Klarinet Archive - Posting 000047.txt from 1996/11

From: Patrick Kwan <Wackko8281@-----.com>
Subj: Vandoren price, Rico-Buffet?, and Esser-Solo
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 1996 16:28:51 -0500

This is kind of weird, last time I bought reeds (a few weeks ago) they
weren't that expensive. I managed to find a really cheap place that sells the
Vandoren Hand-select reeds for only $18 bucks. The V-12s $15 or $16, can't
remember and a normal one I think $13. I would really have to say that some
of you out there are getting ripped-off big time! Why not buy reeds via
mail-order they are worth the shipping cost if you buy a bunch of them you
even get like 10% discount or something or was it 5% if you buy ten or more
boxes. Or maybe New Yorkers are just luckier (This word looks weird,
mispelled?), well, doesn't matter, I'm a New Yorker.

Some time ago I heard that Buffet bought Rico or was going to buy Rico, so
did it happen yet? The other day I bought a rico oboe reed and WOW it's new
and I love it that diamond shape cut, is it new or something, I use to have
those you know straight cut ones. And because of that oboe reed, I, after
years tried a Rico reed for clarinet, umm it wasn't so bad, although I'm not
use to the cut. I think the Vandoren reeds taste better. The rico reeds, I
think are just a few steps behind Vandoren. Will Rico reeds be better than
Vandoren reeds after Buffet really put some time in it? Who knows? Weird
thing is that I felt the Vandoren reeds are getting worse.

I'm planning to try those Esser-Solo reeds some of friends are "WOWing"
about. I think it's kind of expensive and it's only availablethrought mail
order by two companies. One is cheaper when I buy 10 or more orthe two
companies would be the same price. It's handmade, wetstone-polished, and
tested. See, What I don't really get is what do they mean by tested. Does
that mean that they are used? Some one please explain. A few of my friends
have already switched from Vandoren V-12/Hand-select to Esser-Solo. But, I
gotta buy a box or two before I can tell anybody about it. Anybody using
Esser-Solo now? Maybe I'll also buy a box of those Zonda reeds some of you
were talking about. Well, this is getting too long. See, the reason why I am
fitting three topics into one is that I'm aware that some of you are paying
per message others please bare with me.

With sympathy to people paying
rip-off prices for reeds,
Patrick Kwan (A
little teasing, can't help it)