Klarinet Archive - Posting 000052.txt from 1994/04

From: SCOTT MCCHESNEY <MCCHESS4641@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: All these reeds!
Date: Sat, 9 Apr 1994 03:04:56 -0400

> I compiled the following list of different models of
> Bb clarinet reeds from two woodwind supply catalogs:
>
> The Woodwind and The Brasswind National Music SUpply
> 19880 State Line Rd. P.O. Box 14421
> South Bend, IN 46637 St. Petersburg, FL 33733
> 800-348-5003 813-823-6666
>
> So, does anyone have anything good to say from experience with
> the odder fish among these?

I worked in a music store here in Iowa for a little over a year. Among a few
others, we stocked all these reeds. I can tell you what I heard:

> Vandoren
> Vandoren Select
> Vandoren V12

I used the Vandorens for about three years and were quite happy with them.
When I came to college here, my professor told me switch to V12. They're
stiffer, but otherwise they play about the same.

I liked them in general, though I will say that they were VERY inconsistent.
Some boxes were good, some were horrible. The bigger reeds were more
consistent, or so they tell me.

> Rico
> Rico Royal
> Rico Novapak
> Rico Plasticover

The "Universal Starter Reed". Rico and Rico Novapak are the same thing -
different packaging. The Rico Royals are the "next step up" from the Rico.
An intermediate reed, but nothing to write home about. Used the Ricos when I
first started, moved up to Rico Royals in junior high. The Plasticovers are
Rico's with a coat of plastic "sprayed" on to the bottom and top table.
They're not too bad for players who are marching and need that extra protection
but don't play Clarinet regularly.

> La Voz

There were about three teachers in the area who swore by these - said they were
the best thing around. Most of the rest of them didn't care too much for them,
considering you could get a comparable reed for less money. Their numbering
system was different, too - instead of numbers, they used Soft, Medium Soft,
Medium, Meduim Hard, and Hard. Conversions were tricky...

> Mitchell Lurie
> Premium Mitchell Lurie

Pretty good intermediate reed. Most teachers in the area went from Ricos to
these. They're not much more than Ricos, but they're a much better reed.

> Hemke Premium

The only thing used by sax players after they graduated from Ricos. Some of
them used Vandorens, but mostly only Bari Sax players. The Hemke reeds work
pretty well, though some of them didn't last too long for the kids.

> Leblanc "Marca"
> Marca (Leblanc)

I think these are the same reed, but I'm not sure. There was ONE - yes, only
one - teacher in the area who used these. He was a private teacher, and he
swore up and down on them. Made his kids play on them, everything. He was a
Sax player, so I can only comment upon them. He loved them; our resident sax
player at the store said "no biggie." I only played Sax once in my life, and I
used Vandorens, so I don't know.

> Bari plastic reeds

"The plastic reed of choice" around home. They were used in pretty much three
places: (a) Jazz Band; (b) beginners who were having problems with breaking
wood reeds too easily; and (c) the odd teacher in the area who used them to
start out his kids. There were a couple.

The reed last forever, but they are extremely harsh-sounding. LOTS more buzz
than a wood reed, and the edge on their attack will cut through almost
anything. There was a time when kids would try to get Mom or Dad to buy them
because they heard they lasted forever. They would come in and see that one
reed was $10 and they'd ask "Are you SURE this is what you want?" Junior would
say "Yeah - they last forever!" and Mom would fork it out. Three days later,
they would come back and try to return it because Junior's teacher said he
couldn't play on that reed with the rest of the band - they won't balance with
a wood-reed section to save your life. Of course, Junior had to PLAY on it to
find that out, and we couldn't take reeds back that had been played on...

Whew! Lots of typing. Well, that's what I know. Probably didn't inform
anybody on this list of anything new, but at least I put my two cents' worth
in.

-- Scott McChesney