 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TomS
Date: 2021-02-15 09:42
The Reserve Evolution reeds have been out for a while ...
I like them. I use them.
Anybody else?
Tom
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Author: EricBlack
Date: 2021-02-15 19:19
I did a review on the full D’Addario Reserve lineup a while ago. With my mouthpiece (BD5) at the time it was my least favorite reed of the bunch. To me, it seems the reed was designed to add a little bit more warmth and cover to resonant mouthpieces. Probably due to that, I just couldn’t get the kind of focus I wanted in the sound with my mouthpiece combination. I found myself subconsciously using an increasing amount of embouchure pressure to achieve it, but that of course only acted to hamper its otherwise good response and articulation. Eventually I tested my hypothesis and tried the reed on a mouthpiece where the focus and resonance was a little more “baked in” and the reed functioned much better and even helped balance out the sound. It was an entirely different playing experience. I’d be curious to know what mouthpiece you are using with this reed! And, just in case, I don’t mean for this to be negative reflection on the reed, just that one’s response to it would probably be very mouthpiece dependent! More so than other cuts of reed.
The full review is here if you’re curious: https://youtu.be/bboGSAVZNL0
Post Edited (2021-02-15 19:21)
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Author: TomS
Date: 2021-02-15 21:06
I am using the Reserve Evolution MP 440/442 and the Vandoren M15/13 ... they are dissimilar, but both useful and tune well on my clarinets.
Reed strength is #3.0. I am moving to an adjusted #3.5 for the M15, as the #3.0s are occasionally too light.
I don't bite, nowadays ... I came from the #5.0+ Blue Box mentality ...
My primary instruments are the Ridenour Lyrique 576BC and Lyrique Libertas ... but I also have an R13, Alpha, etc ... The 576 fits my wonky hands better than any other instrument ...
The 576 has a bit more "hold" than the others, so you can use a lighter MP/reed setup ...
Out of the box, I had some balance issues with the Evolution reeds, and they took some break-in before gaining some core and center.
Tom
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Author: TomS
Date: 2021-02-16 05:19
Very professional and objective (as possible) reviews.
You can plainly hear the difference over laptop speakers ... using Focusrite Clarett interface with Beyerdynamics DT990 Pro headphones is even more revealing.
Also watched the review on Vandoren reeds ... well done. (not burnt or medium rare 😉)
Tom
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Author: EricBlack
Date: 2021-02-16 06:29
Hey Tom,
I haven't had the opportunity to try the Reserve Evolution mouthpiece, but since the reeds and the mouthpiece were released somewhat concurrently (as a kind of pair?) I imagine that they are a good match! I have no problem believing that they also play well with the M15/13; the mouthpiece I tested them on that I thought they played well with is similar in design!
Also thanks for the kind words and watching! I try my best to be as objective and detailed as possible!
Best,
Eric
P.S. I'm jealous of your headphones, I've been wanting to get a new pair of Beyerdynamics ever since my DT660's kicked the can (pun intended)!
Post Edited (2021-02-16 06:40)
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Author: TomS
Date: 2021-02-19 00:51
Well ... as you well know, the sky is the limit on headphone prices ... if you read the Stereophile or Absolute Sound, you will see headphones that cost as much as a new motorcycle.
I am an old goat and go back to when the most esoteric headphones were a pair of Koss Pro 4A ... at less than 80 bucks. Something really far-out were some Stax electrostatics at 500 smokes ... (good cigars were a dollar apiece in 1970)
Yeah, it took a little period of adjustment, but the Reserve Evolution is, IMHO, a really good production mouthpiece, and even better if you file the trash off the inside from CNC machining and make sure the slot or window does not have a microscopically raised edge. This MP has good hold and control in the upper clarion and with a tip of 1.08mm, articulates quite well. I think Richie Hawley and the team did a really good job. But, I think all CNC MPs need personal attention: "trust but verify" ... next ones I purchase, I might forward to someone I trust to do the final tweaks, rather than let my blind eyes and unsteady hands do the job ...
Tom
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