Clarinet Reeds Dead?

    
Clarinet Reeds Dead?    21:21 on Monday, May 18, 2009          

andrewsong14
(2 points)
Posted by andrewsong14

I have a major issue. I don't know if it is just me being super intolerant, but I seem to faind almost 80% of new reeds that I play from the Vandoren blue box to be unplayable. What is my problem? They are the right strength as the one under is way too soft. Could someone explain if Vandoren sucks at consistency?


Re: Clarinet Reeds Dead?    12:41 on Tuesday, May 19, 2009          

jvanullen
(186 points)
Posted by jvanullen

Vandoren builds inconsistencies into their boxes for several reasons. Depending on where you live, climate and altitude affects reeds. Also, each player is going to be looking for something a little bit different. If they made a box of perfect reeds one person would be super happy and another would find nothing. Now, some issues with reeds are a result of the production error, but mostly not.

It's best to think of reeds out of the box as "almost-finished" reeds. You should learn to fix reeds and get tools necessary to do so. It's a skill that takes time, but will save you a lot of money in the long run.


Re: Clarinet Reeds Dead?    13:55 on Tuesday, May 19, 2009          

clarinet99
(149 points)
Posted by clarinet99

I have changed to Legere synthetic reeds which has totally abolished the playability issue. Check out the Legere website.


Re: Clarinet Reeds Dead?    18:13 on Tuesday, May 19, 2009          

flute_n_bassoon
(309 points)
Posted by flute_n_bassoon

synthetic reeds may be easy to play, but you often give up good sound in exchange. Plus, you won't get very far and may be looked upon by others as a begginer. No...stick to normal reeds.


Re: Clarinet Reeds Dead?    22:20 on Tuesday, May 19, 2009          

clarinet99
(149 points)
Posted by clarinet99

Oh, dear me no !! Check the senior web forums and you will see that many top professional symphony orchestra clarinetists use synthetic reeds, either Legere or Forestone. Log on to "clarinet bboard", which is used by most of the top pros, and search for Legere and Forestone. Most of the opinions on this forum you are now reading,come from students and expert "wannabes".


Re: Clarinet Reeds Dead?    22:23 on Tuesday, May 19, 2009          

clarinet99
(149 points)
Posted by clarinet99

By the way flute_n_bassoon, since you play flute, bassoon and oboe, what makes you an authority on clarinet reeds?


Re: Clarinet Reeds Dead?    23:05 on Tuesday, May 19, 2009          

flute_n_bassoon
(309 points)
Posted by flute_n_bassoon

I never said I had authority.
However, I have debated about learning it one day, and have consistently looked on various clarinet forums.
All I have seen about synthetic clarinet reeds is people commenting on the loss of tone and intonation. I figured that they must be right, because I know that it is true for synthetic bassoon and oboe reeds. I must have been looking at the wrong forums, and talking to the wrong people, because being able to use synthetic reeds was a promising concept to me, and I wanted to look into it.
Forgive me for my mistake.


Re: Clarinet Reeds Dead?    05:20 on Wednesday, May 27, 2009          

secondoboe
(20 points)
Posted by secondoboe

Synthetic single reeds might be fine. Flute-bassoon is right, synthetic double reeds are awful.


Re: Clarinet Reeds Dead?    13:08 on Sunday, May 31, 2009          

jvanullen
(186 points)
Posted by jvanullen

Legere and Forestone have been well engineered reeds, yes, but they still do not replace cane. Most of the people you speak of don't play exclusively on synthetic reeds, and I think that it is important to learn to fix reeds even if you play synthetic.


Re: Clarinet Reeds Dead?    20:34 on Friday, June 5, 2009          

flute_n_bassoon
(309 points)
Posted by flute_n_bassoon

Hmmmm...
I wonder how somebody would fix a synthetic reed...
is it even possible? Would you ever really need to fix one?
Just curious...


   




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