Klarinet Archive - Posting 000019.txt from 1998/10

From: "David C. Blumberg" <reedman@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] re:Reed Myths
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 15:08:58 -0400

Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 19:19:55 -0400
From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] Vandoren Hand Select Reeds... hmmm...
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

===============================================================================

The reeds that are Rico standard, Mitchell Lurie, Grand Concert, and Lavoz
ARE cut on different machines, and with different grades of cane. I have
spoken to Carlos at Rico Intl. on just that topic. There is no "stamping"
of a reed based on color (think about it, would they first cut the reed,
and just send it to a different stamper???). As I am told the reed cane is
FIRST graded as to quality, and then sent to the cutting machines (each one
being different - a Lavoz is not a Mitchell Lurie, etc). Just a sidebar,
Mitchell Lurie's actual signature is really on the reeds (I have a copy of
some of his music, with his name on it).
As to Vandoren, the Hand Select reeds are (this is only my guess, and
opinion) looked at and selected for evenness of cut, and the way that the
cane looks. They don't play them, so there is no way of truly knowing the
sound of the cane, nor response. If I did play Vandoren, I would use the
V-12 or the Hand Select(I did before switching to Grand Concert Thick Blank
5 years ago). At least I would have a chance of getting a few good reeds in
the box....

David Blumberg
reedman@-----.com
http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Music/Blumberg.html
http://www.ricoreeds.com/ricoart/blumberg.html

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