Klarinet Archive - Posting 001216.txt from 1998/09

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Vandoren Hand Select Reeds... hmmm...
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 12:24:13 -0400

At 06:25 PM 9/29/98 -0500, Neil Leupold wrote:
>Jeff Carwile wrote:
>
>> Is "Hand Select" just marketing hype to increase the price of reeds for
>> us cynical american clarinetists, or are "hand select" the reeds that
>> are kept within France while the rejects are sent to the US, or does
>> anyone have a better explanation or idea?
>
>Say what you will, but I've observed a distinct difference in
>quality and endurance of hand select reeds over the traditional
>Vandorens. Even if it's all in my head, it's still worth it!
>
My boss has toured the Rico factory and seen how all reeds are "hand
selected." The reeds come fast and furious toward a minimum wage (or
below) person, who might not recognize a clarinet if you held one in front
of them, who shoves this one in one direction to be stamped "Rico", that
one another way toward the Mitchell Lurie stamper, etc., based upon who
knows what standard (reed color maybe?). When they have a private label
order, some get shunted that way. I doubt Vandoren does it much
differently. There simply isn't the time to devote to it.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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