Since finding your KZread channel, I've learned more in a couple of days than I ever learned through all my schooling. Why didn't anyone teach me about reeds, distance of the register key and symmetry of the mouthpiece when I was at music college?! I've been struggling for years trying to improve thinking it was all my fault, left feeling confused at the end of a practise session wondering why, when I try to create a good tone, I'm left not knowing what to do with my embouchure, other than force through biting, which sounds terrible and is the wrong way to play.

Great video! I was wondering if you could make a video showing how to balance reeds, if you haven’t already😊

9 out of 10 hard on the left side. Same experience as I have with these reeds. But with some ATG finishing I can get at least 8 out of 10 to be usable maybe 2 concert quality. And yes sir all of the 20+ brands I've tried needs adjustment. The ATG system has made life much easier amen.

Tom, why don’t you start manufacturing well balanced reeds? I’d buy them

Hi Tom. Is French Embouchure Part IV still on the way? Thanks for all the great content this year and Merry Christmas! Also, a video about breaking in reeds would be great. You seemed to make a passing comment in another video about breaking in reeds being of no value. Did I misunderstand? That is certainly a topic that could attract some new viewers. Your videos don't get nearly the views they should considering the value of the content!

Had better luck with the Pilgerstorfer Dolce and the D Addario Reserve Evolution ... I have to balance about 1/4 if the Dolce and about 2/3 of the Evolution. Usually they are all too heavy on mostly one side. All are thick blanks, which apparently is softer cane, therefore less critical in cutting the vamp. MP is Reserve Evolution 440/442 played on Ridenour clarinets ... IMHO, the 2nd most important thing about reeds is to not let them totally dry out ... I keep them at about 72% RH ... and to wipe them with hydrogen peroxide to kill the bacteria after use. I don't seal them or baby them in some crazy reed ritual ... just break them in over several days ...

Your videos are really helpful. Just wondering how you feel about synthetic reeds?

If you’re using the reed brand I think you’re using, then everything I’ve been saying about them is true and I have no clue how anyone plays them out of the box. I feel a little less crazy about it. I found after they started individually sealing them they were worse and had to leave them sit out for a few days before they’d be worth anything.

Very revealing video. In your experience, which commercially available brand do you find produces balanced reeds using high quality cane?

Tom, how much of the poor balancing of those reeds is due to inconsistent machining and how much to inconsistent cane density? I don't really know how reliable the measurements are that I get using Ben Armato's Perfecta-Reed dial gauge, but I can easily find reeds in any manufacturer's reed boxes that measure the same and yet are very much stiffer on one side than the other. I've never been sure - is it inaccurate cutting or blanks that are denser on one side?

writing as a bit of a wide eyed novice clarinettist who in the past has always used cane reeds out of the box(V.12's) I wonder about better quality synthetic reeds: in your assessment does the manufacturing process of these reeds result in a more consistent - less open to the troubles identified - product?

I just got my clarinet and ATG system yesterday, and without really knowing what to feel/hear yet, I Did do basic balancing on Ricos and did find a difference even though this is the first time I played an instrument in over 20 years!