 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clarinetbiter135
Date: 2003-08-09 19:32
I read about opinions on virtually every type of professional reed on this board, except for Zonda. Anyone have an opinion? I personally enjoy them more than the V12s, they are just more sensitive to any adjustment. I guess my "question" is am I the only one who feels this way.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-08-10 02:44
Argendonax S.R.L. is the company owned by the Gonzalez family in Mendoza, Argentina. They manufacture both the Zonda and Gonzalez reeds, as well as supply raw materials to other reed companies (even a certain French company we all know very well).
The strength grading of Zondas is a bit unusual (substrengths within each size) but it can be useful in helping find the reed which comes closest to one's needs.
The cane quality of Zondas is excellent, but like Gonzalez reeds, they must be broken in very slowly. Too much playing too soon severly limits their useful life.
I have played a number of Zondas Hand Selects, but prefer the thicker vamp and tip found in the Gonzalez reeds. To me, Zondas always felt a bit reedy and bright. Then again, perhaps I am accustomed to the Gonzalez cut and know what balancing adjustments to make.
Zonda reeds are made in Mendoza, Argentina and distributed worldwide by Hinotes, Inc., a sister company of Verne Q. Powell Flutes, Inc...GBK
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Author: allencole
Date: 2003-08-10 05:10
I have been playing Zonda reeds exclusively since the summer of 1999 and have been quite happy with all but the last batch.
The substrength setup is very good, and I have had very few reeds which were not good at least for practicing. Be careful when ordering, though, because the strengths are not quite as easy for seller to get straight as they are with Legere.
I use #4 reeds, the substrengths for these are L, M and N (softest to hardest #4's) Generally speaking, I prefer the "N" batches, but keep of couple packs of "M"s just in case I need to get right to work. Proper info for identifyng the strengths is available on Powell Flutes' website.
I would also echo GBK's warning about a long, patient break-in. I've had friends compare the Gonzalez reeds favorably to the Zondas and hope to try some soon. Zonda has been great, and the substrength scheme is nice. If there is someone who does it even better, I'm definitely interested in investigating.
GBK's comments about brightness and reediness are also on target. I enjoy these reeds a lot in jazz circumstances, but sometimes get comments on my brightness in other circumstances.
Allen Cole
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Author: clarinetmama
Date: 2003-08-11 04:05
Tried 'em. Hated 'em. Looking for someone to give them too. My sound stinks with them I will stick to Vandoren V-12s I guess.
Jean
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2003-08-12 11:35
I have been playing on Zonda's for several years, having over the decades worked my way through many other brands. I try to find one reed and mouthpiece combination for all seasons, and Zonda is working for me, now. At times in the past I have also played on, for periods of greater than 1 year: La Voz, Lurie, Queen, Vandoren, Fibercell, Rico Grand Concert, and others. They worked for me then, and every few years I am usually moved to try a new brand or to re-try a brand that I have played on in the past.
A friend's horn teacher was Hermann Baumann, and they were talking about her instrument. She said that it was working really well for her, to which he replied, "Now. In 10 years, things will be different."
Whether a brand of reeds will work for you or not will be just the same for Zonda as for any other model of reed or mouthpiece. Your jaw, teeth, and embouchure are uniquely different in many subtle ways from anybody else's. When selecting reeds, only you have to be comfortable with the results, just like selecting shoes or underwear.
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Author: graham
Date: 2003-08-12 13:09
Well said Ralph, I think you have put your finger on it. The products change as well as the users. I went through three consignments of Queen reeds at various times (ten boxes per delivery, as the shop would not order in lesser quantities). They were unrecognisable from each other. I was only ever particularly comfortable with the first lot. Tempted to try again, but as Zonda now seem to deliver the goods so comprehensively, why should I bother?
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-08-12 14:22
I have given up on the Zonda cane, due to the fact I find they tend to die quickly and also the tip cut tends chip off easily for no reason..l. have found them to be very stuffy or too bright.....
The Gonsalez reeds are more consistent, as well as the Thick Blank Rico Grand Concert Select...I am using some of these lately to great success. I also like the V12 Vandorens...
David Dow
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2003-08-16 03:27
Aha!
Years ago there was an article in Fine Woodworking magazine about Hillerich & Bradsby (sp?) who make custom baseball bats for major league players. Each player has his own template, which their wood-turners use to turn ash blanks into custom bats for just that player.
They once made a group of bats for a certain 3rd baseman, who tested them, rejected them, and sent them back. They made a second set, and he didn't like them, either. So they made a third set, with the same result. Exasperated, they took the first set, cleaned them up, and sent them out again. These were accepted, with the comment, "Why didn't you send me these the first time?"
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-08-16 03:32
I'm very curious about these reeds and I want to try a box, but don't know what to get. As I can remember, they run with a number and three levels within that number. Light, Medium, and hard. I play comfortably on a gonzalez FOF 3.75. Now would that be a Zonda 3.5 hard, or a zonda 4.0 light? If it's any consolation, I can play on FOF 4.0 well as well, but prefer the slightly softer reed. But wouldn't both these strengths be the same but with different names?
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Dawne
Date: 2003-08-16 09:09
I like the Zonda's very much. I find that they play quite well right out of the box with just a little fine sanding.....but if I can resist the temptation to just keep playing the thing, and break it in right, I find the "prime-time" window to be quite large.
I tried them at the recommendation of Walter Grabner. I was so tired of spending precious practice time operating on V12's that showed even a slight bit of promise.
I bought a box of hard 3's and a box of hard 3 1/2's. I can play well on both, but some days prefer one over the other....I will next order the soft and medium 3 1/2's to see if I can pin myself down to one strength. I think the hard 3 1/2's are harder than 3 1/2 v12's if that helps, sfalexi.
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2003-08-16 11:19
I use Zonda Classicos exclusively except for the Legere synthetic reeds. However, keep in mind that there are the Zonda Classicos, they come 10 in a box, and the Zonda Select that come 5 in a box. For some reason I've had more success with the Classicos, and that's good because they're less expensive.
I use a Vandoren B40 mouthpiece on a Buffet R13 with an Optimum ligature, and that combination seems to get along with each other very well. I've always found the reeds will provide a full, rich sound. I've tried to return to other reeds and the sound just isn't the same.
Because of the excellent comments on this BB about breaking in reeds I've been far more patient in breaking the reeds in, and they stay useful much longer than before.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-08-16 22:16
No success whatsoever. The Zonda select cost almost twice the price of V12's here which is the first disincentive. The substrength system is a bit of a crock, as with other reeds the strength varies across all the reeds in the box. I have tried a couple of different substrengths of the same number and found hard and soft in both. The reed itself is a little narrower than Rico or Vandoren reeds and doesn't suit some mouthpieces for example a Selmer C85, the reed does't cover the whole width of the table. They have no durability which for the price you might expect and the tips split or disintegrate. They may do better to get rid of the Zen factor and make decent quality reeds. As for the Gonzalez, the Zonda proved so unpopular that the importer here doesn't even bother with the Gonzalez.
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