 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Barton62
Date: 2006-01-08 02:24
I have been very interested on the discussion about the various types of reeds. I honestly have not used anything other than Mitchell Lurie and am beginning to like regular Vandorens. I've seen a lot of positive comments about the Vandoren V12. I would love to get your assessments on this particular reed. Particularly does the intonation improve if used with the B45 mouthpiece (which I have)? Thanks for all positive and negative opinions!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-01-08 03:01
Barton62 wrote:
> I
> would love to get your assessments on this particular reed.
Many professionals use V12 reeds.
Many professionals do not use V12 reeds.
A V12 reed of the correct strength will work with a B45 mouthpiece.
A V12 reed of the wrong strength will not work on a B45 mouthpiece.
A mismatch between mouthpiece and reed can have an affect on the intonation, however there are MANY others factors which can cause intonation to go astray.
...GBK
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-01-08 03:59
I've used V12s for several years now and have liked them. I don't play a Vandoren B45, however, I see no reason why the V12s wouldn't work great with it. You might try a couple of various strengths before making a decision pro or con about the reed.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-01-08 03:59
Personnaly, I gave up on Vandoren V-12's in 2003 for other types of reeds because of their lack of consistency and the low number of good reeds that I found per box - I have since been given boxes of V-12's and my opinion has not changed - one reed type however is not the perfect match for all players and there are too many variables - other than your own experience - to predict which reed will be best for you.
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-01-08 05:12
I don't have experience with that many reed types, but for me the Vandoren V12 work the best.
Omar Henderson, what reeds have you found to be better than V12s?
The reeds I have experience with are all sorts of Ricos (including all Grand Concerts), Gonzalez (both FOF and regulars), Lavoz, Vandoren regulars and blacks, and all these I liked less than the V12s.
Because we have such a poor selection of reeds here, every time I have a friend visiting from the USA they bring reeds for me. I usualy play V12 strength 3, what reeds of that will match about the same strength should I try?
Thanks.
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Author: JessKateDD
Date: 2006-01-08 08:07
Why not get some Luries, regular Vandorens, and V-12s, then play on them in front of a tuner?
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-01-08 12:00
(Disclaimer - I sell reeds)
The reeds that I sell are the ones that I use - not because I sell them but because those are the reeds that I have have found IMO to be good for me and hopefully for others. You should experiment with as many reed types as you can and balance the playability (on the average of reeds tested per type), the number of good reeds per box (your ending price per reed), and longevity of the reeds with your playing and practice style. With internet capability you can get any reed type delivered to your door within days so availability is no longer tied to a local dealer. For many, reed types may change over time with the consistency of a reed type over the years or a change in hardware and progressing playing ability. It all comes down to personal experience and taste.
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: Tom Puwalski
Date: 2006-01-08 13:04
Any reed by any maker will work! Provided it's balanced, for your mouthpiece and embouchure and it's the right strenth. Too many times a brand or type of reed is judged by how many reeds will kinda work right out of the box. What you end up finding is what brand of reeds has a grading system that gets you sort of in the "ball Park". The net result is you get more reeds that "almost" work out of a box for one brand than another.
Learn to balance and test your reeds, I highly recoment Tom Ridenour's ATG system. It's very inexpenive, easy to use and after watching the DVD and reading his book, you problably will know more about reeds than your teacher does.
I've done the routine, making reeds from tube cane, doing the blanks, the whole magila, you still have to be able to custom tailor your reed to your mouthpiece. One day, years ago, I was out on tour with the US Army field band, doing a solo that night and having one of those I don't have a reed meltdowns. My roomate, who was a very good bassoonist who was tired of listening to me Kvetch, asked me to open a new box of reeds and soak them. I got them wet, he stuck each of them to the big window of a Holiday inn room and examined them. After his exam he said, " These look to my eye to way more consistant than I get off my profiler machine, you just don't know how to balance them" He was absolutely correct. Years later, lots of money spent on equiptment to make reeds, and lots of questions to some very "knowledgable" teachers. I found Tom's ATG systmen. It's not magic, but you can work magic with it. Before I had the ATG I used the Reed Wizzard. I found it would improve all the reeds I used it on, but wasn't able to balance my reeds as finely with it. I use it on all student reeds before their lessons, if they are not advanced enough to do the play test of a reed. It (reed wizzard) was about $300, the ATG about $70. Any way I think the device is not the important part it's the knowledge about the reed and how it's reacting on your mouthpiece that's the most important.
Tom Puwalski, former soloist with the US Army Field Band, Clarinetist with Lox&Vodka, and Author of "The Clarinetist's Guide to Klezmer"and most recently by the order of the wizard of Oz, for supreme intelligence, a Masters in Clarinet performance
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Author: Ed
Date: 2006-01-08 15:29
I agree wholeheartedly with Tom's observations above. I find that if you can do some simple things you can get a significant number to work for you (of any brand). I find that balancing, making sure the back is flat and working the tip area for response are the most important elements (for me). It is important to find a system (whether it be the ATG, Perfectareed, info from the many reed books and articles, experience, etc) and then try to be consistent with your approach.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-01-08 16:52
Thanks for your answer Omar.
I also completely agree with Tom about it being important that the reed match the mouthpiece. I think V12 reeds fit my mouthpiece the best (from what I've tried). For example Gonzalez reeds, although more consistant (from my experience) and although they feel like the reed strength is exactly right, still don't feel comfortable to play in my mouthpiece.
I also have to comment on something Omar Henderson said: "With internet capability you can get any reed type delivered to your door within days so availability is no longer tied to a local dealer."
That's very true if you live in the USA, but for me and many other people it's far from the truth. I mean, it is possible, but I just checked price for shipping one box of reeds from WW&BW to me and it is $32 (they only offer fast international shipping). Some dealers will use regular mail which is usually around $10 but last two times I did that it took over two months to arrive, and I'm not even talking about the 35% tax....
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-01-08 18:39
(Disclaimer - I sell reeds)
I agree that many reeds can be made to play using Tom Ridenour's ATG system which I use when I have time - which lately is not too often. Fit and comfort level with the reed is also important but I hate going through a box of reeds and finding two or three of the premier brand at the last minute that I can use in the next hour. Lazy, possibly on my part! It only takes 2-3 minutes to balance a reed with ATG but the quiet environment and space are often not present for me. Everyone has their own set of circumstances, comfort level, and time to get reeds that work for them whether directly from the box or hand adjusted. A reed rotation system is also useful and makes the great reeds last longer. Sometimes the hall or venue does not fit the reeds that you thought would work - crisis time finding a reed for the hour!
You can also pick the reed supplier that does not charge an arm and a leg for shipping. Up to four boxes of reeds can be shipping in a USPS Global Airmail flat rate envelope anywhere in the world for US $5.00 - 12 boxes for US $10.00 (USPS rates change today so there may be some small increase in pricing) . Some small handling fee may be involved for filling out the cumbersome paperwork and tags. My experience has been that it takes 4-7 days shipped anywhere. Import duties vary by country of course.
L. Omar Henderson
Post Edited (2006-01-08 18:42)
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-01-08 20:20
At my teacher's (subtle) insistance, I've been using Vandoren V12s for a couple of months. I'm not happy with them. It took a while to accept the fact that they are a whole lot harder than my Mitchell-Lurie Premiums. I used to play a 4-1/2 on a Mitchell-Lurie M3 mouthpiece. Now, i'm using 3-1/2 Vandoren V12s on a Vandoren M30 mpc.
I'm still adapting, and have experimented with Vandoren V12 4-1/2, 4 and (now) 3-1/2s. I'll buy two more boxes of 3-1/2s tomorrow. I did not get a single great reed in my last box of playable (3-1/2) V12s.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Rudolfs
Date: 2006-01-08 21:42
hi!
Omar.
what brand are you selling?
I quit from V12 for the same reasons,
now Im surviving with 56, but if you have better choice...:)
Post Edited (2006-01-08 22:04)
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Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2006-01-09 02:03
Oliveri Elites are fantastic if you like thick cut reeds. Very consistent about 4 out of five. They are by far the the thickest cut I have seen anywhere, which I personally like. Muncywinds is the only place I know that sells them, but they are all I play lately.
Ben
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-01-09 05:00
For me incosistancy is not an issue, if anything, it is good. Since I play in different cities with very different weather sometimes different reeds will work better. Also the time of the year makes a lot of diffnerece.
But most important, the sound and comfort I get with V12 reeds is much better, for example, I'd prefer a V12 reed that is a bit too hard or too soft over a Gonzalez reed in the right srength.
To what Omar said about shipping, I can only say that from my experience of ordering over 20 times from the USA (mostly from Amazon but a couple of orders were reeds) the avarage time by regular mail is between 6 and 8 weeks (from day shippied of course, not from day ordered).
I would still like to ask everyone if they can recommend what reeds I should try (except Rico GC, Gonzalez, and other Vandorens) that will be about the same as V12 strength 3?
Thanks.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2006-01-09 08:37
V12's (no. 3) work OK for me on my B45 dot but not on any of my other mouthpieces. They're not my current favourite, though.
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