 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: gerry
Date: 2003-10-09 00:30
I have picked up my clarinet after about 30 years. I found a batch of Vandoren reeds which are probably at least as old. They are not marked with with their strength as is the case with Rico which I generally use. I note also that the Vandoren's are not cut the same. Is there any way of knowing what their strength is. I usually play a 2 or a 2 1/2 reed.
Thanks for your help,
Gerry.
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Author: swimclrnt15
Date: 2003-10-09 00:43
If you haven't already done so, I would recommend just trying to play it anyways, if it's too hard, try sanding down the flat side of it, making it a little thinner...but otherwise, I don't know of any real way to tell the difference between the strengths.
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-10-09 00:46
If they are THAT old - I'd chuck 'em and purchase a new one, or box of new ones.
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Author: wyatt
Date: 2003-10-09 00:56
some sat that reeds are like wine. if they are kept properly they may become better with age.
thy them if they work fine, if not new ones run about $2 each.
break a leg
bob gardner}ÜJ
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-10-09 02:46
I still have a number of boxes of Morré reeds from 1970, 1971 and 1972 which I still use very slowly. They are a joy every time I break into the cache and pull one out.
I also have many boxes of Vandoren reeds (the old small plastic purple boxes and the older small cardboard purple boxes) from the 60's and 70's that still play excellently.
If reeds have been carefully stored, I don't think that their age is a consideration...GBK
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-10-09 03:28
I have some boxes of Roy J. Maier "Signature" reeds that came from a no-longer-in-business music store's residual inventory. They haven't been sold in around 35 years. They were my favorite reeds in the 1950s and 1960s. They still are.
Regards,
John
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Author: Ed
Date: 2003-10-09 03:32
I also have a stash of old purple box Vandorens that is dwindling, but have been terrific. Many great ones in the bunch.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-10-10 00:57
Vandoren classic number 1, if you can get them, do not generally have a number on them. On the reed at least it is usually on the box but not always. If they are the unnumbered 1's they may be longer than standard at least in the vamp as they are designed to be clipped up to strength rather than scraped back. They don't seem to be readily available but they were popular many years back. I had a teacher years ago that used this method and that was about 25 years ago.
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Author: gerry
Date: 2003-10-10 15:06
Thanks for all your help. I will try your suggestions. I believe that I read once that the older reeds were better since they were made of well seasoned reed whereas many of the newer reeds are made from "Green" reed and are not so good. I have been using some older Rico reeds which are marked with their strength and they seem to be fine.
Thanks again,
Gerry.
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Author: wyatt
Date: 2003-10-10 15:20
just remember that if they were junk 30 years ago they are still junk.
the only things that get better with age is a returning clarinet player.
bob gardner}ÜJ
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