 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clarinetlover18
Date: 2005-03-19 22:45
This is probably going to sound like a really stupid question, but are Zonda reeds really any good? My friends and I have never ever been able to make the reeds work.. We usually buy a strength smaller than what I would normally buy, and we work on them forever, but they just never seem to really work? What do you all think?
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2005-03-19 23:07
As with other clarinet accessories (mouthpieces, ligatures, etc.), the "good" ones are the ones that work for you.
Most players seem to like Vandoren V-12 or Gonzales, but I prefer Zonda.
My oral cavity, embouchure, mouthpiece, and ligature are probably different from yours.
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Author: Lon Roach
Date: 2005-03-20 02:21
I've found that reed brands seem to be mouthpiece sensitive. Reeds like Alexander Superial Classique, Gonzales, V-12's, seem to work well for me with little adjustment on modern facings like Vand M-15 or Selmer C-85. Reeds cut like the regular Zonda and Mitchel Laurie don't seem to work well no matter how much scraping, sanding or cutting I do. They always play like there's a sweat sock stuffed in the end of the horn and when you think you're getting close with the knife, one more cut and they expire! The other day I was working with an old white plastic Revere mouthpiece that someone had given me. I was really impressed with how well in tune the thing played on my old Leblanc clarinets. Also worked great on a big bore Bundy.(old horns/old mouthpieces) Had been trying to work up an Alexander for this mouthpiece and had been on it for several days and not happy yet. I spotted one of those Mitchel Lauries that wouldn't work on the other pieces and put it on just for fun. It worked perfectly on the old Revere, better than the Alexander. Inspired me to dig out the box of regular Zondas and , wha-la!, it worked. Granted, these results could be as much influenced by my embouchure peculiarities as well as the material and cut of the reeds used. It does make sense though, that nobody is going to the trouble and expense of developing and marketing internationally a reed that hasn't worked for somebody, somewhere, at sometime in history and on some piece of equipment. The trick is to find the ones that match you and the setup you are using and not worry about the rest cuz they probably work for somebody else. Good luck!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-03-20 03:33
Lon Roach wrote:
> The trick is to find the ones that match you and
> the setup you are using and not worry about the rest cuz they
> probably work for somebody else.
Good advice! But, the inherent insecurity of most clarinetists makes them always wonder if there is something better - especially when they hear players who have a nicer sound than they do.
Pick one (or two) brand(s) and then learn how to adjust it for your specific mouthpiece and playing style ...GBK
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Author: Firebird
Date: 2005-03-20 05:03
Zonda should go well with RM15 moutnpieces. That's what pros in my country reccomend. Size 3.5 that is.
Chan
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-03-20 14:37
The better the mouthpiece, the less "reed-sensitive" it is and the greater the variety if mouthpiece brands that will work with it. IMHO if you can only get certain brands of reed to work, then you need a better mouthpiece.
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2005-03-20 17:59
I like what GBK wrote......"the insecurity of most clarinetists"......
Why are we so anal? I mean.....work it out for crying out loud.....
Which reed is best? Which mouthpiece? Should I do this or that? Is a cotton swab better than a silk?
Best thing to do is practice.....PLAYING that is, and not swabbing or switching MPCs......PLAY the damned thing and get better at it instead of philosophizing on what's the better way to....to....whatever.....
I understand asking questions about some stuff.....but for goodness sake....
play your clarinet....find what works for you.....and quit worrying about the insignificant intricasies of whether a swab ruins the integrity of a MPC or if reed one is better than reed two when left on the nightstand instead of rubbed dry and put in a Vandoren plastic thingy or a Selmer 12 reed capabilty case.....on glass of plastic.
Play your clarinet....to the best of your ability...then let us know how good you feel.........
JG....the clarinator....
Artie Shaw rules
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-03-20 18:30
A good friend, colleague, and all-around monster player Dan Spitzer plays on Zonda with great results, and has spent time with Gonzalez and Mozart as well. He is very casual about the whole thing. Not real picky about mouthpieces, just slaps a reed on and it goes. His sound is gorgeous and huge. It isn't the mouthpiece and it isn't the reeds. It is the player. Obviously some combinations work better for some players, but overall, great players can make anything work. It is a matter of nuance and comfort after that.
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Author: Shorthand
Date: 2005-03-21 00:13
I like the Zonda's in general. Dave S introduced me to them. They've got a nice - tight grained reed and they are given some basic play testing - so the yeild/box is very good (4/5 or so).
However, I generally don't like flat cut reeds, which the Zondas are. so I eventually went back to Vandorens. They're definitely worth a try, though.
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2005-03-21 01:09
I like Zonda, but they don't last as long as Gonzalez or Vandoren do. I just want a reed that plays well for as long as it can, so I can just practice and not really have to worry about it.
__________________
Don't hate me because I play Leblanc! ![[down]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley23.gif) Buffet
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Author: graham
Date: 2005-03-21 08:25
They have a very sweet sound and good complexity as well but I have the feeling they may not go loud enough for some players and may sound harsh in the lower register in some cases. Perhaps they don't last as long. I suspect a shortish facing suits them as I have had success using them on a mouthpiece I have with a short facing.
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