Reeds Reed strength question - Baritone vs Bass clarinet

[Bassclarinetjasper]

My mid-life crisis took the form of a vintage bari sax, which I've now been playing for 6 months, after 30+ years on Bb and bass clarinet. I've got a question about reed strengths: on the bass clarinet, I play a relatively open mouthpiece (Vandoren B50) and 2 1/2 strength reeds (V21). After a lot of fiddling about, I arrived at something similar for the bari - the lovely PPT mouthpiece (which I think is 105) and 2 1/2 Alexander classique reeds. When I was playing for my teacher online, he suggested that a harder reed - a 3 or 3 1/2 - would give more control, particularly at the bottom, and a better sound. He said that he also plays a much softer reed on bass clarinet than baritone. I'm wondering if anyone else has any similar experience? I'd say my embouchure is still adjusting to the bari, but is fairly well-developed - I find that a 3 or 3 1/2 Rico Royal both work fine on the PPT, but I'm now confused as to what is 'normal' for a bari set-up (to get a nice fat funky baritone sound)... is there such a thing?

 

[Pete Thomas]

the lovely PPT mouthpiece (which I think is 105) and 2 1/2 Alexander classique reeds.

The stock sizes are .110 for the 7 and .125 for the 8*

I use a 2 1/2 D'Addario or 2.25 Legere. I don't think harder reeds give more control, or rather: if they do then it would be better to work on the controller being you rather than the reed.

 

[lydian]

I don’t think there is a such thing as a “normal” setup. It’s always unique to the individual. I play a 2.5 Rico on a 110 Level Air and get a great funk sound. I’d probably go to a 3 if I were in a situation where I had to blow a lot harder.

To me it’s pretty obvious what the ideal reed strength is. If I get a thin sound or the reed closes up at high volume, I need to go harder. If I’m exhausted or find it difficult to play the low end I go softer. Using the exact same setup as someone else has never worked for me.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Royal are a half to a full strength softer than a Vandoren blue
I use a Vandoren four or a Royal 5.
Another thing to compare is the length of the Vamp.
A Vandoren blue vamp is about a centimetre longer than a Royal vamp. The whole reed being the same length.
If the Vamp is shorter than the window in the mouthpiece it affects the way it plays.

 

[lydian]

You must have chops of steel. I wouldn’t be able to get a sound out of that setup.

 

[Alphorn]

I don‘t think there is a hard rule. V21 2.5 on a BD50 is what I play on bass clarinet, Legere Signature European Cut it is 2,25. On Bari, Aaron Drake 110, it is 2.5 - 3 cane or Legere American Cut 2.25. Seems we are in the same ballpark.

 

[Colin the Bear]

You must have chops of steel. I wouldn’t be able to get a sound out of that setup.

It's a very easy blow on an S80C*

 

[lydian]

It's a very easy blow on an S80C*

That makes me feel better. Your facing is 2.05mm, but mine is 2.80mm. Big difference.

 

[Dr G]

Oranges and ducks. You need to find the setup that works with a given mouthpiece and instrument. What works on something else just doesn’t matter much because there are so many variables including lay, chamber size, tip opening, random reed strength numbers, and how you handle the air on each instrument.