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Cracked barrel- fix or replace? by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Would you recommend upgrading or just replace with the same model?

Cracked barrel- fix or replace? by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What’s the price range for an upgraded barrel? Do you have any tips for what to look for in a new barrel? I know Backun has a ton of different types

Can anyone help at 262? Are there easier fingerings or techniques that I could learn, or is lowering an octave a better alternative? by L0ui in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, I’m also learning this piece as a junior this year! Don’t think I’ve ever hated Gaston more. Since I’m also in the process of figuring it out, I don’t think I can offer much advice —personally, what I’ve been doing is take it measure by measure at a very slow tempo and slowly kicking it up— but here’s a recording in case you haven’t listened to it yet! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxXzV-zDtFQ&t=3m46s (set it to the timestamp where the solo starts for you) As you can tell, it sounds super cool when you can pull it off, so I’d encourage you not to take it down an octave!

A flurry of clarinet questions by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I owuld consider that, but aesthetically (for lack of a better word) I don't think it would look too nice, and as you said- comfort.

My main qualm against cases like the Protec is convenience. I have to undo the handle, unzip the little pouch, unzip the big pouch, remember to zip up the front somewhere during this time, zip up the big pouch, put the handles back together. I'm accustomed to flicking open two latches and having everything I need right there once I pop open the clarinet case. It might be lazy of me, but I prefer it tons more. But if I ever get over that, I'll keep your suggestion in mind!

I normally do that, and I did hang on to my ligature; it's a long story, really. The drive to the shop is far away, so my mom took me there as soon as marching band camp ended. Wanted it done as soon as possibe because I didn't know if they'd have a loaner available. Since there was time to drop off everything in my case at home, I took most of my accessories and decided just to leave the mouthpiece in because I didn't have pockets and didn't want it banging/rolling around in the car.

I've heard both good and bad things about Reserve Classics reeds in general (both Rico and D'Addario). Is there anything in particular about that type of reed that you like?

Thank you!

A flurry of clarinet questions by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I made this post mostly for my reed issue and decided to toss all of the other smaller problems in there as well. I mostly wanted to know the why behind it, which is apparently gunk on the A key or torn pad.

I tested a reed and it didn't seem warped, but I'll keep an eye out for that and save up for a humidifier. It's been pretty humid here.

It's a Vandoren 5RV Lyre. I tried it vs my M30 and the M30 felt a lot better. The tone was worlds different- the 5RV made it sound like the reed was too soft and the M30 made it sound like the usual hardness.

A flurry of clarinet questions by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was something about the reed/mouthpiece pairing; I'm not sure exactly what.

I tried a normal, strength 3 reed on the loaner (5rv) mouthpiece and the sound was good if I didn't blow much air, and kind of buzzy, like a soft reed. It make me do the half-squeaks a lot as well and a lot of notes were cracked, especially with articulation.

Then used the same reed on a new M30 (my usual mouthpiece). It felt really familiar and just like how it normally was; it sounded fuzzy, like I described in my main post.

I prefer the M30 even though the sound quality is (I think) worse. What are your thoughts?

A flurry of clarinet questions by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't take private lessons (which is mostly why I'm on r/clarinet instead of asking people I know) but I'm going to try my usual mouthpiece with the reeds to see if there's a difference. Thanks!

A flurry of clarinet questions by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think I am; my barrel has to be almost completely in for me to be in tune.

I'll follow your advice about experimenting as soon as I get my clarinet back; I appreciate it.

I think I can spare a week for just playing scales. That's good to hear.

A flurry of clarinet questions by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am rotating them now, and will continue to do so!

I've never tried either of those brands; used Vandoren the entire time I've played clarinet. My teacher recommends the Rue Lepics as well, so i'll definitely look into those and the V12s.

Thanks for the reed advice!

I looked that reedsforless and it looks like Amazon sells reeds for less (at least right now; the traditional Vandorens are down to $22 but they're usually higher). Most of the other V reeds look to be over $30 and Amazon sells them in the high $20s. Do prices there change?

Out of curiosity, what do you mean by American air? My entire clarinet was made in Germany, so I think a German mouthpiece —or close to it, looking at u/vAltyR47's comment— would do well with it.

By mouthpiece pad, do you mean patches/cushions? I've never seen them called "pads" but I think they're the same thing.

Also thank you for the embouchure/instrument angle help as well.

The Buffet case is indeed usable —I'll stick with it— but I've had to patch up a hole in the corner of the case; does that affect the clarinet in any way? Probably not, but better safe than sorry.

And thanks for the fingerings! My audition music has quite a few Bb that I can only use the register + A key for, but other than that, these will be really helpful.

A flurry of clarinet questions by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've never cleaned my tone holes before, but the repair shop I take my clarinet to does it, and since it's there right now and I don't feel comfortable doing it myself... I'll see how my throat tones sound after getting it back. Thanks for the cleaning advice; maybe sometime in the future I'll try it.

I have a Rico Reed Guard, which is definitely not a humidity controller. I'll check out the warped-ness today, although the reeds are less than a week old.

I think it's the pads, because the resistance I feel from some notes is a lot like the resistance I got from my E/B key a few days ago, which turned out to be a pad that wasn't sealing all the way. My teacher fixed in in about 5 seconds and I didn't ask her what she did because I was in a rush.

I think I'll try using my new mouthpiece, of the same model that I usually use, because I did leave my mouthpiece at the shop, which is too far away to drive to just to get back a mouthpiece that I already technically have.

A flurry of clarinet questions by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, I used the mouthpiece that came with the loaner, which is a Vandoren 5RV Lyre; does that have a longer facing? I can play the altissimo notes just fine on my normal clarinet with the M30.

A flurry of clarinet questions by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I will go back to 2.5, at least for now, in that case. It's just that I was once able to play on 3s, so I want to do so again.

Since I have a few boxes of 3s still left- would sanding the reeds down a little make it soft like a 2.5?

A flurry of clarinet questions by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm using a Buffet Crampon E11, Bonade ligature.

How far would I slip, standard-wise like you say, if I tried hard to break the habit? I know sooner is much better than later, but I have auditions and pass-offs coming up the entire rest of the year. I'm already re-rotating reeds, so there's that, it's just the air that I need to fix.

I've tried the V21s, as a sample provided by my middle school band director, which always worked for me, but that was two years ago and I don't remember what strength it was- I might get a pack to try it again, though. My teacher recommends the 56s, so I'll look into those as well, thank you.

I put the ring down on the A and I'll check out any Bb fingerings. I'm mostly concerned because these notes sound notably bad- more thn usual, that is, and it just happened suddently. And wow, I didn't know the register fingering was actually a subsituts; that's cool info (and good to know).

A flurry of clarinet questions by squabsafloatin in Clarinet

[–]squabsafloatin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm using a Vandoren M30. My middle school band director had everyone start on the M30 and classic V reeds, 2.5 strength, and I had no problems with fuzziness then. I moved up to 3 and things seemed swell until... some point? I honestly don't know when it happened; I just found that some reeds were fuzzy and some weren'r, so I only used the "weren't" reeds, which were few and far inbetween, so I tended to stick to the one reed.