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Re: Synthetic Redux

Author: SecondTry
Date: 2022-12-05 02:04

To the extent that you directed your thoughts at me Paul I wasn't at all offended.

The gold standard of any clarinet equipment's use is the diversity of players over time that adopt it. So your point about Silverstein's synthetic wares, which have been out of a while, enjoying a far smaller market share than Legere, I completely agree with as a fairer litmus test of quality that any fancy copy that some seller puts in their internet links.

I also delved slightly into the German world of mouthpieces---a little--in my use for a while of the Vandoren M30D, "D" for Deutsche, (as I bet you know.) I enjoyed the covered sound but the projection was lacking, and the tip opening too much for my taste.

As the occasional double lip player, my closed M15 and weak reeds is much preferred.

Also like you, I might trade some reed performance for consistency in adoption of synthetics over cane.

As to your testing of Ambipoly, I can only assume that you exhibited more than a fair share of patience in the adoption of a new one of these reeds. I understand that their more cane like makeup finds them requiring more of a break in period than Legere's offerings.

I wonder if this 3rd iteration you speak of is their current offering.

"So now Wenzel Fuchs uses Ambipoly (so were are told) and he endorses them (so we are told)."

I can take this statement with the equal grain of salt it appears you might as well Paul. This is not to take a stab at Mr. Fuchs or Silverstein Works. But need I tell you, if a year from now Mr. Fuchs or someone else of his caliber was endorsing "Venn reeds and Uebel clarinets" (two brands I expressly do NOT wish to disparage here) I wouldn't be shocked. I generally don't think artists will play junk for money, but if gear choices are comparable I wouldn't be shocked to find artists going with the setup that has the most lucrative endorsement contract.

"I do, however take the claims of Wenzel Fuchs more seriously and may at some point soon give the Ambipoly another go (researching whether there is a German version which may change the equation completely)."

There appears to be German reed offering Paul on this webpage:

https://www.silversteinworks.com/ambipoly-reeds/clarinet-reeds/

Post Edited (2022-12-05 02:06)

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