 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jArius
Date: 2004-10-20 06:48
What do you guys think of the Vandoren V12 series? I've been playing on V12 3-1/2 reeds for years and I like them, but I want to know if there's anything better out there.
P.S. I know this is a touchy subject, but please try not to overwhelm me.
Jeremy Bruins
Proud member of the too-much-time-on-my-hands club.
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2004-10-20 07:08
No chance of overwhelming you - again, have you tried the search facility here - a wealth of info and opinions. Personally, I find Gonzalez FOF more reliable and more playable to a box than any others I've tried.
Coupled with the ATG Reed System, I won't be buying reeds for a while.
(not connected to the vendors of above in any way - just a happy user.
BobT
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-10-20 12:59
I favor Gonzalez reeds for their longevity and consistancy from reed to reed, but most accomplished players can get almost any quality brand reed to perform adequately with a bit of adjusting.
Often, a very small amount of reed work and balancing can make a good reed into a great reed...GBK
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-10-20 13:30
On a sidenote, does the type of mouthpiece you're using make a significant difference in which reeds would suit it better or not? I'm thinking about the different lengths in facings and lays and how some reeds have longer butts before it begins to taper and thicker butts, tip cuts, etc. etc. And while most reeds probably aren't THAT different, I can see a GREAT difference in the cut of a La Voz reed and that of a V12. And I recall how I've had occassions where a specific brand of reed might seem too "long" for the mouthpiece (the butt extends below the end of the mouthpiece and hangs over unless clipped)
The question just crossed my mind while reading this.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2004-10-20 14:03
My vote goes to the Gonzalez FOFs. They seem much more reliable and consistent than V12s, although I've had some very good V12s too!
Joanna Brown
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Author: William
Date: 2004-10-20 14:57
For consistancy, reliabiliy, response and longivity......nothing beats a good Legere. I use them exclusivily on bass clarinet and my sop, alto and tenor saxes--and have been using them on my soprano clarinets for most of this year with good results. In January, I will decide between synthetic vs cane for them as well--but until then, it is Legere #3.0 on my Chicago Kaspar #14 mouthpiece and my set of LeBlanc Concertos (and my R13s).
But if my final decision is for cane, my vote will always be for the VanDoren V12s.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-10-20 15:54
Let your V12s sit a while. Whether this legitimately makes a difference, or is superstition or luck on my part, I can't be sure, but my V12s seem to play considerably better out of an old box than a new one. I haven't been playing my other brands of reeds long enough to know if it makes a difference there too, but I'd guess it does.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: glin
Date: 2004-10-20 16:17
Only one way to know-buy a couple of others and see for yourself. I use different reeds after adjusting-they all play well enough for my use (Grand Concert series, V12, Reg. Vandoren, Glotin, Gonzalez).
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Author: msloss
Date: 2004-10-20 18:39
Alexi, the cut of the reed can radically affect the playing experience from mouthpiece to mouthpiece. I've got a Smith Ched 1++ that works great with FOFs, but I can't get FOFs to work at all on a Chadash-Hill. Vandie Black Masters play great on the Chadash and do nothing on my Kaspars. Morrees play great on everything... oh yeah, the clarinet gods screwed us on that one.
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Author: jArius
Date: 2004-10-21 03:51
This reminds me of something rather bizzare...
When I bought my new Yamaha Custom, I had actually gotten out of the store and was on the way home when I realized that my V12s didn't fit in the ligature supplied with the clarinet--the reeds were too fat! I took it back to the technician at the store, and after making a comment about "monster reeds" he recommended the Rovner ligature to me, which, by the way, I seriously recommend to anyone reading this post.
Anyway, it's good to know that my V12s really are good reeds. Maybe I'll even stick with them.
Jeremy Bruins
Proud member of the too-much-time-on-my-hands club.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-10-21 05:21
Quote:
Alexi, the cut of the reed can radically affect the playing experience from mouthpiece to mouthpiece. I've got a Smith Ched 1++ that works great with FOFs, but I can't get FOFs to work at all on a Chadash-Hill. I was actually specifically thinking about Smith mouthpieces. I bought mine a while back and use FOFs. But he had STATED that some of his students used FOFs and sounded fine, but that he DESIGNED it for use with a V12. And so it got me to wonderin'. Thanks Mark
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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