 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2004-02-27 06:20
I have always used Vandoren blue box as my main choice of reed on my Viotto, but now (due to improved intonation) I am playing a Greg Smith mouthpiece. I had a few oldish V12 size 4's lying around and they worked really well on the mouthpiece, and so I was very happy with it. Now, I am still happy with the mouthpiece, but I am finding problems with the the new V12's I have been purchasing. I tend to have to move the tip of quite a few of them to either side of the mouthpiece. I realise this is probably a case of the reeds being unbalanced. The thing is when I adjust them (after breaking in) I am having very little success. I had much more success in adjusting the blue box reeds. Help! Does anyone else have to move their reed to a particular side? It just seems odd to me
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-02-27 06:32
Try FOF's! I can use them straight out of the box. Yes they might be SLIGHTLY imbalanced, but I have been able to just align them and play so far. And if I feel they need a little tweaking, they usually come out better.
Plus, although Greg Smith uses V12s to design and playtest his mouthpieces before selling, he did tell me that he's had students and known others that also have good success with FOF's so it seems to me that these reeds do work very well with his MPCs.
Alexi
PS - THought I should add that I too use a Greg Smith mouthpiece. Sounds great, even with my FOFs! lol. Give it a shot. Bet you'll like them!
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2004-02-27 06:48)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-02-27 07:15
I have good luck with V12s if I let them age. Buy a box and set it aside for at least a year, then open it. The FOF tend to give an older harvest (a box I just bought lists 1998).
It could be just coincidence, but... I bought a box of V12s last summer, and opened it in September. At the time, I chose the three "best" reeds, using the criteria of the Larry Guy book. They played all right, but out of my rotation of 6 (including 2 FOF and a 56), the V12s were generally the duds of the batch. The same applied for my October breakin of two more V12s. However, I've just now broken in two more V12s from the same box (reeds that by sight-criteria were "worse," though that's highly subjective), and they rank among my "best reeds ever."
Conclusion to my highly unscientific experiment: Let the V12s age a while before trying to play them. I think perhaps they're shipped to market prematurely. I just bought a box last month, and I hope to start playing them when I'm done with my current box, probably in the fall.
As for adjusting, I've found V12s to be hit-or-miss. The FOFs are a bit friendlier to adjustment, probably because they give a bit more cane to work with. Just know that the FOFs run a bit hard compared to V12s.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2004-02-27 07:53
I tried FOF on my old mouthpiece and they weren't suitable for it. I have ordered some FOF size 4 reeds just yesterday though so I'll see how they go. I'll definately try the ageing process too.
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-02-27 12:21
Nick, FOF's are working great on my Greg Smith, with the Vandoren Optimum ligature with the plate that has two horizontal lines at the top and bottom. 3.75 FOFs were extremely hard for me, so 4 might be jsut right for you - I know how you like strong reeds!
V12's can be great once you get a good one, but you've no doubt notices that each and every reeds is unbalanced and usually has other unevenesses throughout. Best to stick to reeds that you can trust!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-02-27 14:42
I do believe that the means you use to store your playing reeds has much to do with it too. Why do some reeds develop tip "wings".
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Author: Shawn
Date: 2004-02-27 15:20
Nick-
I too have noticed this problem with V12's. I have solved this problem by going to the next strength. I am now very satisfied with them, and can get them to concert ready with little adjustment.
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Author: William
Date: 2004-02-27 22:58
Sorry to disagree with all of you, but I am still having good playing results with the VD V12 soprano clarinet reeds--3.5/4.0 on either my Ithica Bay custom mpc with a Kaspar #14 facing or my vintage Chicago Kaspar #14. When I play either of my Greg Smith mpcs--Cicero or Chedeville 1*--I need to play a slightly stonger reed, 4.0/4.5. Although they are finicky and need lots of TLC, over-all, I am still pleased with the VanDoren V12 reeds and continue to use them. (Ligature, VD Optimum with the parallel rail insert)
However, on bass clarinet and all of my saxs, it's currently all Legere.
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Author: joevacc
Date: 2004-02-29 02:48
I have been using the V12 also and for me and my old Bay #13 facing - that's the combo the seems to work. Also, when you get a really great V12 there is nothing like it. That said, some times I have to do plenty of carpentry.
Post Edited (2004-02-29 02:50)
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