Klarinet Archive - Posting 000138.txt from 1998/07

From: "Dee Hays" <deerich@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] reeds
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998 22:10:36 -0400

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Date: Monday, July 06, 1998 7:54 PM
Subject: RE: [kl] reeds

>At 05:15 PM 7/6/98 -0700, Kevin Fay wrote:
>>Sniping at LaVoz while liking Ricos also makes no sense--they are made my
>>the same company, cut on the very same machines to what apparently are
>>exactly the same specifications. At one point, I was told that all of the
>>"America-cut" Ricos were exactly the same, except they "LaVoz" got stamped
>>on the reeds that were more yellow in color.
>>
>I would be very disillusioned to find that this were so. I really doubt
>it. Yes, there is a difference in cane grade between them. Whether there
>is a cut difference or not I can't say for sure, but I think so. Same
>machines? Why not? The same machines make Chevy and GMC trucks, and Ford
>Probe and Mazda MX-6 cars. The machines are adjustable. In any case, use
>what works for you. RECOMMEND what works for you. But don't label as junk
>what you don't like. It probably works great for someone else's setup and
>embouchure, or they wouldn't be able to sell them year in and year out.

For many people, some from necessity and others from choice, cost is the
single governing factor. At the local band store, the plain Ricos are only
$0.87 each even when bought individually. All the other brands (including
the higher grades that Rico produces) run anywhere from $1.50 to just over
$2. This difference alone is enough to insure that they will continue to
sell year in and year out regardless of the perceived or real quality. Yes
reeds can be purchased mail order for less but these same relationships
still hold.

Dee Hays
Canton, SD

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