Klarinet Archive - Posting 000382.txt from 2002/12

From: Karl Krelove <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Hommages/Zonda reeds
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 2002 22:07:01 -0500

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Stoll [mailto:peterstoll2000@-----.ca]
>
> I have a question about Zonda reeds: I've been trying
> some and love them! But I confess to always having a
> bit of fear about switching to non-Vandoren (or
> Rico)reeds: I know that when I'm long in the grave
> these 2 large companies will still be churning out
> cane, but does anyone know about the company producing
> Zondas? Have they been around a while, is this a Rico
> or other conglomerate's subsidiary?
>

Back in the 1960's VanDoren reeds suddenly became very difficult to find in
the U.S owing, I think, to some marketing decisions made by the company then
responsible for American distribution. Players found substitutes and
orchestral music survived. When the problem ended and VanDorens again became
easily available, many players went back to them while some continued to use
the other brands they'd found or rediscovered.

If VanDoren or Zonda or Rico were to go out of business tomorrow, we'd all
have some other company's reeds in our cases within weeks out of necessity.
I don't worry much about whether a reed I decide to use will still be
available next year. There'll always be something decent to turn to.

Karl Krelove

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