 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Corey
Date: 2003-02-10 02:11
Has everyone quit playing on Vandoren reeds? I never hear anyone talk about how they cant find a good one- I havent tried them in a vety long time and am curious if they may have improved- I'm going to the local shop tomorrow to buy my reeds and an going to buy one Vandoren V12 to see if they've changed any in the last year ( I havent played on a vandoren since last school year). So, does anyone still play on vandies? thanks -Corey
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-02-10 02:25
Corey said: "...I never hear anyone talk about how they cant find a good one- ..."
There are two possible explanations:
1. Everyone is perfectly happy and all reeds are playable
2. Everyone is so busy altering/balancing/adjusting/fussing/becoming neurotic over Vandorens that there is no time or energy left to write on the bulletin board.
My guess is number 2.
Corey also said: "...and an going to buy one Vandoren V12 to see if they've changed any in the last year..."
One reed? Your odds are not very good.
My suggestion (oh no, here he goes again): Gonzalez FOF ...GBK
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Author: Brett
Date: 2003-02-10 02:25
The impression I get from reading this board is that a fair amount of people are trying or using on a regular basis the Gonzalez FOF reeds. I haven't tried them yet, but I intend to soon. I've been noticing that Vandorens (blue box) have been less consistent out of the box with fewer of them being playable and more of them requiring adjustments. I really don't have much experience on V12s, so I hesitate to say anything to the positive or negative about them. They are definitely on my "to try" list along with a number of other brands. My opinion is, if you play on Vandorens again (which I recommend you do to start) and find them unsatisfactory, experiment. It never hurts to try different things, even if you find that they don't work for you. At least then you have the experience to know what not to use in the future. Hope this helps.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2003-02-10 02:30
I use Vandorens on a regular basis and find that most of them are excellent.
By the way you can't tell from just one reed.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-02-10 02:34
I didn't have any real beefs against Vandoren reeds, I just found I liked Glotins better, and shortly I'll find out if I like Gonzalez even better than that!
Peter
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Author: Corey
Date: 2003-02-10 03:07
I have also been curious on the Gonzalez FOF's.....If I need something comparable to a vandoren V12 3.5- what strength should I get in the FOF's? I might talk to my local shop to see if they can speacial order some....or just go through WW&BW.
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Author: Heidi
Date: 2003-02-10 04:42
Alas, I am still on Vandies. On a good note, my reed honing skills are improving because of them.:) I tried FOF's but really couldn't get them going. I tried all the things you guys suggested and just got more frustrated with them than I ever was on the Vandies...so I'm back on Vandies. It's true that they are inconsistant and often need work, but when they work, they work very well. I'm thinking about trying a box of FOF 3.0...I normally play on V12 3.5's or traditional 3.5's. Maybe that will be more comparable?
See ya!
Heidi
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-02-10 06:44
I switched about 2 months ago from V12 to 'normal' Vandorens. I get more out of a box. Of course, they need adjusting, and the good thing about playing on inconsistent reeds is that you learn to adjust them very quickly!!
I am yet to try Gonzales FOF, but I'd really like to.
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Author: Alex
Date: 2003-02-10 07:33
I'm quite happy with my Vandoren V12 3.5's. Almost all of the reeds in the last box I got played quite nicely without adjustment and continue to do so a couple months later (time for another box, though).
Then again, I stepped down from 4's to help with control. When I was still using 4's, I picked up a box of Gonzalez 4's, and they seemed quite hard, so I'm guessing they run 1/4 to 1/2 harder than equivalently marked V12's.
-Alex
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-02-10 07:42
I play on about 8 out of 10, from a box of V12's.
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Author: Rick
Date: 2003-02-10 09:24
I don't really have any aliance to reeds, but because I'd gotten pretty tired of re-manufacturing V12's I tried a box of FOF's and at first was really not impressed. But based on the care and feeding guides offered by readers here, I waited and played in several over a week and I think I'm sold.
I gave a couple of them to my teacher who plays V12-4s and she was impressed enough that she bought what I had left of a box that was too stiff for me. So she evidently likes them as well.
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Author: Bazzer the Jazzer
Date: 2003-02-10 14:37
I used Rico Royal for some time, I found the qaulity control good but since I started playing a Vandoren 5JB M/P I am using Vandoren V12s, they are designed for long facing M/Ps, I very rarely have to adjust them, I have never had to discard one yet.
Barrie
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2003-02-10 15:01
Davie cane also sell Mozart reed which I liked very much. They cost a little more but were worth it.M
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2003-02-10 15:13
Still playing V12s although I think the tip is larger than it used to, making them incompatible with some mouthpieces...
-S
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Author: William
Date: 2003-02-10 15:14
Just used two excellant V12's for our BJSO concert series this past weekend. VanDorens for me!!!!!!!
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Author: Domigo Partida
Date: 2003-02-11 00:11
Well, you gotta try Vandoren German Hand Cut Reeds, they are a little pricy, but they are so worth it, they play wonderfully light without that evil bright shreakky squaking. If not, the reg. Vandorens are just as fine!
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Author: John Elison
Date: 2003-02-11 02:24
I play regular blue-box Vandoren's. They suit me. I don't do any custom work on my reeds and I get at least 8 out of 10 that play nicely. Perhaps 3 or 4 out of those 8 play great.
Best regards,
John Elison
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Author: Jules
Date: 2003-02-12 00:27
I used Vandoren V12s for years and found that only half of the box played well enough for performance. So, when Zonda came out a few years ago, I tried them and switched...and I still use them now. I've tried the Zonda Classicos, but still prefer the Zonda Supremes (black and beige gox). They come five to a box and are only around $10. I very seldom ever have to make any adjustments where as I was constantly working on the Vandorens and the Zonda reeds last nearly three times as long.
I haven't heard of many people using them in the past few years, so maybe I'm the freak...HA! Give them a shot and see what you think.
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Author: Marina
Date: 2003-02-12 04:35
After 14 years on blue box Vandoren I have just switched (last week) to Mitchell Lurie standard reeds. This is my first box, but the first two I have pulled and used have been amazing. Just like a good, well-broken in Vandoren.
My only concern is that the longevity might not be as good as a "good" Vandoren but only time will tell. The ML are cheaper and if I get more good ones in a box then it will be more cost effective in the long run.
I switched because I too, like everyone else it seems, can only get about 5 playable reeds out of a blue box. Even if I try adjusting the others they always end up sounding "stuffy" or squeak excessively. Yes it could be me, but the MLs are working, for now.
Just my 2c
(Setup: Selmer B* / HS* MPs, Van Optimum lig, Noblet)
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