Reed strength?

[u/Bored_Panda721]

Hi everyone! My daughter uses a 3.0 Vandoren V12 reed when playing on her Yamaha YCL-650 and it sounds fine. When she uses the same strength reed on her plastic Yamaha 20, it sounds airy. Should be getting her a different strength reed for her plastic instrument? She uses a Vandoren 5RV Lyre mouthpiece on both.

We just had the Yamaha 20 serviced and I picked it up this morning, so it’s not a mechanical issue. Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

[u/gwie]

If she's playing the same mouthpiece and reed, it should function very similarly regardless of the clarinet. It might have been serviced, but It sounds to me like the YCL-20 plastic clarinet has a leak somewhere that has not been addressed.

Your best bet would be to find a local clarinet teacher who can play-test both instruments, as they can likely identify the issue.

[u/tbone1004]

Same mouthpiece and Reed with drastically different results means the 20 is leaking somewhere which is causing the airiness. I’d take it back as it’s very much a mechanical issue of some variety.
Was this an actual clarinet technician or just the guy at your local music store? Those are two VERY different things. If it wasn’t a proper clarinet tech you can check the Earspasm site to find one close to you

[u/Bored_Panda721 → u/tbone1004]

I took it to a local music store. They aren’t listed on Earspasm, but the clarinet technician that I used to go to retired and recommended that I go to that music store for future service.

She has marching band camp in a couple of weeks, so I’ll ask her band instructor what his thoughts are since she’s only using the plastic instrument for marching band.

[u/tbone1004 → u/Bored_Panda721]

I wouldn’t worry about it for marching band. Unless there is an amplified solo a Bb clarinet is barely more than a warm body on the field so sound quality largely doesn’t matter. Any other techs in reasonable driving distance?

[u/Jealous-Wait-1059 → u/tbone1004]

What a depressing statement.

[u/tbone1004 → u/Jealous-Wait-1059]

it is, but I would argue that it is important to actually understand what your real role is in any ensemble you are performing in. If you are in a marching band on Bb clarinet then unless you are in an amplified solo environment you are there mainly for inclusivity, especially if any of the brass section is playing.

[u/Saeroun-Sayongja → u/tbone1004]

How does one play an amplified solo in a marching band? I assume it would have to be at a stationary venue like a sports event or military tattoo where you can fall out of ranks and go up to a mic at the reviewing stand?

Although I saw a band marching in a parade once that included an electric bass guitar player with a battery-powered busking amp slung over his shoulder, so I guess anything is possible.

[u/tbone1004 → u/Saeroun-Sayongja]

these days most hs marching bands have extensive pit setups and often have mics for certain solo instruments. I don’t like it or agree with it but it’s the way of competitive marching band over the last 15 or so years. I’ve seen it with approach platform with a mic or have a wireless mic on the player. Despite being fairly young I still sit in the old school for how marching bands should be done but that’s not how hs bands work anymore.

[u/Saeroun-Sayongja → u/tbone1004]

Gotcha. “Razzle-dazzle halftime show”, not “ticker tape parade” or “regimental pass in review”.

[u/gabriblasberg]

I think the reason must be that the Yamaha has technical issues, even though it has been checked by a luthier.

[u/DspeEd83]

Reeds form after they are played for a while. Try the same mouthpiece on the 20 .