Klarinet Archive - Posting 000450.txt from 1998/05

From: Neil Leupold <nleupold@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Marca reeds
Date: Sun, 10 May 1998 01:38:30 -0400

What are others' success rates with Marca's high-end reeds,
a.k.a. their "New Tradition Select" reeds? I assume these
are meant to be on par with Vandoren's "Hand Select" variety.
I bought a box of the Marcas last week, played through each
one, and found them to be the closest in sound quality to
Vandorens of any other reed I've ever played. Unfortunately,
across the board, they were all somewhat less resonant than
their Vandoren counterparts. I'm wondering if this is a fluke
of my first box, or if the brand in general is found to be
less powerful or responsive. I've found this quality in
some Vandoren Hand Select reeds, but it is not a consistent
problem for me. Typically, I chalk these less-than-responsive
reeds up to bad cane or premature harvesting or inadequate
curing. The Marca reeds proclaim that their cane comes
from the Var region of France, as do the Vandorens. Thus,
the fear arises that perhaps the company that makes the
Marca reeds are using inferior or insufficiently prepared
cane. Who makes Marcas anyway? I'd hate to find out that
it's a facade like the Mitchell Luries and La Voz, which
are both manufactured and distributed by Rico.

And why on earth does Zonda sell their reeds in such
unwieldy packages? Does anybody seriously attempt to
put their reeds back in that little felt thing in which
they are sold?

Neil

---------------------------------------------------------------------
For additional commands, e-mail: klarinet-help@-----.org
For other problems, e-mail: klarinet-owner@-----.org