Klarinet Archive - Posting 000484.txt from 1996/10

From: "S.Rakhit" <shr2@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Vandoren /Reed Strength
Date: Sun, 20 Oct 1996 22:02:13 -0400

At 12:14 AM 21/10/96 UT, you wrote:
>Yes I have been to the Factory (rue le pic) in Paris. I tried a few of the
>plastic bins of reeds that everyone gets to try. That was in 1990. I hear that
>they don't allow that anymore. They wouldn't let me tour the upstairs cutting
>plant. I had just literally gotten off of the plane (they lost my luggage, so
>I couldn't freshen up) and on to the subway to go to the factory. I was
>exhausted by lack of sleep. My, what a neighborhood! From the tram to get to
>the factory, I had to pass by such places as the Moulin Rouge, etc.. Quite a
>red light district. Maybe I got the wrong train?
>David C. Blumberg
>reedman@-----.com
>----------
>From: Klarinet - Clarinettist's Network on behalf of Neil Leupold
>Sent: Sunday, October 20, 1996 2:11 PM
>To: Multiple recipients of list KLARINET
>Subject: Re: Vandoren /Reed Strength
>
>> Reeds are tested by a machine that sticks holes in the Butt of the reed
>(ever
>> wonder what those indentations were) and tests its density. A number given
>to
>> the density determines what box it will be put in. Ex.- 20-23 could be a 3
>> 1/2, 24-28 could be a 4, 29-34 could be a 4 1/2, and 35- end of gauge could
>> be a 5.
>
>Is that right, David? I didn't know this ('learn something new every day!).
>Have you been to the factory yourself and seen this machine? Can others on
>the list verify that Vandoren grades its reeds using such a machine? And
>why the _butt_ of the reed? How does that reveal the density and rigidity
>of the _heart_ of the reed, for I always thought the heart of the reed was
>the most critical in affecting a reed's ability to vibrate.
>
>> I still believe in the guy that puts the 1 good reed in the box.
>
>Kind of like Santa Claus or something? This is hilarious. When I used
>regular Vandoren reeds, it was true -- there was a single good reed in
>every box, the rest being varying degrees of mutant cane which had to be
>shaved and sanded and polished before they were usable in a performance.
>Presently, I use Vandoren Hand Select reeds, and these have proven to be
>a great deal more consistent in cane quality within a given box. From a
>box I opened just yesterday, every single reed vibrated with the same
>degree of resonance, and were all very close to the same degree of
>resistance. If the cane is good and vibrates well, I don't care about
>resistance. A reed can be physically altered to suit a person's resistance
>preference, but there's no way to make it _vibrate_ with more response and
>resonance once it's been cut and packaged.
>
>Neil
>
Do you know where I can get these hand selected reeds? How much are they?
I also usually get one good reed out of the entire box of V-12's. Its
pissing me off. I don't have time to work on reeds. I need to get these
hand selected ones.

Simone

>