 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-05-05 12:20
I LOOOVE Zonda reeds! However, their lifespan is about 2 to 3 weeks for me, as opposed to Vandorens which I have used in all performances for up to 6 months at a time. Anyone have any ways to help with the life of these fantastic reeds?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-05-05 14:14
There's the ever popular products such as reed life and peroxide. Or try breaking them in slower. I've heard if you break in reeds too quickly that they go dead quicker (which is why I've heard of people breaking in reeds for a week or maybe even more - I'm taking longer, playing them every other day to ensure that I take my time, cause what's the rush?). Or save those good reeds ONLY for performances. Unless you are performing every day for 2 - 3 weeks they should last longer. Use reeds that are going dead for practice sessions and your best reeds should only be used for performances and lessons (you want your best reed for a lesson so you can focus more on what's YOUR problems and not the reeds problems).
This is what I do and it works well for me.
Alexi
[EDIT]
After reading post below, can't say I've tried Zondas so maybe this won't work with them. I use gonzalez FOF.
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2003-05-05 15:40)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-05-05 14:25
I use lots of brands of reeds and break them all in the same (slowly and carefully) and I too have found Zondas to be relatively short-lived. Play well right away, die soon. I get the longest service out of Vandorens, Marcas, and Glotins.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-05-05 14:48
My biggest issue with the Zonda cane is the fact it has a tendency to splinter on the sides for no reason. Towards the tip on the rails I have noticed this with both the hand select and classico cane....I regard it as a genera of cane that is not very tough. As for the quality of sound the hand select stuff is better, but once again the reed tends to not last long. I also find the sound in the upper altissimo on this cane thin and dull.
David Dow
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-05-05 15:58
Morrigan...I agree with David Dow as to many of the characteristics he summarized with Zonda reeds, and I have never found them to be particularly vibrant. They seem to lack some of the nice tonal color found in other premium reeds.
As to longevity, sfalexi is quite correct. During the first week, reeds change a great deal. Any quality reed should be broken in very slowly as the reeds need time to finally stabilize and settle.
However tempting as it may be to work on them sooner, give the reeds a full 5 -7 day break in cycle before making any decisions on possible adjustments. Often (as we all know) a reed which initially shows little potential on Day 1, turns out to be a gem on Day 7...GBK
Post Edited (2003-05-06 04:15)
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-05-05 21:18
I've found that they waterlog incredibly easily (in the early stages), so make sure you don't soak them too long when you're breaking them in, too.
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Author: graham
Date: 2003-05-06 12:24
Nice, aren't they. But I also find they tend to go off fairly fast. My solution may not help you but here it is:
I have four different mouthpieces for my usual pair. Forgetting two of those for a moment, I find that one of them, a shortish lay, with a tip opening of 1.05mm likes new Zondas when they are smooth and full sounding, because this mouthpiece emphasises upper partials and can sound very harsh with a buzzy reed. The Zonda only has to drift a little way out and it becomes too tricky to use on this mouthpiece. I then rotate it to another, which has a medium lay and a tip opening of 1.25mm. At this point in its life cycle the reed is softer and reedier, thus suiting the more open lay and the milder playing characteristics of the second mouthpiece.
I use the two mouthpieces in different situations (open lay for my regular "big" sounding orchestra, for example), so the reeds get automatic resting because I change from mouthpiece to mouthpiece.
Hope this helps
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2003-05-06 14:35
A few years ago, I tried the Zonda reeds and experienced the same sort of experience - the reeds worked and played well, but seemed to die very quickly.
About 9 months ago, rather disgusted with the quality of Vandoren's I had been buying, I tried Zonda's again.
I don't know that my approach was any different, but the several batches that I did bring along have performed well for me and have lasted quite well. Possibly I am rotating the reeds more frequently and letting them rest longer between playing. I try to keep eight reeds going at any one time, with four new ones coming along. I'll keep the newest reeds in a "coming along" state for as long as a month, breaking them in very slowly.
Maybe this has helped.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetXpress.com
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-05-08 01:29
Thanks guys.
So I'm obviously not the only one having these problems. Are there any similar reeds that last longer? Are Gonzales similar i.e. Along the V12 / Zonda kinda line?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-05-08 02:24
I like the gonzalez. In an earlier discussion, GBK clarified the differences between Gonzalez and Zondas (which aren't that many).
Here's the thread
There are 62 responses to do a search with your internet browser (CTRL+F should do it) and search for GBK. He explains the origins of each and a little about them (correcting lil ol me as a matter of fact!).
Many people have been pleased with Gonzalez and they get great reviews. Worth a try. They are pretty close to V12 thickness. Whatever number you play on V12, try either the same number or a quarter strength higher. The way I look at it is if the V12 3.5's play extremely comfortable for you right out of the box, go for a 3.75 in Gonzalez. But if you have to break them in and let them soften up a bit, try the same number.
US Army Japan Band
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