Klarinet Archive - Posting 000207.txt from 2003/03

From: "Denise Wilson" <dew@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] great service, great reeds
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 10:35:39 -0500

There's so much on the list right now regarding business practices that
affect the clarinet world... I'm no business expert, and even though this
is about reeds, not instruments, it's nice to know there are some companies
that can really provide good customer service and good products.

I wanted to share a little note about my recent great customer experience
with the Davie Cane Company. I've just begun trying some of their reeds
(love them so far, more on that later), and in the process, Phil Shapiro has
been absolutely wonderful about offering suggestions and reeds for me to
try. He really seems to stand behind his products, and I can understand
why.

About the reeds:
So far, my reeds are still in the breaking-in phase, but they seem
promising! Every so often I get the urge to try new reeds but I have always
gone back to my old standby, the Vandoren V12. I have to do a fair amount
of work on the V12s to get them to my ideal, including making them narrower
to fit the table on my mouthpiece better. I'm so lazy, though, I usually
just put up with them and only work up the occasional really nice reed
rather than spending so much time on ones that might not be as nice. But
now I think I'm finding that these new Gonzalez For Our Friends and Mozart
reeds have a better shape for my mouthpiece AND their cane seems to have the
playing qualities I'm looking for in a good reed! Less prep work, good
sound. Who could ask for more?

A big thank you to Phil, and I'll add my voice to those already saying
it--if you're looking for new reeds to try, you really ought to get yourself
some of these and see what you think. (Yes, the standard disclaimer
applies: I'm not affiliated with the company other than being a customer.)

Best wishes,
Denise Wilson

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