Klarinet Archive - Posting 000674.txt from 2003/07

From: klarinet <klarinet@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] New type of reed by Vandoren
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2003 04:02:53 -0400

Now really... who didn't see this coming?

With the meteoric growth, and the ever increasing piece of the market share
by Gonzalez FOF reeds, Vandoren is now desperately trying to reclaim some of
those lost customers.

The trouble is that the 56 reed is a poor copy of the Gonzalez FOF reed.
These "new" Vandoren reeds are user friendly and play right out of the box,
but soon die a quick death primarily because they are still being made with
the same mediocre cane that Vandoren is presently using with their V12 and
Blue box reeds. (cane, that 10 years ago would have been outwardly rejected
by Vandoren) One look at the fiber pattern on the 56 reeds will confirm that
the fibers are still sprodically grouped, many not extending to the tip, and
vast blank areas of no fiber.

Until Vandoren improves their cane source, these will be nothing more than
V12's with a different cut.

At about $26 a box, I am sure the folks at Gonzalez are thinking this is
probably the best thing that could happen, as the choice between their reeds
and the Vandoren 56 will become even more obvious.

By the way- a note to Vandoren marketing execs: vacuum sealing your reeds,
and fancy packaging is not going to justify their exhorbitant price.

Glenn Kantor
Principal clarinet - The Sound Symphony Orchestra

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