Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2012-08-21 15:13
Carl,
I'm a 62-year old freelance player, currently playing VD B4013 and B40Lyre mouthpieces with #3 reeds (VD Traditional and Rico Reserve). I understand that this is a combination currently played by Dave Howard, Bass Cl. of the LA Phil.
As others have stated, the selection of reeds/strengths is not an "absolute" consideration, but must be done in consideration of the music you play, the equipment (i.e., mouthpiece) you use and your physical characteristics. Certainly comfort is important because it will free you to perform to the best of your ability. Don't succumb to the prevalent notion that stiffer reeds indicate better players.
Over the years I've worked to get the results I want on softer reeds, partly due to age-related considerations, but also because I've come to believe that one can get best results with the softest reed that yields good response and intonation. I used to believe that a stronger reed produced a better (i.e., darker) tone, but now believe that a more intense air-stream together with a (softer) reed that is well matched to the mouthpiece (i.e., the facing and resistance), can provide equivalent/better results.
While the marking on reeds provides a rough guide to how well they match your mouthpiece (e.g., in terms of their perceived stiffness), I have found that one needs to discover how to adjust each kind/strength of reed to any given mouthpiece to get the best results. Based on the curve of the mouthpiece and the curve of the reed's vamp, I use wet reed-rush to make the reed play softer (e.g., by thinning areas of the reed) or even harder (e.g., by "flattening" the reed's curve over its entire vamp).
One should not be overly shackled by "conventional wisdom". A little experimentation with [adjusting] different brands/strengths of reeds can be invaluable in discovering what really works for you. Once you've found the right combination, just relax and enjoy playing!
Bob Barnhart
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