 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Heidi
Date: 2003-01-31 15:29
Hello all!
A little while ago I was on the hunt for better reeds, as we all are of occasion to do. Anyway, I heard so many good things about the Gonzalez FOF reeds that I decided to get some for myself. I bought a box (3.5s) and can't find a good reed in it. I don't understand what the problem could be. It may be my mpc/lig set up or anything I suppose. I usually play on Vandoren V12 3.5s. I have a Portnoy BP02 mpc and a Rovner Medium Ligature.(the one with the whole cut out). I'd appreciate any suggestions you could give me.
Thanks alot!
Heidi
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Sloss
Date: 2003-01-31 15:54
You need to define "good". Do they not play or do they sound bad?
One observation -- Don't give up on the FOF reeds immediately. My experience with V12s is that they play great right out of the box and then suck for weeks afterward until they come back to life. Tends to give you a false read (pardon the pun) on your hit-rate with the Vandies. FOFs tend to be unimpressive out of the box, but play in nicely. Give 'em some time, and maybe even get out the knife or rush and tweak them a little. You might be very pleased with the results. I've found some of the stinkiest ones out of the box play in to be the best ones.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Joel K.
Date: 2003-01-31 17:20
I just bought a box of #4s. I've had to work on them (knife and sandpaper) quite a bit because I probably should have gotten 3.75 strength instead. That being said, I've already gotten 3 out of 4 good reeds (with the rest yet to be tested) after the breakin period.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Richard
Date: 2003-01-31 17:28
Has anyone seen a strength comparison chart including the FOF's?
I'm having an impossible time finding relative strenghts for them.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2003-01-31 17:41
Mark's advice and observations are correct.
The FOF reeds have very dense cane, thus will need (in my trials) a few more days than the V12's to settle in. After the initial break-in period, very little tweaking need be done. The amount of fussing is far, far less than with either the Traditional or V12 brands.
I've used FOF's exclusively for close to two years. After more than 30 years of using Vandoren, I switched when 2 simultaneous things happened: their tip configuration changed, and the cane started to look more green.
When others (including some very prominent clarinetists) started confirming Vandoren's recent problem acquiring and growing enough quality cane, I knew it was time to switch.
In summary, these are my observations and tips:
1. Break in the FOF reeds slowly, and do not play them for more than a few minutes the first few days. If the reed is unimpressive on the first day, do not be concerned. They will change.
2. If necessary, after a few days make very small adjustments to balance.
3. Rotate between a number of reeds. Have some in the break in stage, some in the concert stage, and for your practice sessions a group which have passed their peak.
For those of us who miss the quality and cut of the original Morre reed, this is as close as you can find...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JazzBob
Date: 2003-01-31 18:08
Heidi,
Gonzalez reeds are OK, but they have one fundamental problem -- they are made from Argentinean cane, which is not as good as French.
If you are looking for a good alternative to your V12's, try Gigliotti Plus #3.5.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2003-01-31 18:15
"...Gonzalez reeds are OK, but they have one fundamental problem -- they are made from Argentinean cane, which is not as good as French..."
Until fairly recently, Your "French" V12 reeds were using cane imported from Argentina...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JazzBob
Date: 2003-01-31 19:13
And that's exactly why I didn't like V12s either...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-01-31 19:58
JazzBob wrote:
>
> they are made from Argentinean cane, which is not as
> good as French.
An opinion, of course ...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Marge
Date: 2003-01-31 20:06
If you bought your reeds directly from the Davie Cane Co. in Florida (apparently the US distributor)--and maybe even if you didn't--I'd say to give them a call at 866-292-5037 (toll-free call) and ask for help/suggestions. It may also take some experimentation to determine what number of this brand suits you best. See if you can buy a custom-assembled box, with several reeds in each of several stiffness numbers so you can experiment. I also have not seen this brand on any reed-comparison chart--they're not in wide enough use/distribution yet, I suspect, to make it onto such charts.
Website is:
http://www.daviecane.com
E-mail is:
<sales@daviecane.com>
I called before ordering my first box from them to ask a few questions and found the person I talked to (Phil, a co-owner, I think) to be cordial and helpful. I believe he is a professional clarinetist, as the other owner also may be.
When calling, I think you'll have to leave a voice-mail message, but your call will be returned promptly.—
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Marge
Date: 2003-01-31 20:10
Shoot, the e-mail address didn't appear, evidently because what I did to make the URL clickable isn't appropriate for making the e-mail address clickable.
It's
sales@daviecane.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2003-01-31 20:55
Phil Shapiro (from Davie Cane) is a professional clarinetist (Miami Symphony Orchestra) and is most accomodating with information about the Gonzalez reeds.
Call him toll free (or email him) ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: nzdonald
Date: 2003-02-01 02:18
(this is repeat advice from a former post)
my experience is that 1)flattening the back/underside of the reed will make a bit difference with FOF..... plus..... 2) "smoothing out" the topside (which i guess is really the "underside" when you are actually playing, i'm sure you know what i mean) to eliminate little bits/fibres sticking up also greatly improved FOF
these things are recomended by various people for all reeds, but i found made more difference to FOF (probably because of the stronger cane?)
BY THE WAY comparing recordings of concerts in December/November 2002, by coincidence one using a MOZART 3.5, one using FOF 3.75 and another using V12 3.5 with no adjustment (a rare example that was quite exceptionally good)
Mozart- very warm sound
FOF- great ringing sound, projects much more easily, "thick but not dark"
V12- very good lower reg sound, and a lovely tone in the clarion, unfortunately despite careful "break in" this reed only provided half the useful playing life that the others did, and could not sustain an hours worth of solo playing on one night.
hope that someone finds this edifying, though it doesn't really say anything (conclusive or new)
keep playing the good tunes
donal
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sneakers
Date: 2003-02-01 02:27
I used the FOF reeds for several months and although their response was good I was unable to get as good a sound on any of them as a good V12. So as a result, I have gone back to the V12's.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Karel
Date: 2003-02-01 07:34
I have recently tried the "Olivieri Elite" reeds, the new generation ones from Muncy's. A friend of mine called them "doorstops", they are so thick in the heel. After a bit of work on them they play very nicely for me, and last and last. They were quite a revelation for me; I have not had much luck with FOFs, and my feeling about V12s is in line with the majority. After Olivieri my second choice is still Grand Concert Select.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
