or blow a really unaccustomed amount of air to get a response, the higher strength is probably good. It's really a question of tone quality and comfort, which are to a great extent individual matters.
But don't think of moving from #3-1/2 to #4 reeds as an "upgrade." There's no association between quality of either the reed or the player and reed strength. It's only that some mouthpieces with some embouchure styles work better with one strength than another. Finding the right one is a personal issue that needs to be solved by experiment.
Karl
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-03-26 01:11
I agree with Karl, the only way you will know is to try. It's interesting that it happens on the middle B and C, on the break. Those notes have the most resistants and it's just possible that there is a slight leak down there and you have to use more support for those notes than the others and that you are pinching a bit without realizing it. Just a thought. ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Wes
Date: 2012-03-26 01:21
Last Wednesday, I played with my stand mate in a fine band and we read over "Pineapple Poll" a tough piece by Gilbert and Sullivan. He also played some beautiful solo parts. I had thought that he was using 2 1/2 regular Van Dorens on a medium opening mouthpiece, but was surprised to see him with a new box of Van Doren 1 1/2 reeds and playing great using them. Go figure!
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-03-26 02:24
Ed P. is as always dead center. Check your hardware first.
You may not be taking enough mouthpiece. Your lower teeth should be exactly at the point where the reed separates from the lay. Hold your clarinet so that you're looking at from the side, find the spot where the reed separates and make a light pencil mark on the reed. Then, looking in a mirror, put the mark right above your teeth (of course with your lower lip in between).
This makes it nearly impossible to choke off the reed. It will also free up your sound.
There's nothing wrong with going to a #4 reed. You can get an approximation by moving your 3-1/2 up so the tip is 1/16" or even 1/8" above the mouthpiece tip.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Roys_toys
Date: 2012-03-26 10:23
On Reeds subject, I recently saw an auction for an old clarinet ( didnt get it). There were lots ( about 30) of what looked like unused reeds in the kit. They were in current Vandoren grade 2 boxes , but were just marked Vandoren, no grade number, no model name.
I gather Vandoren have not issued reeds unmarked for grade since the 1985. Out of interest, would unused reeds that old be good ?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2012-03-26 10:29
Old reeds should give you just as many problems as new reeds. 
...GBK
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2012-03-27 01:35
I find the really old ones to perform better than new ones.
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: timu
Date: 2012-04-01 20:22
How can I tell if there is a slight leak? Anything I can test at home or do I need to take it to a technician?
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Author: bethmhil
Date: 2012-04-01 21:56
I think the only reason I would ever want the old Vandorens is for those awesome purple reed guards!
BMH
Illinois State University, BME and BM Performance
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Author: jlcraig
Date: 2012-04-01 23:00
"How can I tell if there is a slight leak?"
If you haven't already tried this you can take the clarinet joint you think has a problem completely off. Make sure that all the holes are covered and to put your hand you are not using to cover the holes over the bottom of the joint. Once you know everything is covered blow on the top of the joint and if you should not be able to hear any air coming out. If you do hear air find where it is coming from and that is your leak.
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