Klarinet Archive - Posting 000778.txt from 1995/05

From: Neil Leupold <Neil_Leupold@-----.COM>
Subj: RE>Vandorens vs. Mitchell L
Date: Sat, 27 May 1995 13:51:34 -0400

ntouch Memo 05/27/95
Subject:RE>Vandorens vs. Mitchell Lurie 10:25 AM
Scott McChesney wrote:

"V12 reeds are HARDER THAN THE REGULAR VANDORENS. (the V12's are about a
half-strength harder than the regular Vandorens)."

I've been bouncing back and forth between Vandoren regular and V12 reeds ever
since the V12's hit the market several years ago. I must say that the
statement in quotes is incorrect. I've never had the experience of playing a
box of regular Vandorens next to a box of V12's and finding that the V12's were
stiffer than the regulars. In actuality, the V12's are consistently a full
half-strength *softer* than a same-numbered box of standard Vandoren reeds. If
you play standard 3.5's, you would need a box of V12 4's to match the strength.
The V12 is a *thicker* reed - more wood in the vamp - but also softer. My
problem with V12's has been their tendency to turn to mush far more rapidly
than the standard, thinner, Vandoren reeds. This was also my experience with
Mitchell Luries. Both the V12 and Mitchell Lurie reeds are far more
*forgiving* of the player, meaning they allow for a more even resistance
throughout the range of the instrument and produce an easier tone of good
quality. Unfortunately, neither reed lasts very long, and that is a serious
problem. Even with proper breaking in, these reeds last about half as long as
the standard Vandoren before their strength and elasticity take a nosedive, and
suddenly the reed no longer vibrates freely and is restrictive in the upper
range of the instrument.

My solution has been to exercise a good degree of patience in the breaking in
of the standard Vandoren reeds. The results have typically been excellent.
The process takes me around 3 whole weeks, near the conclusion of which I'm
able to rehearse and perform on 7 out of 10 reeds in every box I purchase. And
then the reeds last me another 3-4 weeks, with consistent resistance and
vibrational capacity, before they are no longer of realistic use. It involves
some TLC when first playing them, rotating between an already-broken in box and
the new box(es) - playing the new reeds only periodically, allowing them to be
conditioned by a combination of my saliva, the vibration of playing, and the
atmospheric conditions of climate. It's a drawn-out process, something I
realized as being necessary for the regular Vandoren's, but ultimately well
worth the effort. What I'll do in combination with this process is have a
couple of boxes of V12's on hand in order to spare my ego the pain of sounding
poorly on the newly-purchased regulars while they're being broken in...

- Neil