 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetmc
Date: 2006-09-18 03:56
Has anyone's Vandoren V12s been too soft for them lately. I play strength 4 reeds, but recently, and consistently, the tips have been on the soft side. A lot of my reeds feel mushy and limp. I recently switched to strength 4 1/2 and they are wonderful. I can support and not feel like my reed is going to close off. Just wondering if you have experienced the same problem?
thanks
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Author: GoatTnder
Date: 2006-09-18 04:13
It's one of those "now that you mention it..." things. I have noticed the reed closing off quite a bit more lately. But not quite the mushiness that you mentioned. I'm currently using 3.5's on a refaced Fobes 4L.
Andres Cabrera
South Bay Wind Ensemble
sbwe@sbmusic.org
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Author: RodRubber
Date: 2006-09-19 05:33
regardless of the strength, many v12 reeds have inferior tips. It is for this reason that any professional using v12s will discard a percentage that the tip is too weak. I have heard this reed characteristic referred to as "tippy."
I use 4.5 v12. Many of them also have weak tips. With the type of mouthpiece i use (close), it is crucial that the tip is "springy." The best v12s have a springy tip, and a lot of wood directly behind the tip. Beware of the ones that are "tippy" as mentioned, and also ones that have large areas of fibers missing, especially directly behind the tip. If the tip doesn't really feel stiff and springy, give it the wall test.
Post Edited (2006-09-19 05:38)
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Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2006-09-21 01:24
Can't you cut the very end of the tip? Like a couple of tenth mm maybe.
Cutting is a little bit tricky though.
I think you probably save some reeds this way.
P.S. Better reeds will survive the wall test?
Post Edited (2006-09-21 01:35)
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Author: Brad Behn
Date: 2006-09-21 01:25
V12 reeds are slightly thicker blanks and as a result, the tip of the reed is farther away from the bark than a thinner cut reed.
Cane that is closer to the bark is denser/harder and that is one reason why:
1. V12 reeds can feel mushy compared to standard Vandoren reeds
2. V12 tips feel soft
3. V12 3.5 strength reed is similar in resistance to Standard blue box 3
Brad Behn
http://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com
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Author: robertgh
Date: 2006-09-21 05:27
"V12 3.5 strength reed is similar in resistance to Standard blue box 3"
Vandoren's website compares their three lines and notes that the V12 strength 4s are comparable to the Traditional 3.5s. Of course, if you're saying that you've been playing V12 4s all along and now suddenly they seem to be noticably "tippy" that would be an interesting shift in the product performance.
Post Edited (2006-09-21 05:29)
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2006-09-21 17:36
I always use a Codier reed clipper in this case..
I have always had alot of success with V12's
maybe players should seek out their inhernent reed problems with climate change or differences in physiology from day to day. Too much acids in the diet or a can of coke can really make a reed that played well yesterday a dud today.
David Dow
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