i figured i'd just put them all in one forum post :]

1] how can i improve my tone quality? my high notes sound really... dying seagull-ish. and i want my low notes to sound warmer.

2] does anyone know of a good brand of reed i could use? i know ricos are evil. i've tried mitchell lurie 3's and 4's, but my tone is always really bad when i use them. i usually play on a van doren 3, but the notes notes are really hard to get out.

3] i played on a yamaha for about 4 years, but a few months ago a few of the notes quit coming out, so i bought a selmer. the selmer seems to be very uh. crappily made. a few of the pads have already started falling off, and i've only had it since july. the notes also sound really horrible.
does anyone know of a good brand i should buy? i think i'm going to ask my parents if they'll sell the selmer and buy a new one. i'm in marching band, so i need to get a plastic one, but it needs to be a good one because i also do all state and other things of that sort.

thanks to anyone that answers :D

"i figured i'd just put them all in one forum post :]

1] how can i improve my tone quality? my high notes sound really... dying seagull-ish. and i want my low notes to sound warmer.

2] does anyone know of a good brand of reed i could use? i know ricos are evil. i've tried mitchell lurie 3's and 4's, but my tone is always really bad when i use them. i usually play on a van doren 3, but the notes notes are really hard to get out.

3] i played on a yamaha for about 4 years, but a few months ago a few of the notes quit coming out, so i bought a selmer. the selmer seems to be very uh. crappily made. a few of the pads have already started falling off, and i've only had it since july. the notes also sound really horrible.
does anyone know of a good brand i should buy? i think i'm going to ask my parents if they'll sell the selmer and buy a new one. i'm in marching band, so i need to get a plastic one, but it needs to be a good one because i also do all state and other things of that sort.

thanks to anyone that answers :D"




It seems that your clarinets keep "dying". Have you ever taken them to a repair tech? You should atleast get your clarinet looked over once a year, and if you see a problem (such as notes not coming out) you should take it in immediately. Regarding the notes not comming out, it was probably just a simple problem such as a leaky key.

Do you break in your reeds and replace them atleast every 3 months? It sounds like you're over using reeds, I suggest buy a box of 5, and rotate them. Play on 1 one day, and the next reed the next day. This keeps all of your reeds with balanced wear. I suggest buy a few different types of reeds in different strengths and see what you like.

Personally, I think you should just take your selmer to a repair tech, and get him to check it over. You may be surprised what a few dollars can do to your clarinet.

i took my old clarinet to the shop and they fixed a leaky key. it worked for a few days, but then it quit working again. i took it back 2 or 3 times after that and it never did start working again :/ i got my whole section to play my clarinet, and it wouldn't work for them either. that's why i bought a new one.

and i do switch reeds around. but even reeds that i've only played on for a few days do the same thing. aaahhh.

there should be a simple soulution to the problems with the clairnets, take it back, or to different repair people, until someone fixes it, as to the reeds, I like vandoren, but different people like differnet things, maybe try a smaller size?

Also it can take up to a month to break in new reeds.

It's very difficult over the web to diagnose specific problems.

But from the little information you have provided i'm going to guess you are also biting. I know that may sound incorrect but do you have a private teacher ? that could at least look at this possibility ?

Biting, or other embouchure problems basically make reeds not last as long and really choke off the sound (assuming all else is in good working order)

Read this quick writeup in the embouchure section (half way down)
http://www.clarinetperfection.com/clmpcTypes.htm


As for your tone quality - it relies alot upon your embouchure, reed selection, mpc, etc and what you define as a good tonal quality.

many student instruments are vastly different from professional instruments. Take a look at Vito toneholes versus a Selmer paris toneholes. You will notice that the Vitos are much smaller - designed for smaller hands to cover. There are many little nuances like that between the same line as you go from beginner, to intermediate to professional level instruments.

So student instruments may sound great for a great player, but that player will probably sound better on a better instrument.


as to why your instruments keep dying ? good question.
but a good repair tech should be able to correct any problems that you may have. Find a different repair tech if they are unable to correct your instrument.

I should also mention that I use Vandoren Traditional (as my primary reed) but also 56, V12 and also MitchellLauries.

The MLs are a bit thin cut and generate a thinner tone, but are much easier just to slap on and start playing. Which for me, where I do alot of mpc testing and clarinet testing comes in handy.

Personally on short to medium length lay mpcs I prefer the Traditional in 3-4 depending upon the mpc, on longer the 56s

here's a little information on mpc design differences
http://www.clarinetperfection.com/clmpcTypes.htm

Vandoren on their site has good information on the differences of their reeds and how the tonal quality differs between them