Klarinet Archive - Posting 000462.txt from 2003/10

From: Tom.Henson@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Vandoren's Beautiful Packaging
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 15:48:17 -0400

I received today two items made by Vandoren that had really attractive
packaging.

I know this sounds nuts, but let's face it, nice packaging sells. Really
first class, top drawer.

I bought a box of 56 Rue Lepic reeds just to see what all the marketing hype
is about (I'll give a run down later on this list). I also bought a new
product from Vandoren that in my opinion is creative and very useful.

It is the new Glass Reed Resurfacer with a magic wand (my term) called a
Reed Stick. It wasn't cheap (about the cost of 2 boxes of their best reeds),
but if it holds up well, it will pay for itself in sandpaper saved.

It is a piece of plate glass (about 3" x 6") that has about 75% of the glass
surface chemically etched on one side to mimic about a 600 grit sandpaper.
You place a reed on this rough surface and use a circular motion to lightly
sand down the back of the reed, keeping the tip clear of the rough part. The
glass Reed Stick is about 4"-5" long and looks like it could have been a
stir stick in a chemistry lab. The top half of the stick (which has a very
fine angled point on the tip) is also etched the same way. You use this
stick (mainly the angled tip) to make very fine adjustments to the top of
the reed vamp.

I have not tried it yet, but it looks like it will work wonderfully. Here is
a link with a picture of it:

http://www.vandoren.com/Product/vanMID.htm
<http://www.vandoren.com/Product/vanMID.htm>

Of course the Vandoren name and logo are also beautifully etched in the
glass plate and reed stick. I have to hand it to Vandoren for a really
beautiful, but useful tool.

Now if the reeds are as good as the package I'll be impressed.....

Tom Henson

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