Klarinet Archive - Posting 000324.txt from 1995/09

From: Lou Polcari <polcari@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Reeds...
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 1995 10:02:09 -0400

On Thu, 14 Sep 1995, "B. Keplinger" <Caslinger@-----.COM> wrote:
>I'm sure many of you have by now received the mailing of three reeds from
>Leblanc. They certainly LOOK nice - fine even grain, consistent color - but
>I tend to think (cynically, I know) that special care was taken to select the
>best reeds.
>

Hi Bruce;

Yes I got the three reeds in the mail about a week ago. I had two
problems with the reeds. 1: They sent me 3 1/2 and they were too lite for me
and my MP. and 2: I have an Old Borbak 11 hand made MP and the window is
shorter then most Mps made to day so the reed is not going to play well on my
Borbek. I might work well on a oh say Pine.

>Anyone have any reactions?
>
>Lately I have been using Vintage reeds from Reeds Australia, and so far I
>have had good luck. Although more expensive than the average, a box of ten
>is very consistent, and most are playable.

>My favorite reeds were Morre', which unfortunately are no longer made (the
>maker died a few years back). I _thought_ I heard that the VanDoran V12 was
>supposed to be modeled on the Morre', but I never found them as good (or
>anything, for that matter) as the real thing.

I used the Morre reed as well and like them.

>What sorts of reed experiences have others had? I have always said that I
>would be willing to pay two or three times more than the going rate for good,
>consistent reeds that don't need a lot of fussing.
>
>Bruce

I used to be the kind of guy who would just grab a reed and slap it on
there and go. As long as the thing played I was happy. That was ok for the
kind of playing I was doing at the time.

Then I went through a time when I had to find the perfect reed...
messing around with reed and haveing them in a little glass of water to soak.
looking for the perfect reed. man talk about high stress...

I also changed reed brands all the time... I want from Mitchel Lauri to
Van dorian Black Masters to Rico Grand Concert then to Glotin ahhhhhhhh....

Then A very wise Clarinet teacher ( I am not makeing this up) said to
me... " did you know that your Mp windows is shorter them the mordern Mps so you

are useing the wrong reeds.... He told me that reeds that fit that Mp were the
Vandorian V12s and to get an Eddie Danials/Rovener. And it worked...! There are

a few other things I do to reeds and I store them in a zip lock bag and have had

wounderful luck...

I hope this veiw into my strange surch for reed will help....

Lou Polcari