 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-10-15 12:44
I've noticed that some clarinets are more "reed-friendly" than others, which doesn't necessarily mean they are better instruments. I have in my closet a Leblanc prototype which I suspect is an Ambiance -there is no model or serial number on it-that practically any reed works on very well. But it's hardly the world's best clarinet! I suspect an instrument with fewer harmonics is easier to find a reed for.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: kdk
Date: 2020-10-15 16:29
Ruben, you're going to have to flesh this out a little. My clarinets will accept any reed that plays on my mouthpiece, but I don't think of that as a special characteristic of the instruments. How does the mouthpiece fit into your description of your Leblanc, and how is the instrument different in "reed friendliness" from the clarinets you use regularly?
Karl
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2020-10-15 20:26
It may be more in the mouthpiece. Always use the same mouthpiece when trying clarinets.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2020-10-16 17:44
Ruben asks a legitimate question. Here's my speculation: The whole purpose of the clarinet+mouthpiece+reed system is to create a standing pressure wave inside the body of the instrument, at a desired frequency (pitch), with a narrow bandwidth ("focus"), and whatever mix and ratios of overtones are desired to meet the artist's tonal concept. Think of it as an impedance-matching challenge - we want all the parts of the system to present minimum impedance to the desired vibrational response, so part of that goal is achieved with a clarinet that is "free-blowing"; that is, presents less impedance to the production of the desired standing wave pattern.
With a freer-blowing clarinet, there is more latitude to use stiffer and/or less "responsive" reeds while still achieving an acceptable "system" response. In other words, a less-resistant clarinet would be more reed-friendly.
I think.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-10-16 19:50
What I have encountered in more recent trials of clarinets (recent being the last ten years) is that some clarinets seem to "choke off" (the sound stops) under mezzo forte in the chalumeau register. This happened to me first on the Backun clarinets (student line and some of there professional models). The next instance of this was with the Selmer Privilege. Not the first ones mind you but the ones with the Superman logo on them. A few colleagues of mine did not have the same problem with the Selmers, so I think there is a certain way I approach the oral cavity pressure vs. the embouchure.
So yes, there is a minimum oral cavity pressure that is required to initiate/control the standing wave and with that, a corresponding amount of embouchure control.
hmmmmm...............
We asked in another thread if there is any validity to practicing on the mouthpiece by itself. To that I can now say:
NO
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2020-10-16 23:42
To Ken, Dave, and Paul...I found all of your responses to be excellent. The only exception would be Dave's because he concentrated his response on the "WHY?" which was what the OP was looking for.
Dave, although your response was quite complex in nature, because I've been in electronics for around 40 years, I understood your descriptive words and, IMO, I found your response to be "spot on". I made an attempt to simplify your response, however my detailed analysis became so long in nature that I simply abandoned it. I know that I could do it, however, I'm not sure the OP would understand it because I would have used a complex, audio oscillator analysis approach in my explanation.
So, to keep things simple, because the "WHY?" is so complex, I believe that simply following Ken's advice would probably be the best approach to finding that free blowing clarinet which would allow you to use a greater variety of various reeds.
p.s. I'm going to try and make an attempt to simplify the OP's question. By the nature of their design, clarinets and mouthpieces share a common denominator. Both of them can either be "free blowing" or "resistant". The degree of resistance of each is, of course, variable. If either the clarinet or the mouthpiece is quite resistant, your choice of reeds will most likely be limited to softer or have a lower resistance number. A freer blowing clarinet and mouthpiece combo should, in theory, allow you to be able to use a wider variety of reeds thus leading to a "reed friendly" clarinet system.
Just my opinion...
Post Edited (2020-10-17 00:34)
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Author: badreed73
Date: 2020-10-19 08:28
I have played clarinet for almost 40 years now but am new to this excellent bboard and I just have to say "Wow!". These responses have just cleared up some of the many questions that have been simmering away in my brain for years. I won't blame my teachers, I think I'm just finally open thinking about this stuff and doing my own research. Just wanted to say thank you!
Gratefully,
Leah
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Author: EbClarinet
Date: 2020-10-26 06:42
It's all in the mouth! It's not the clarinets, but your embouchure that will facilitate the free blowing. I've played many different clarinets over the years but I've learned it's my mouth that over comes the reed, mouth piece and instruments.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/mbtldsongministry/
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