Klarinet Archive - Posting 000773.txt from 1995/05

From: SCOTT MCCHESNEY <scmcchesney@-----.NET>
Subj: Vandorens vs. Mitchell Lurie
Date: Sat, 27 May 1995 05:35:40 -0400

To the man who wrote about Vandoren reeds that make him sound airy:

The solution is pretty simple, but you have to know about Vandoren
reeds. They are, on average, about a half-strength harder than most other
reeds. So, if you're used to playing on a 4 in your Mitchell Lurie reeds, get
yourself a 3 1/2 in the Vandorens and have a go at it.
Now, if you're using the "new" V12 reeds (which I think you are,
according to your post), you need to go down even farther, because V12 reeds
are HARDER THAN THE REGULAR VANDORENS. So, get yourself a #3 V12 (again, the
V12's are about a half-strength harder than the regular Vandorens), try not to
feel embarassed about it, and have a whirl. They are good reeds - better then
the ML, in my opinion. They do quite well on the top end, too - hold the tone
rather well, giving your embouchere some help in that regard. I'd been
playing on Ricos for a while, but from them I went straight to the Vandorens
and had to "start over" - went from a 4 Rico to a 3 Vandoren. Then, when I got
into college, I had to go to V12's - but my teacher, who changed not only my
mouthpiece but also my reeds, made me go to a 3 1/2 V12! I was sore for
days...
When to get rid of your reeds? I'm not really sure why you're keeping
the old ones in the first place. Planning to make a castle out of them, maybe?
Once they get old and begin to "wear thin", they're not much good except for
decoration or momentos of some sort. And they do wear thin - the saliva starts
to break down the cane.

-- Scott

   
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