The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-10-15 02:27
As there has been a recent US shortage of Gonzalez reeds and since many of my professional colleagues, students, and I are waiting for them, I spoke to Phil Shapiro about their current availability.
A new shipment has just arrived and starting early next week the most popular sizes will be available.
With the amount of current backorders, Phil said he will see to it that this new shipment is dispersed very quickly...GBK
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-10-15 03:10
WHEW!!!!!!!! I was about to order some too!!!!!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2004-10-15 06:00
Yeah....
I've been getting lots of anxious inquiries about them since a lot of my friends know I study with him. Thanks for clearing this up for the general public.
Bradley
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Author: donald
Date: 2004-10-15 08:54
i was doing "clarinet nerd stuff" with a friend this afternoon, she is a very experienced professional freelance player and i was getting her to try out various reeds that i had made (from the excellent blanks that Davie Cane sells, by the way). She is accustomed to playing THICK BLANK reeds of various type(and my home made ones are thick blank), so when i gave her a Gonzalez "regular cut" (NOT thick blank) to play she said something like "oh, this reed won't sound any good as i usually play thick blanks" etc
well you should have heard it- gorgeous!
it wasn't specially a chosen reed, just one selected at random "Charles Neidich style" but it sounded great- better than my reeds, better than anything in her stable, better than the one she had just used for a performance.
i'd say, don't write these off as an option until you've tried them out, these seem to me to be a far superior product than the Vandoren Blue Box or other "regular blank" reeds available.
donald
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-10-15 12:25
Donald:
You've discovered one of the "secrets" about Gonzalez reeds.
The "Regular Cut" Gonzalez reeds are one of the most overlooked reeds in the Gonzalez line. As you stated, they are made from a slightly thinner blank than the standard FOF reeds but with the same cane.
One aspect of them which I like is that the initial scrape starts slightly higher up on the reed, thus making them an ideal match for those not using a mouthpiece with a very long facing.
If you play a medium length facing these reeds work perfectly. I also like the fact that these reeds seem to break in a bit quicker than the FOF's, but last as long, or in some cases, even longer.
As most younger students are not using very long facing mouthpieces, these are, IMO, a much better alternative than regular Blue Box Vandorens, but at the same relative price point.
Personally, I think that today most clarinetists (amateur and professionals) are playing reeds which are just too hard - trying to get that elusive dark sound. In the era before V12's and aside from the small percentage that played Morre and Olivieri, the majority of players did use (and had great success) with the original Vandoren Purple Box (now Blue Box) reeds ...GBK
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