 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BARRY
Date: 2003-05-22 09:32
After a lifetime on Vandoren (standard and V12) plus the odd Glotin, I started reading about other makes and recently ordered 6 each of
RICO GCS
Mitchell Lurie
Gonzales Zonda
They were all force 3.
Compared to VD, the first thing I noticed was far far greater homogeneity.
For both Rico and ML 4 out of 6 reeds were perfect for immediate use and the other two were just a tiny bit more difficult. I shall be playing them in very gently.
The Zonda were also homogeneous, but all a bit hard for my embouchure.
Will be doctoring them later.
All this compared to a Vandoren average of only 1 to 3 reeds out of 12 being usable, 5/6 totally unusable and 2 or 3 possible after much trial and error.
This makes VD by far the most expensive reed in the world, but when they're good they're very good. Only time will tell with my MLs and Ricos.
Any other experience out there?
barry
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Author: tww
Date: 2003-05-22 11:45
I agree with what you said about Vandoren's and hence don't use them. However, I've had a different experience with Mitchell Lurie reeds. Typically, they play horribly right out of the box for me, but can do wonderful things once broken in. They seem to improve with age. Then again, I have no experience with strength 3 ML's.
- tww
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Author: javier garcia m
Date: 2003-05-22 12:48
Barry, I'm having an excelent experience with Glotin now (#3), very consistent, a little hard at the beginning but after a few days, good tone and projection. What is your experience with them? why have you changed?
Thanks
Javier
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-05-22 13:24
I find that about 8 out of a box of 10 Vandoren V12 reeds play well. Many of them need very slight balancing, but once you've done that they play beautifully. The other two are useful as toothpicks!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-05-22 13:27
But, if you didn't know what brand you were playing........what conclusions would you reach?
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-05-22 15:41
BobD- hey come on, do you really think I'd start hating my Vanndorens if I thought I was playing on Rico?
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Author: yo_dude24
Date: 2003-05-22 16:40
Well i like vandoren V12's they play very well, a little unbalanced but a little shave and a little sandpaper, and there good as new! but i'm curiouse about the vandoren hand select and the rico evolution, anyone ever played on any of them, from what i hear there excellent, but i'm not quite sure wether to believe one person thats intermediate, or 4 people that are advanced....hard choice i think not! thanks
laters
I'm just sittin here watchin' the wheels go round round....i really love to watch them roll
* John Lennon
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Author: Clarence
Date: 2003-05-22 16:53
I ordered a mixed qty of Gonzales FOF reeds (3 1/4, 3 1/2, 3 3/4) from
http://www.grahams-music.com and found all three played fine out of
the box. The main difference I noticed from V12s was the lack of squeaks.
It looks like 3 1/2 is about right for me.
Post Edited (2003-05-22 18:21)
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-05-22 17:43
I play on Vandoren V12... I enjoy them, but I realize there is a whole world of reeds out there to try. However, everytime I order reeds from another company they are INCREDIBLY soft.... even if I use a reed comparison chart, I can't find reeds that are the right strength (except for the V12s). By the way, I play a 4. Anyway, I've pretty much given up on trying other brands because I'm tired of wasting money on reeds that are too soft! Are there any reeds that match the strength of Vandoren? Or do I just need to learn to play softer reeds?
Thanks for any advice..
Don
theclarinetist@yahoo.com
PS - I just got a new mouthpiece (a chedville of some kind) that is quite closed, which makes finding reeds that aren't too soft even harder.... I think I'm just gonna start playing on popsicle sticks... j/k!
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2003-05-22 17:55
I have to chime in. I had been using V12s since I started taking the clarinet up again and decided to just give the GCSs a try, more out of curiosity than anything. Suffice it to say that I'm sticking with the GCSs. They were far more consistent. With the V12s there was always the unknown whenever I would start playig a new reed. Will this be a crappy reed or a good reed. With the GCS reeds every reed was the same. I knew what I was getting. And I could swear that my throat tones sounded better too.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2003-05-22 22:09
It has been my experience that it is best to first lightly sand any reed out of the box to remove the raised grain, wet it and let it dry. Then repeat this next day and the day after. After that, one can try them on the clarinet. Further sanding may be needed using that great silicon carbide abrasive paper, almost as hard as diamond paper. Most reeds out of a V12 box play well for me. Good luck!
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Author: Clarinetpunk
Date: 2003-05-22 23:06
After using VD V-12s i got real tired of theyre inconsistancy, i got Zonda from a lesson teacher. I use the Hand Select Zonda (5-pack) and aboslutely love them. I have to make little adjustments and they last a long time. They do run a little hard, though i like how theyre are 3 strengths per each size (ie. strength 31/2 has a soft med and hard.) Another good brand if i may suggest would be Gonzalez. Theyre a bit pricy a box though i really like them for consistancy and quality.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-05-23 00:42
After reading that excerpt on Vandoren V12 reeds that you can get under the Equipment list (I think), I just need to say that Vandoren does it on purpose. Or they say they do. In a box of 3.5, they put in there reeds of strengths from 3.0 to 4.0 figuring that on a certain given day, one reed may serve you better than another, so they put them in there. THat's what I got from the page. Here's a link . . . HERE!
It's done on purpose so I just feel it's not really "inconsistency" rather people not knowing to be prepared for it.
I think it makes sense (in a wierd, chaotic way). You know there are those days that your reed just buckles and you have to switch to a previously "crappy" one. well, he gives you plenty to choose from. Also, I remember hearing somewhere that the humidity and/or altitude you're playing at should affect your reed strength. Well, he offers the strengths.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2003-05-23 00:54)
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2003-05-23 02:06
I read the same article months back. All I can say is if that's their approach I don't like it. That explanation worked for me until I tried the GCSs.
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Author: Clarinetpunk
Date: 2003-05-23 03:54
I think they said that to save their butts...possibly due to similar comaplaints. If im going to spent 15-20 dollars on a box of 3 1/2 reeds i want them to fairly similar so i can make such adjustments, and use ALL the reeds. It really adds up when you only find 4 or 5 playable reeds in a box. Call me crazy....but thats how i feel.
Post Edited (2003-05-23 04:14)
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Author: BARRY
Date: 2003-05-23 16:50
thanks for comment
what strength do you use and with what mp?
thanks
barry
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-05-23 22:22
lol. Even though I pointed out that article, Barry, I agree with Bob saying that if that's their approach (whether it's true or not, I don't know), I don't particularly like it. I play Gonzalez FOF size 4. Gigliotti P mouthpiece (worked on by Dave Spiegelthal).
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Clarinetpunk
Date: 2003-05-24 04:44
I must agree with sfalexi....i tried the Gonzales FOF with a friend, we split the box, and i really liked them. I also must reccomend, once again, The Zonda Hand Select (5 pack) theyre great.
I am currently switching back and forth among the Zonda, Gonzalez, and Oliveri on a VanDoren M15 Mouthpiece. And its a tie between the Zonda and Gonz. Perhaps its because theyre both made in argentina?
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Author: beejay
Date: 2003-05-24 06:15
Barry,
Since you live in France, are you aware that you can take your favorite reed to Vandoren (56 rue Lepic, Paris) and have them duplicate the characteristics?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-05-24 07:31
beejay said: "...are you aware that you can take your favorite reed to Vandoren (56 rue Lepic, Paris) and have them duplicate the characteristics..."
Can I bring them my Gonzalez reeds?
Seriously, why would you? It may be the same profile, but you are still going to get a Vandoren reed with underaged cane and sparse fibers that do not run to the tip ...GBK
Post Edited (2003-05-24 15:37)
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-05-24 17:00
Once again its time to get out the reed knife, the dutch rush and the sand paper and begin profiling reeds to suit your own playing needs...
all pros and amateurs alike have to go through the process of learning to adjust single reeds.
Rico play consistent....consistenly bad. The Grand Concert Select are quite nice as well as the newer glotion 111 series.
I find no two reeds play alike and think a player can use this to their advantage.
I would not play Weber on the same reed as Brahms....
The Opperman book on Adjusting single reeds is a must to any clarinet player who wants to sound better.....
As to Vandoren, I have never seen a time(I have been playing since 1977) when I found more than 3-5 reeds a box than work ideally.
David Dow
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