Klarinet Archive - Posting 000342.txt from 1995/10

From: Jay Winick <winickj@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Reed Opinions
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 15:23:39 -0400

>Since someone recently brought up the topic of Vintage Australian reeds,
>I'd like to get some updated info on current reed preferences. I have
>been trying out different things from time to time ever since Morre reeds
>went out of production. The Vandoren V-12's were supposed to be "just
>like Morres", same specs, etc.; I'm sorry but that hasn't been my
>experience, although I use them primarily. After trying the Vintage
>Australians, someone recommended Vandoren White Masters, but I haven't
>tried them yet. (Or was it Black Masters - the ones for French
>mouthpieces, anyway.)
>

I have found V12's to be good if the following is done:

1. Open the box as soon as you buy it. I try to use them about three to six
months after opening. This includes taking all the reeds out of the box, and
leaving them on a flat surface, face down. This can help with the
"environmentally friendly" green reeds.

2. Soaking vs. not soaking: I don't know which is the right thing to do, but
I've found not soaking them gives me a truer indication of reed quality.

3. Goes easy -- it's my first time. Easy blowing, and minor reshaping seems
to make them last longer, and with better results

4. Repeat step three several times. A long break in really helps (if you
have the patience).

5. Buy 'em hard. It is impossible to make a reed hard (sorry to all the
clippers, but they never work great) but easy enough to soften them. The
advice I was given was to imagine a diamond shape on the reed, work from the
back of the reed forward, towards the outside. This has given me the
greatest success with turning hard reeds into good, long lasting,
dynamically responsive ones.

Regards,

Jay