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Synthetic reeds on bass: what setup works for you?

Author: Claricrooner
Date: 2025-05-07 15:32

For those who are able to make synthetic reeds work on bass clarinet, what does your setup look like? Do you play bass reeds, or perhaps tenor saxophone? Are there some mouthpieces that work better than others on bass for synthetic reeds?

I play synthetic (Legere European Cut) professionally on Bb clarinet. I’m hoping to do the same on bass but am yet to find a way to make it work. I’d be grateful for any help or advice, or recommendations for setups to try. Thanks!

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Re: Synthetic reeds on bass: what setup works for you?

Author: super20dan
Date: 2025-05-08 00:32

i have had good results with syynthetic reeds on bass using legere-BARI venn and hartman fiber reeds. not all mpcs respond well to synth reeds but i have had great results with vandoren and brilhart bass clarinet mpcs. tenor sax synth reeds work just fine on bass clarinet. the venn reed only worked for me on very close facings as it a very stiff reed.

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Re: Synthetic reeds on bass: what setup works for you?

Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2025-05-08 00:53

I use both tenor and bass Legere reeds on bass clarinet. Both my best MPs are Selmer Soloist C* that have been refaced by David McClune. A few VDs work but do not come close to the C*. Any ligature seems to work just fine.

HRL

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Re: Synthetic reeds on bass: what setup works for you?

Author: super20dan
Date: 2025-05-08 02:32

yyes thhe selmer c* is still the best bass clarinet mpc -just unbeatable. even my fobes sanfrancisco mpc cant touch my selmer c*

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Re: Synthetic reeds on bass: what setup works for you?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-05-08 02:35

I use a Vandoren (Pomarico) A2 crystal with Legere Signature 3 on bass.

I find the Vandoren/Pomarico crystal bass mouthpieces have a much fuller, fatter and focussed tone than the Vandoren B46 and Selmer C* I also have. It's not a spread and characterless or 'flabby' sound as some people make - I had the 2nd clarinettist in one of the local orchestras say it felt like he was sat by the cathedral organ when I was playing bass during a rehearsal.

Someone I know recently said their clarinet teacher said crystal bass mouthpieces are "the wrong sound" for orchestral playing.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

Post Edited (2025-05-08 18:46)

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Re: Synthetic reeds on bass: what setup works for you?

Author: super20dan
Date: 2025-05-08 07:51

i found synth reeds worked execellent on xystal when i played a obrien on Bb for years. back then all there was was the BARI brand but it was an execellent set up. i imagine its true for xystal on bass now also

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Re: Synthetic reeds on bass: what setup works for you?

Author: Mojo
Date: 2025-05-08 18:31

I was playing a Fobes San Francisco AP (little more open than a C*). Now I play my own 3D printed BC mouthpiece that is similar, but with my own refinements. I like 2.5 strength Legere ECs. 2.75 if I have a lot of high notes.

MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com

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