 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: presto214
Date: 2003-12-01 23:04
I'm just about sick and tired of vandoren reeds. They are so inconsistent and it's driving me insane. I've been reading about these "Rico Grand Concert Reeds" and many people have been giving them praise for being better, more consitent, better tone, last longer, easier to break in, and so on. Has anyone ever played on these before. I know that probably 95% of you all play on vandoren probably, and I've been playing them for so long (and I guess I'm so critical on myself) that i want better tone quality, and easier articulation. I'm a high school junior and have been playing for 6 years and have made all-state in my state before. I play(unhapilly) on a vandoren V12-4 and tradtional 3.5. PLEEAASE someone tell me there is a better reed out there somewhere!!
AAHHH!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-12-01 23:17
Vandorens are probably still the reed of choice among the majority of clarinetists, but their cane quality has been the subject of much discussion. Many of us have discovered and sung the praises of Gonzalez reeds. Their cane is nicely aged, fibers are dense and their consistancy from reed to reed is excellent.
As you are new to the bulletin board, you may wish to read some of the past postings concerning Gonzalez reeds. You can search using my initials and Gonzalez (GBK Gonzalez). That will give you a starting point.
In addition, you should have a break-in routine for your reeds. This will help you to maximize their full potential...GBK
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-12-02 00:58
I use Grand Concert. Try them, and see if you like them. They are more reliable than Vandoren.
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Author: Sarah
Date: 2003-12-02 01:23
Recently I bought a box of Grand Concert's and a box of Gonzalez (I know, not enough to base a real test on). I had been using Vandoren Traditional (4) and V12 (4.5) but wanted a change. I didn't not like the tone I was getting from the Grand Concert's at all. They seemed too....thin - tone wise to me. I have really liked almost all of the Gonzalez so far. I am finding that they take a while to break in, and for me they settle in to the right strenght after a while. I sanded a couple too soon and now they are softer than I would like. (I ordered 3.75 Gonzalez)
It might be good for you to try out several different kinds, becuase different reeds will work with you and your set up.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2003-12-02 02:07
I too have praise for Gonzalez.
Also, you might try Vandoren's new line, the 56 Rue Lepic.
I've had better results with them than with the V12, but it could be luck of the draw or me "wanting" them to be better. In a few months, I should know if they really have made the difference. So far, though, I quite like them.
I'd stay away from the Rico Grand Concerts, but that's probably partially because I belong to the Non-Rico mafia (which is in no way affiliated with the Buffet mafia, although I think they share many members). I'm thinking of picking a box of their size 1, though, just for fun.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Simon
Date: 2003-12-02 20:49
You may also want to try Mitchel Laurey reeds, I tend to find these more responsive than Vandoren and Rico.
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2003-12-03 01:37
Mitchell Lurie Premiums have alwasy worked best for me. Seem to be consistently good out of the box with minimal smoothing on the bottom.
PHAT reeds available at PHAT.com are okay, but soft and don't last quite as long as ML's.
JG
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Author: stickpoet
Date: 2003-12-04 03:43
Difference of opinions:
That's what makes a horse race well-nigh exciting.
As far as I am concerned
I am wedded to Vandoren Rue Lepic 56
Even though it is a few more bucks well worth it.
Out of puzzlement and stiff desire to not change anything
You might jeer me saying Rue Lepic could be my 3rd wife
When the truth is that finally she became my first legit wife
After almost half a century of cohabitations with
A handful of dames one after another.
My dear horn blower, are you sagaciously aware
that the proof of pudding is in the eating:
Careful and judicious eating.
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Author: Duane
Date: 2003-12-04 04:44
I use the Grand Concert Select Evolution reeds and find they break in very quickly and have a fine tone. I switched over from VanDoren.
Duane
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2003-12-04 16:07
These are good suggestions. I have also used Fibercells. They can be worked similar to cane reeds, and last a long time (for me, 30-40 weddings.) On the other hand, they are about as variable as cane reeds, and you may go through some duds at $8 (or whatever they cost now) each before you find a good one.
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Author: Luke
Date: 2003-12-04 18:21
I highly recommend trying out some Alexander Classiques.
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Author: Burt
Date: 2003-12-04 18:40
I share Sarah's and EE's high regard for Gonzalez. I use FOF 3 1/2. I've also had success with Zonda reeds.
Last I knew, Vandoren can grade reeds in 1/4 steps, but chooses to supply a variety of strengths in each box. I suppose that you're bound to get a good one in every box... plus several which are too hard or too soft.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-12-05 14:17
A correct embouchure can do much to get a lot of reeds working!
This is an area where a fine teacher can do much to get things moving along. I use 3 1/2 Vandorens of both boxes and do a bit of adjusting. Right now I have about 5 or 6 excellent reeds out a box working.
There is an awful lot on the BB about this particular problem. Practice habits can certainly affect the way one feels about his/her reeds!
David Dow
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-12-05 14:29
A few more suggestions (in convenient alphabetical order) to add to the confusion:
Glotin
Marca
Olivieri "Premium" (the new line owned/sold by Muncy Winds)
Rigotti "Gold"
Zonda
If you want inexpensive reeds to practice on, there's a fellow on eBay going by the moniker of "Squealy Dan" who puts lots of off-brand reeds up for auction --- I've bought numerous boxes of Armstrong "Premium" reeds from him, and they're not bad (especially for the $1 or $2 per box I've paid) -- like Mitchell Luries, you need to buy them at least a full strength harder than would you would normally play in a Vandoren. With proper break-in they are even good enough sometimes to perform on, although they don't last very long.
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Author: TerpUMD
Date: 2003-12-05 20:58
Don't forget it's also winter now, on this side of the globe. Your reeds will be prone to warping more under the changing of season.
Be sure to resurface them occassionally.
Also, I still stick to the V12's, however am considering the Rue 56. My beef with Vandoren (regarding these more expensive reeds) is why do they not just increase their quality of the V12s instead of promoting these "hand-picked" reeds?
Does anyone else share this belief?
.02
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-12-05 22:41
TerpUMD wrote:
> My beef with Vandoren (regarding these more expensive
> reeds) is why do they not just increase their quality of the
> V12s instead of promoting these "hand-picked" reeds?
The 56 Rue Lepic reeds are not "hand-picked" (or hand selected). They are made with a blank of a different thickness and have a different cut than the Traditional and V12 models.
The cane used in the 3 reeds is identical.
In July, I wrote a preliminary review of the Vandoren 56 Rue Lepic reeds. Since that review, my opinion is still the same:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=121293&t=121293 ...GBK
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-12-08 13:17
Well.
As they say you still have to have a reed and when one does not have one then you got trouble.
I would certainly not play on the 56 Rue reeds due to the pricey nature...
I tend to look at the inconsistency of Vandoren reeds as a god send...some are dark and others medium and some bright in terms of tone....
I also think that some manufacturers sell more cheaply because there quality control is based on different sets of standards....
a well balanced reed no matter the brand should work well...balancing the resistance of a reed is a personal matter and that is why private teachers and educators exist!
There is also climatic change from year to year which can certainly vary the quality of the growth of the cane for any manufacturer!!
If climate affects my red wine alot...then I am in total trouble...
David Dow
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