 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SVSorna05
Date: 2003-07-08 15:09
ok ive had it with vandoren V12 there is just too much inconsistancy per box, I was just curious if there are any other reeds out there that ya'll know are reliable and work well to aid in producing a nice dark sound thanx
-Dain-
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2003-07-08 15:40
I thought that was just how things were (the inconsistency) until I picked up a box of Grand Concert Select reeds. I've since not gone back to the V-12s. Try a box. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Bob Schwab
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Author: Tim P
Date: 2003-07-08 15:48
"consistent reeds" probably two words that should never be used in the same sentence since it makes no sense.
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Author: ken
Date: 2003-07-08 16:40
What's wrong with Vandoren V-12s? I consistently get ONE good reed in every box!! Seriuosly, I've had better luck with Gonzalez FoFs and Zonda Selects (5 per package).
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-07-08 19:36
I find the GCS to be more consistent than v-12s, but I also find them to be fuzzier sounding... maybe it's just me -- (personally, I'm looking forward to the 56 Rue Lepics.... I'll probably be let down, but I'm still excited about them)!
Don --> theclarinetist@yahoo.com
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Author: Clar inet
Date: 2003-07-08 20:46
Vandoren hand selects are more "consistent". you can get the regular box to work just as well you just have to spend more time centering the heart and such.
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Author: CPW
Date: 2003-07-08 21:27
Consistent reeds and Military Intelligence
OXYMORON
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Author: Barrie Marshall
Date: 2003-07-08 21:41
I used to play with a clarinet player in a New Orleans Marching band(I played alto sax) he always had a load of reeds in the top pocket of his shirt and was always changing them, he swore by Rico Royals. since I acquired my Vandoren 5JB about four years ago I have found combining it with Vandoren V12s(2.1/2) the best 'COMPROMISE' I have ever had.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-07-08 22:25
Clar inet proclaimed:
> Vandoren hand selects are more "consistent".
At twice the price I would certainly hope so.
With the most promising reeds cherry picked out by Vandoren to go into the "hand selected" category, thus making the regular Blue Box Vandorens quality second rate (at best), I find the "1 good reed per box" ratio totally unacceptable. (by the way - my reed working skills are excellent)
Gonzalez FOF are consistantly cut more carefully with a seemingly higher grade of cane.
After 30+ years I said goodbye to Vandoren when their decline in cane quality became more than apparent, and their tip change to the new flatter style I found to be uncalled for, unworkable and annoying... GBK
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Author: moose6589
Date: 2003-07-09 09:03
I've tried gonzalez before, they are very nice, however, which is more consistent/better, zonda or gonzalez? never tried zonda before, but heard some great great things about them.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-07-09 14:10
I haven't tried the Gonzales reeds yet, but I've been using Zondas on and off for quite a while on both bass and soprano clarinets, and my experience has been that they're very lively at first (partly because they're cut rather thin), but they don't last too long. I like having a few in my case just to have some reeds that will work right away in a pinch --- but for long-term durability I prefer other brands --- on bass clarinet my longest-lasting reliable reeds always seem to be Marcas and the much-maligned Vandorens.
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Author: big fat lyre112
Date: 2003-07-09 16:27
Everyone has talked about Gonzalez & Zondo...now I'm a student and I agree that good Vandoren Reeds are tough to come by ((1 per box)) but how expensive are the Gonzalez & Zondo reeds compared the the Vandoren (($20 a box at the local music store)) and would you be able to pick these brands up at a local music store or would finding them online be easier/cheaper?
Thanks a buch yall!
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Author: clarinetqween
Date: 2003-07-09 16:36
Mitchell Lurie reeds are very consistant per the box. I personally have used them, but I use a strength 5 when I do. That is me though. Good LUCK!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-07-09 18:36
Gonzolez FOF seem to be a "normal" price. About 22 a box for ten. Gigliotti Plus reeds are pretty good. About the same price for a box of 8. (I prefer Gonzolez FOF)
As for the difference between Zonda and Gonzalez, the Gonzalez are a thicker blank, similar to the V12 cut (they were actually made to replicate the old Morré reeds). The zonda's have a thinner blank like the traditional V12. The strengths match up between Zonda and Gonzalez FOF. Gonzalez has quarter strengths (3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4) while the Zondas have "soft, medium and hard" if I remember correctly.
Alexi
PS - I've heard Zondas sound great, but tend to die quickly and the FOF sound good, but you have to break them in slowly.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Allie
Date: 2003-07-10 19:07
"Mitchell Lurie reeds are very consistant per the box"
Yep, they consistently wear out within a week! No offense, Clarinetqween.
~Allie
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Author: AmateurJen
Date: 2003-07-10 19:31
oh I don't know about wearing out in a week. I've played on a Mitchell Laurie Premium 3.5's for about 10 years now. Granted they do get a bit grainy right outta the box but once you burnish them you're good to go. I play about 3 times a week and one reed usually has a playing life of 3 months for me.
That's the one thing about reeds, they are so user dependent that what works for someone may not work for someone else...I hate vandorens, personally I never got a good sound from them.
Your best bet for finding the perfect box of reeds is to go to a music shop where they sell them in singles and let you sift through them first. For you sax players I know this is a huge deal too and I know for certain that the Sax Shop in the Chicago area will let you evaluate individual reeds before you buy.
Good Luck...
Jen
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Author: musiq
Date: 2003-07-10 19:57
I have personally never tried gonzalez or zondo because i dont know where to buy them. I'll probably look them up after this posting. As for vandoren I have never reasly been into the v12. I have always used blackmaster. FOR ME they give a much darker and passionate sound. Plus I think v12 tips die extreamly fast. But as everyone says, "its about what works for you". I have been hooked to my gigliotti and blackmasters since middle school. I never usually have a trouble with consistantcy... I never really worry about it. Im not the clarinet player that spends maticulous hours trying to sand and shape their reeds. I take one out the box and play. Its worked for me thus far. I guess I pride my playing on my tone, may technique needs loads of work but i can always fall back on my tone.
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Author: SVSorna05
Date: 2003-07-10 20:50
Ok guys thanx alot i think several people have learned things from this post including me, I will take all of your suggestions and comments too heart and try out most of the reeds you've mentioned thanx guys n girls
-Dain-
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-07-11 03:36
I've had Zondas that have lasted me well over a month . . . They do have to be broken in slowly, but they're worth it! Usually, 4/5 play for me, sometimes 5/5 if I'm lucky. Also, having several and rotating them is really the only way to go, otherwise they will all die in a week.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2003-07-11 15:41
Since no one mentioned Alexander Classique I'll jump in and suggest that you add them to your list of reeds to try out. They are excellent.
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-07-12 22:47
I've tried the Alexander Classique reeds. I ordered 4s and they felt like a Vandoren 2.5 at best! I never really gotta a chance to see how good the reeds actually were because they were so unbelievably soft. This isn't really a "problem", but just beware if you are ordering them. They are really soft (at least the box I got).
Don -->theclarinetist@yahoo.com
PS-I don't think I was able to find a reed comparison chart that had Alexanders on it, so I just picked 4... Perhaps an accurate comp. chart could point you to the appropriate strength (which for me would apparently be a 38!!) Just wanted to make sure it didn't sound like I was Alexander-bashing (for all the fans). Just make sure about the strength before wasting the money = )
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-07-13 02:26
Hmmm.., I had the opposite experience - I normally use GC 3.5 and with Alexander Classique had to go down to 2.5. I have not persisted with them to see if that is their norm.
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-07-13 04:33
Karel - I wonder if I just got a "bad box"? I find that Vandorens and GrandConcertSelects are approximately the same strength.... and you need softer Alexander's and I need harder (to match the normal strength in VAndoren/GCS). Anyone else had a similar experience?
DH - theclarinetist@yahoo.com
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2003-07-14 09:28
la voz for about 10$ for a box of 10 are great. i use those mainly on my bass clarinet but on my Bb clarinet too. i love the grand concert thick black. not consistent is a little harsh. i think i can play on 9 out of 10 grand concert reeds. usually even 10. some of the mare better than others, but they are all good. going to try the grand concert evolution in a few days. sepnding 26$ on 10 vandren hand selct reeds is just stupid, then you can get the same reeds if not better for less.
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Author: jille
Date: 2003-07-17 05:52
How do the Gonzales reeds compare with the V-12 in strength? I use a 4 or 4.5 in Vandoren v-12. Tend toward the 4.
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Author: fmadison
Date: 2003-07-17 06:56
Hi,
Here what I did for consistant reeds.
1. Select your best mouthpiece.
2. Order 10 boxes of 10 reeds per box like Gonzalez.
3. You must match the reed to the mouthpiece and pick out the best
reed from over 100 of them.
4. Now that you selected the best reed from 100 reeds you will need some tools to clone it.
5. lets say that you selected a 3.5 Gonzales reed you will need to buy either 3.75 or 4.0 Gonzales reeds or reed blanks from Gonzalez.
6. I use a ReedDual to duplicate the best reed by using that reed as the master reed kind of like a key duplication device. You want your copies to be slightly stronger than the master because you must account for break in period.
The result will be in you having many reeds that play great and your sound is very consistant from one reed to another.
Total cost for this project would be less than $1000.00 but at least life would be a little better.
-Frank
It's the wood that makes it good!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-07-17 07:20
fmadison said:
>Total cost for this project would be less than $1000.00
Or, you could spend $25, buy a reed knife, and learn how to use it...GBK
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2003-07-17 07:42
I have tried a variety of the newer reeds on the market(Gonzales, Grand Concert, etc.). I may end up playing on these reeds for awhile, but then go right back to the V12s. I thought that the Gonzales reeds were good, but just didn't have enough brilliance in the sound to be anything more than practice reeds. I am waiting my order of this 'marvelous' batch of Vandoren 56s to arrive. Most likely I will just go right back to V12s.
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Author: graham
Date: 2003-07-17 08:15
May be I read the posts too fasst but I don't think any one has mentioned Vintage Australian. I only use them on E flat myaself since they seem too bright on b flat, but I got the impression a few years ago that they could stand a punishing schedule.
Pity about the Zondas flagging after a short while, since they have great qualities otherwise. I always tend to come back to them despite the attrition rate.
Glotin Giais last well, and when they are good they are very very good, but can seem resistant and reedy at times, so its a lucky dip.
Marcas are good for bass as DS said. For chamber music on bass I use the Alexander Classique tenor sax reeds as they are great doing quiet stuff. Orchestrally they haven't the guts to keep pace.
I have only recently bought just three Gonzalez (different strengths) but did do a concert on one recently. The jury is out for me. The sound is very direct (little bloom) and articulation is noticeably more tricky than with, say, Zondas. But that's on a small sample so they are probably worth persisting with.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-07-17 15:10
VanDoren reeds--No Problem!!! Just start with a slightly harder number than you really need and ''''work it down" to the strength you need for your own mouthpiece via profiling and balancing. I use a knife for balancing and occassionally a Reed Wizard for the profile adjustment. Consequently, I can make every reed in any box of V12s, 3.5 or 4.0s useful--and usually "harvest" at least six reeds of concert quality, three or four being truely supurb "CD recording" quality. (I also advocate saliva only moisturization--no water)
Of course, I go by the advice of William Stubbins, ledgendary Michigan Professor of clarinet, who advised his students, "Play the reed--don't let the reed play you." As an example, there is the story of Charles Niedich taking the first reed out of a newly opened box of reeds, popping it into his mouth and walking out on stage to perform solo with an orchestra. True??--I don't know. I did hear (and see) him in a local clinic pull a single reed out of his sports coat pocket, put it on his clarinet and play flawlessly. At one point, he seemed dissatisfied with his performance, and, instead of switching reeds, he switched mouthpieces--at which he nodded approval, and continued playing. But none of us noticed any difference in his sound or articulative skills. My point--Charles Niedich plays the clarinet (and reed), it does not seem to play him.
Not all of my reeds are always "Hall of Fame" variety, but I try to never let my audiencies know that. You just have to be a bit versatile and try to make those "****" reeds be "everthing they can be" by preping and adjustment. And starting with a stronger reed gives you the "whittle room" to make those adjustments work. Good luck in taming those reeds.
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