Klarinet Archive - Posting 000301.txt from 1995/10

From: Kerry Mealing <kerry_mealing@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Vintage Australian Reeds
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 10:23:13 -0400

Jacqueline wrote:
> I got 2 boxes of Vintage Australia reeds from International Musical
> Suppliers (Lisa Argiris is the owner) in Chicago about a year ago. Their
> phone number is 1-800-762-1116. I know she was at the ClarinetFest this
> summer.
>
> Personally, I found them INCREDIBLY hard, even a soft strength. I worked
> them down with both sandpaper and a knife, but never got the kind of
> response I could be happy with. Of course, Arizona is not the greatest
> place for reeds to begin with, but I regularly use V-12 #4's and only
> work them down slightly. So there's another opinion for you to consider.

I heartily second this opinion! I've just recently started playing again
after a 5 yr period.. I used to play on a #3 or #4 and now find Vintage
Australian #1.5's too hard and I don't think it's sloppy embouchure or
breath control (ie I can play them but tonal quality is not what it should
be).

Can any Australians out there recommend some other brand of reed?

Cheers,
Kerry.

-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --
Kerry J Mealing mealink@-----.com

"For the song and the sword and the pipes of pan,
Are birthrights sold to a usurer;
But I am the last lone highwayman,
And I am the last adventurer."