Klarinet Archive - Posting 000744.txt from 1998/06

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Zonda Reeds
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 14:48:36 -0400

Very interesting juxtaposition, Zondas and Olivieri.

The Pyne mouthpieces that you used to use (btw, if you want to sell them let
me know) are constructed much like the Johnstons that I use. This should
not be a surprise, since they both took from Stanley Hasty and sat next to
each other in the Buffalo Phil for years. I know that the Johnstons were
designed to use the Olivieri reeds, which had a very thick butt and a
relatively thin tip. Because of the wide tip and side rails on both of
these mouthpieces, you can use a thin tipped reed (allowing great control)
without sacrificing tone quality or having inadvertent high overtone notes
(e.g., squeak). In addition, I've been told that Mr. Olivieri and Stanley
Hasty were personal friends--although I have no personal knowledge.

Unfortunately, the quality of the Olivieris has been somewhat inconsistent
over the years. Apparently there is a saga about it, having to do with Mr.
Olivieri's death and the subsequent purchase of the business, years later,
by his son. Either way, I stopped using Olivieris, switching to V-12s.

Until now. Zondas play for me like Olivieris should (and used to). I think
much of some people's displeasure has to do more with the basic design of
the reed--if your mouthpiece is not set up for the thick butt/thin tip
design, you're not going to like them.

As to the quality of the cane--it seems perfect to me. All yellow, no
blemish. I suspect the problem is that it's thin, not bad.

kjf

-----Original Message-----
From: GrabnerWG@-----.com]
Subject: Re: [kl] Zonda Reeds

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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