Klarinet Archive - Posting 000835.txt from 1995/10

From: "Scott D. Morrow" <SDM@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: V.12's
Date: Mon, 23 Oct 1995 11:37:34 -0400

>What's the deal with the cut of the Vandoren V.12 reeds these days? Maybe
>it's just me (and probably is), but after playing V.12 4's for the past six
>years, I was forced to increase my reed strength to 4.5 about seven months
>ago. Now, I recently bought a pair of Prestige R-13 (Bb & A) Buffets and am,
>once again, returning back to the V.12 4's. I understand that new
>instruments may require some set-up adjustments, but V.12 4.5's seemed to
>work fine on the Prestige's for awhile after I purchased the set. All I
>know is that this "back-and-forth" game is about to drive me crazy. Anyone
>else having similar problems with the V.12's, or are all your reeds working
>absolutely beautifully?

I thought I was going crazy! I've been playing on a 4 for years,
and bought a box last Spring that I could not get a sound out of! On
inspecting the reeds closer, it seemed as if there was a very thick spine
running up the reed that you would need an air compressor to get to
vibrate! I wss eventually able to get the music store to take the rest of
the box back (not for full price of the remaining 9, unfortunately) and
traded up to a box of Blackmasters instead!

Scott D. Morrow
(410)-955-3631

SDM@-----.edu