 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: emmett1235
Date: 2016-03-10 22:21
I posted a month or so ago about getting a free trial on Steuer reeds. I got a 3.5 (equivalent to Vandoren's V12 3.25) and am on day 2 of the break-in ritual. Everytime I play, there is a squeaky tone that I can't stop. Am I doin something wrong?
I've only tried the bass clarinet reed.
Northern and Southern Indiana
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2016-03-11 00:19
If you're squeaking, it's likely your mouthpiece facing is unbalanced at the tip, or the tip baffle is not symmetric. A thin reed tip will exacerbate the tendency to squeak, but the root cause is usually the mouthpiece itself.
And/or, the particular reed that is squeaking may have a flaw (thin area) at the tip which, sooner or later, will split altogether. You can't make any judgments based on only one reed sample -- you have to try several reeds at a minimum, and better yet over a period of time, in different rooms/venues, and on several mouthpieces, in order to make a valid assessment of the reed brand and model.
I've played many dozens of Steuer reeds (mostly in the small German-system bass clarinet size) over several years, and I believe they are very good reeds.
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Author: emmett1235
Date: 2016-03-11 02:26
I have no doubt they are good reeds. I've only read good reviews. That's why I asked. I only have the one because it was a free trial of 2 reeds. I love how they look though! My Bb mouthpiece is Italian (I think, being a Gigliotti), so I'm not sure how that will fit, being French cut. I'm not familiar with this stuff. My current bass mouthpiece is a Yamaha B45 very basic.
Northern and Southern Indiana
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-03-11 02:55
Anthony Gigliotti was an American clarinetist - principal for several decades of the Philadelphia Orchestra - and the mouthpiece was modeled on one of his Chedeville mouthpieces. They were originally made by Selmer from Babbitt blanks, although I don't know who makes the current ones. So the Gigliotti mouthpieces are American made based on French design. Gigliotti played Vandoren reeds for most of his quite long career. There's no worry that the mouthpiece is incompatible with French style reeds.
Karl
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-03-11 10:54
Keep us posted. This is the first complaint on the bass clarinet reeds. I think Thomas with the Steuer company reads this board postings faithfully. So your opinion isn't taken lightly.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2016-03-11 10:55)
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