What is the best reed for a B45 mouthpiece on E11 Buffet Clarinet?

Question

-Advanced Intermediate

-Been playing for 4 years

-In High School Concert Band (starting..)

Answer 1

Honestly, when it comes to your setup (mouthpiece, ligature, and reed)... it's what works for you.

I honestly never liked the B45 mouthpiece.  Currently, I play a couple different mouthpieces... one is a generic Zinner blank (cost me $20) and the other was handmade for me by Clark Fobes (cost me $220)... both play well, but I prefer the cheapy!  I play on Vandoren Paris cut reeds, strength 3 or 3.5 for both (although depending on the humidity and elevation of where I am- Denver vs. Chicago- I may play on a 4).

Most of your preferences about what feels good and sounds good should be based on YOUR embouchure... you will get a bunch of answers saying "play Vandoren- they're the best" or "I like Mitchel Laurie"... but you will just have to try some and see what works for YOU.

Try going to your local music store and buying a 2.5, 3 and 3.5 in a couple different brands.  Most stores will sell the reeds individually- don't be shy about asking them to open a box!  Take them home and try them out!  You are looking for one that gives you good tone and easy playability for the entire range of your horn... without you killing yourself to do it!  

Also, know that the softer the reed, the easier it is to play, but the harder to control.  Harder reeds take more air and pressure to play, but they pop the high notes MUCH easier, and generally give you a better tone.  Don't go too soft, or you will have tuning and projection problems.  Don't go so hard that you are blowing your head off and barely getting a sound.  

And please, please, please... don't fall into the idea that the harder the reed the better the player... this is simply not true, and you can hurt your embouchure trying to go up in reed strength if you don't need it!

Since you're going into high school, I would suggest a 3, but again, it's up to you.  A 3 should be adequate to make your tone beautiful, pop out the high notes (that you WILL be learning to play now), and give you good projection.

And just one other tip:  the strength differ from brand to brand... A RICO 4 is about equal to a MITCHEL LAURIE 3.5 and is about equal to a VANDOREN 3... The majority of pros use Vandoren because the cane is good quality and they are more consistant than other brands- but expensive!  

Anyways, sorry this was so long, but hopefully it helped! :)

EDIT: If you find that you have a bunch of reeds that are too hard, you can shave them down... ask your private teacher, your band director, or other clarinet players to show you how.

Answer 2

Trial and error. or Trial and success.

You are the only one who can find the right one.

I find softer reeds are easier to play, but don't give you the sound of the stiffer ones