Klarinet Archive - Posting 000774.txt from 1995/05

From: Charles Evans <cee1@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Vandorens vs. Mitchell Lurie
Date: Sat, 27 May 1995 05:35:41 -0400

> 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.

Yeah I figured that one out a long time ago.. I have 3 1/2 V12s.. still very
hard.. yeah kinda a 'thing' haing to play 3's and stuff when youve come
so 'far'.. I'll pick up some 3s tomorrow and see how they go

> 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

arghh yeah V12s is what I was talkgin abtou I can barely make a sound on
my 3 1/2s.. I was just thinking 'I just cant and never could play Vandorens'
:)

> 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

Yeah.. Just picked up today a book of 'Clarinet Dunos Selected from
Piano, Violin, and Flute compositions by J.S. Bach'.. gonna be noodlin
with a prof on Sunday.. lookin at new stuff. will see how it goes.. Err
Duos .. not Dunos ;)

> 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

Yeah I either hit my super G's like in arpegios or they are abotu 25 cents
flat. Maybe these V12s when I get em going will help me consitently hit
my B's and B's way up thar.

> 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 go
t

back in 6th and 7th grade, when we had the 'band store' was told early to
stay away from Ricos (dunno if htey make better than we had).. most of
us started on those green and white boxed LaVoz reeds till we each went
our separate paths to Mitchelle Luries or Vandorens.

> 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
?

Really the only time I get rid of em are when they are dirty dirty.. I
was taken aback that it seemed only MY reeds were dark dirty eveyroen else
always seemed to have clean looking cane.. dunno. maybe i was practicing
more.. :).. I usualy chunked em when they got chipped or split off the
conrer.. I neer fooled with reed clips.

chuck