 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-02-18 11:14
Hi
Here is my review on the Gonzalez regular cut reeds and the Gonzalez bass clarinet reeds.
First the bass clarinet reeds, which are size 3. I compared them to a new box of Vandoren size 3, so five reeds of each brand.
The Gonzalez definitely look very similar, and overall much nicer in apearence. The Vandorens are mutants in apearence.
With the Vandoren reeds you get the most overtones (at least from all brands I've played). The sound of the Gonzalez is much smoother with less overtones, more muffled even (but not quieter). The difference will probably only be heard in the player's head, I doubt an audience would notice it.
Gonzalez are about a quarter strength softer than Vandorens. In the box of strength 3 reeds from Gonzalez, three were what I'm guessing is 3, one is about 3.25, and one is about 2.75. Using the Gonzalez measurments, the Vandorens had three 3.25 reeds, and two around 3.
Overall the Gonzalez reeds feel better and easier to play, but the Vandorens have a slightly nicer sound with more overtones.
Vandorens 3 are a bit too hard for me, and 2.5 are much too soft. Gonzalez 3 are almost perfect, with the softer one just perfect. The sound difference doesn't matter much. The quarter strengths really make a difference.
Gonzalez regular cut Bb clarinet reeds are also great.
So you can compare, I usually use Grand Concert 2.5 or 3. the 3 are sometimes a too hard, and 2.5 are rarely too soft. Vandoren 3 are much too hard, and 2.5 are usually good. I tried Gonzalez 2.75, and they are exactly right. From the ten reeds, 4 are almost identical and what I consider 2.75, two are slightly softer, closer to 2.5 but still very playable, three are slightly harder but also playable, and one I accidently broke before I even tried it. Out of 9 reeds, 4 are perfect, 4 are pretty good (softer or harder), and 1 is mediocre (slightly harder with weird sound). Sound is very similar on all the 8 good ones.
On Bb clarinet I think I'll stick with Gonzalez from now on, on bass clarinet I haven't made up my mind yet. Anyway, both are recommended.
I also want to recommend Scott barrels. I got one and I'll use it always for practice. I had 3 barrels cracked already (bad weather for clarinet here) and would not want to see that hapeening again.
Last thing is a question. I have a vito S clarinet (Eb clarinet). I recently got a good mouthpiece for it, which made a lot of difference. Is it worth it to get a good barrel for it, or since the clarinet is not that good it won't make a difference. Intonation is excellent for an old, cheap, plastic clarinet, but will the barrel help the sound, which is the weaker side.
Thank you.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-02-18 12:32
The "Regular Cut" Gonzalez reeds are one of the most overlooked reeds in the Gonzalez line. They are made from a slightly thinner blank than the standard FOF reeds but with the same cane.
The reeds (as mentioned above) are built on a thin blank template, with no tapering toward the butt end of the reed. The blank thickness is similar (or perhaps even a bit thicker), than a Vandoren Blue Box blank (2.8mm) The reeds are single cut (one scrape) with a pronounced U shaped cut on the bark - as opposed to a flatter shaped bark cut which the FOF reeds have. The difference in the U shaped scrape is similar to what you would see when comparing a V12 and a Blue Box reeds, although those brands are both file cut type reeds. When compared to an FOF type reed, the tip curve is identical, but the blank does not taper to the butt end, and the reed is slightly longer.
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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Author: Vrat
Date: 2005-02-18 14:24
GBK,
Are you saying, that for open mouthpieces with long facing (like 5jb) are more suitable reeds made from thicker blanks (FOF, v-12)?
Thank you, Vrat.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-02-18 14:36
Vrat wrote:
> GBK,
> Are you saying, that for open mouthpieces with long facing
> (like 5jb) are more suitable reeds made from thicker blanks
> (FOF, v-12)?
> Thank you, Vrat.
No -
The 5JB is a peculiar mouthpiece due to the fact that it is both very open (1.47mm) and has a very long lacing (22mm).
However, the length of the scraped area of the reed should match the length of the window area of your mouthpiece.
The Gonzalez FOF reeds have a longer scraped area than the Regular Cut reeds, thus would be a better match for a mouthpiece with a longer facing.
As most students play on mouthpieces with a medium length facing, I feel the Regular Cut reeds will produce better results...GBK
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-02-18 15:37
I might give the FOF another chance, but I think i prefer the regular cuts better. There is something weird about the FOF 2.75 I have left.
If you say 22mm is a very long facing, than mine is pretty long. The measurements of my mouthpiece are tip opening of 1.21mm and a facing 21.25mm long. I don't see any problem with the regulars and this facing.
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