Klarinet Archive - Posting 000126.txt from 1994/04

From: Jim Lytthans <jlytthans@-----.COM>
Subj: Reeds
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 1994 20:22:15 -0400

I'm glad the subject of reeds came up. My personal choice is still
Vandoren, but I don't know for how long. I understand the cane for
Vandoren's reeds was supplied by Queen. Queen upped the price and Vandoren
said (more or less) "Go to H--l".
My stock of older 3 1/2 -4 regular and V-12s is pretty big, but I have
been trying other makes. So far Queens and Marcas have shown some promise.
Queens, especially, seem to be well-made of good cane. I also like the
environmentally correct (EC?) packaging.
Tonight I play a concert at the Orange County Performing Arts Center using
Queens reeds (first time). We will see....
Another reed that shows some promise is made by Raffaut. Hard to find,
but they hold up and play like a good V-12. I also have several boxes of the
Esser "Silber" hand-tested reeds that so far have not worked out. Anyone
else used these Teutonic planks, yet?
Finally, if we don't solve the cane problem, we will soon all be on some
kind of (arrgh) synthetic reed. Maybe the major reed makers should join
together and do a "leveraged buyout" of the great Var Valley reed
plantations. Maybe Michael Millken would help us out?!

Primo Arundo Donax,

Jim Lytthans
Anaheim Hills
(jlytthans@-----.com) *

* I'm trying to rid myself of the "com." appelation ASAP. Any suggestions on
Internet sources in the Orange County area?