Clarinet reed problem?

Question:I'm taking up clarinet after saxophone playing & have a problem I can't explain. I'm using a Legere plastic reed & get good results, but if I use a cane reed (Vandoren #2) I can only get a muffled sound out of it, no matter how I blow or change the reed position. I have two mouthpieces (a plastic one with no name and a Bundy 3 hard rubber) and the results are the same on either. I'll be checking with my shop soon, just curious.

BTW- my clarinet is an old metal one (I'm getting a good instrument rebuilt) but the instrument shouldn't affect the reed performance.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm taking up clarinet after saxophone playing & have a problem I can't explain. I'm using a Legere plastic reed & get good results, but if I use a cane reed (Vandoren #2) I can only get a muffled sound out of it, no matter how I blow or change the reed position. I have two mouthpieces (a plastic one with no name and a Bundy 3 hard rubber) and the results are the same on either. I'll be checking with my shop soon, just curious.

BTW- my clarinet is an old metal one (I'm getting a good instrument rebuilt) but the instrument shouldn't affect the reed performance.

Clarinet embouchure is much firmer than sax. You may already know this and be over-compensating. Vary your bottom lip pressure, increasing and decreasing it until you find the correct amount.

How you're holding the clarinet may affect this. If you've got it sticking out so your clarinet can go into your mouth at the same angle as the sax you may not have your bottom lip in the correct place on the reed.

Your bottom lip should be at the place where the reed leaves the mouthpiece, give or take a few millimeters.

Also for clarinet your tongue position should be raised in the back of your mouth as if you're saying "EEE." This focuses the airstream and tone and keeps your pitch higher.

its how you hold your mouth

It could be a faulty reed.Its maybe come warped.

There might be a problem with the reed, like a defect. You could try a higher strength reed, I know I get that sound sometimes when the reed is not strong enough. I actually prefer cane reeds as aposided to plastic ones, but try a couple of different makes and strengths to see which one works for you.