Klarinet Archive - Posting 000732.txt from 1998/06

From: <GrabnerWG@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Zonda Reeds
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 10:37:52 -0400

In a message dated 98-06-21 23:14:07 EDT, Teri, you write:

<< I should have said, "I found Zonda reeds to be
terrible."
>>
Once more into the breach, dear friends.

OK, I WAS a little touchy last night. I will also admit to using the c__p word
myself. My apologises to Teri. and to others.

Maybe an example from my own experience will clarify my point. In the mid-late
70's I played on a Pyne mouthpiece and Oliveri reeds. I found this a fine
combination and felt that I had acheived a major improvement in tone and
expresiveness.

Unfortunately, I ultimately had to abandon my Pyne mouthpiece, due to the fact
that it tuned low (like A=440) rather than the very high pitch of the
ensembles in which I was playing at the time (and for other reasons which I
dont seem to remember any more).

I had an entire set of mouthpieces (Bb/A, Eb, Bass) made for me by Robert
Borbeck. These were VERY satisfactory, and in fact I still use them.

However, guess what??? The Oliveris did not work on these mouthpieces. Did
they suddenly become crap? Of course not. They just didn't work on that setup.
Many fine players then, and now, play on Oliveris. Just because they dont work
for me, on my particular set up, does not mean they are bad.

That was the point I was trying to make.

The other is that.....again....in my (sometimes not so humble) opinion, I
believe that the Zonda reeds are manufactured with care and the cane.....again
my opinon.....seems excellent.

I buy both Zonda 3 1/2 and Vandoren V12 3 1/2 and try to use them
interchangeably. However, for the performance....9 times out of 10.....it's
the Zonda I find on my mouthpiece. Basta!

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