 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Richie
Date: 2016-08-28 03:53
I bought a box of the V21 reeds by Vandoren. I absolutely hate them, they sounded way too fuzzy and had a lot of duds. I tried using sandpaper to adjust them, but I honestly don't really know what I'm doing, I need to learn somewhere. I would use the Reserves, but they don't work on my mouthpiece. So that brings me to the question, which cut has the most consistent reeds without adjustment, the V12's or 56 Rue Lepics? (Also, if you know of a good article to show me how to adjust reeds the right way, that would be helpful too).
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Author: mmatisoff
Date: 2016-08-28 04:46
I’m use both reeds. I like the darkness of the 56 Rue Lepic 3.5+; yet, I like the quick response of the V21 (I was given two free boxes of 4.5 strength. I have to do a lot of balancing to make them usable. I have to balance the 56s, too, just not as much). When I use my Vandoren M15 (13 series), I much prefer the 56s.
That said, I’m trying out some Gennusa mps and, surprisingly (at least to me), the mouthpiece sounds much better and more responsive with the V21s. The trade-off between darkness and brightness is worth it to me. For the first time, I can jump from staff B♭ to above staff D♯ effortlessly. I’ve tried Gonazles and Rico; I just didn’t like them compared to the Vandorens.
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Author: CEC
Date: 2016-08-28 20:11
I don't much care for the V12s myself and a big part of that is their inconsistency. I haven't played 56s in a long while, but I find the regular blue box and V21s to be much more consistent than the V12s.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2016-08-28 20:16
Everyone needs to find which brand and strength works best for them.
Everyone here will have a different opinion. You'll just have to try a few different brands to find out what works best for you.
Don't forget to take a look at the D'Addario reeds, Vandoren is not the only game in town.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Richie
Date: 2016-08-29 00:25
Do the Rue Lepics run stiffer or softer than V21's? I think one problem is that my mouthpiece has a lot of resistance.
Post Edited (2016-08-29 00:26)
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Author: TomS
Date: 2016-09-01 01:22
Lepics are a bit softer, IMHO, than the 21s. I think the Lepics are also more consistent and better balanced than the other Vandoren reeds (?).
Of course, you can only compare strengths between reed models when all reeds are well balanced ... a tiny shaving of wood powder to balance the reed on your MP and the apparent strength drops considerably.
Lost interest in using V12s ... they seem to not be as good as when first on the market.
Tom
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2016-09-04 19:15
Lepics are much better..not impressed at all with the v21 reeds..they seem to play erratically even after loads of adjustment. Not sure but maybe Vandoren may need to rethink whatever they are doing with the v21....
David Dow
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Author: SonicManEXE
Date: 2016-09-05 04:17
I switched from 3.5 V12 to 3.5 V21 a little over a year ago and I found them to be much more consistent for me. Of course I still have boxes with almost all duds from time to time, but as far as consistency, I've found them to be better. I feel like my tone has much more to do with how in shape my embouchure is, but I haven't played on anything other than V21s since I've started paying attention to things like that, so who knows.
If any of you are interested to see the chart comparing the different types of Vandorens as well as Rico, Vandoren has a picture: http://luvernehsband.weebly.com/uploads/2/9/3/3/29338479/1542066_orig.jpg
Interesting to note that V12s are different between clarinets and saxes.
Jared
Ft. Lauderdale & Tampa, FL
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2016-09-06 05:28
Most consistent reeds I've played on have been Peter Leuthner French Cut. Steuer Exclusives are a close second. Rue Lepics are insufferably honkey for me. V12s were OK, but the sound never got close to the Steuers and Leuthners. If you want consistency out of the box, you need to avoid the macho thing about using hard reeds, though. If you have to work it a lot, it won't be consistent.
Post Edited (2016-09-06 05:52)
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Author: KSL
Date: 2016-09-06 22:24
The Rue Lepic's are definetly the best for my mouthpiece, the Kuckmeier Solist M. I use strength 3.5. Consistency is a problem with V12's, V21's as well as Rue Lepics. The main problem has to do with imbalance of the two sides of the reed. Without reed adjustment, I can only get 2 or 3 very good reeds out of a box of 10. I have used the Ridenour ATG system for 3 years now and it works wonders. I more often than not get 7 out of ten excellent reeds. The reeds frequently need some tweaking to achieve the correct balance.
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2016-09-07 00:21
dorjepismo, how do the Leuthners compare to the Steuers strenth-wise?
I switched from Vandoren to Steuer Exclussives over a year ago and have been very happy. They have been MUCH more consistent for me than Vandorens ever were. However, I would really love to have a 3 1/4 strength option as the 3's are just barely hard enough and the 3 1/2's are way too hard. I'm wondering if the Leuthners might have a size that's a better fit for me....
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2016-09-07 04:45
Possibly a little softer, but not a half-strength softer. I use 3 for both, and work a slight bit more on the Steuers as they break in. I got a couple Leuthner 3 1/2s, and am having to work them a little more than the Steuer 3s. The Steuers might sound a little clearer, and the Leuthners have a little more German-ey sound, which people I play with say they prefer. The Leuthners have a bit more tendency for the cane to raise where the mouthpiece window is, so I have to sand them a little every few days of use. Howarths will sell individual reeds, so you don't have to buy a box to try something, although there is the trans-Atlantic postage.
nellsonic wrote:
> dorjepismo, how do the Leuthners compare to the Steuers
> strenth-wise?
>
> I switched from Vandoren to Steuer Exclussives over a year ago
> and have been very happy. They have been MUCH more consistent
> for me than Vandorens ever were. However, I would really love
> to have a 3 1/4 strength option as the 3's are just barely hard
> enough and the 3 1/2's are way too hard. I'm wondering if the
> Leuthners might have a size that's a better fit for me....
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Author: Richie
Date: 2016-09-08 01:43
Thank you, I'm thinking of trying the Gonzales reeds, not sure if they work with my mouthpiece though.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2016-09-10 17:31
I vote for the 56 reeds. I also like the extra resistance/compactness in the higher notes, which helps when dancing around a 1st or solo clarinet part in a wind ensemble.
Tom
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