 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ABerry
Date: 2006-03-27 01:51
Greetings,
Have “Traditional” Vandoren reeds changed over the years? Way back in 1984, I took a leave of absence from playing. At that time I was principal with a small orchestra in Washington, playing Vandoren #5 reeds (in the purple plastic box), Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, Bonade inverted ligature, and Buffet R13. In 1993 I decided to start playing again, so I went out and purchased a few boxes of new Vandoren 5 “Traditional” reeds (now in the blue/purple cardboard box) and using the same set up, the new reeds felt like a 2 x 4… Needless to say that was a quite discouraging and it would be another 12 years before I began to play again. Even today, those same reeds from 1993 seem quite stiff when compared to the same strength V12s, Rue le Pic, and new old “Traditional”. It appears to me at least, the new traditional are indeed different than the old.
As a side note, how do y’all feel about Mozart reeds?
Thanks,
Allan
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Author: fivesilentmiles
Date: 2006-03-28 01:14
Most likely, you have changed more than the reeds have. After 8 years of not playing, your embouchure and lungs need to build up and get used to making a wet piece of bamboo vibrate again.
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Author: Kchui999
Date: 2006-03-28 01:47
I have to agree. Not playing for even a week would take me a few days to build back my embrouchure.
V12's and 56's are supposed to run a little softer than the traditional blue-box reeds.
I've played Mozart reeds before. they run a bit stiff at first, but they break in nicely to give a really full, dark sound. They work well on my Greg Smith 1+
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Author: StephanieG
Date: 2006-03-28 02:22
I have not heard of these Mozart reeds. i also play on a greg smith 1+....could you tell me more about them.. is there a special place you have to order them from. i know that my local music store would not carry them!! thanks in advance
steph
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Author: Ed
Date: 2006-03-28 03:55
The Vandoren reeds, or at least the grading system has changed. I still have some of the old purple boxes of 5s from years back. They are reasonable and quite playable. In contrast, if you open a new box of 5s, many are like boards. It is as if they just take anything that is off the scale and toss them in the box labeled 5. Some work OK, you can use the rest for building a house, unless you have a mouthpiece with a nice close tip. To get a similar feel to the old 5s, you may be better off with the newer blue box 4s.
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Author: William
Date: 2006-03-28 14:23
After buying a box of new VD Trads (3.5), I discovered an old box of the same in my "junk" drawer. I, too, was amazed at how differently they played (better, IMHO) than those from the newer box. The tips seemed to be rounder on the older Trads and they seemed to have more heart with more "ping" in the articulation. I do like the newer Trads over the V12s--which I have been playng for many years--but they just don't seem to measure up to the playing characteristics of that old box.
So, ABerry, I am in agreement with you--it seems to me that, over the years, VanDoran has lost something special in the design of their reed products and may be losing a lot of customers to the improved design of other reed makers, Gonzales for one.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-03-28 14:39
Do any of you find the current Vandorens don't last as long as they used to? I'm going through my box of 56 Rue Lepics 3.5 way too quickly for my liking - they play in quickly but don't seem to last a week - or even two hours without going all soggy, whereas before (back in the late '80s) a traditional 3 or V12 would last at least a month.
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Author: ABerry
Date: 2006-03-28 15:21
Greetings,
Tiffany & Kevin,
I would agree with you, that after such a long absence, an adjustment period (getting back into playing shape) is needed... However, I've been playing pretty regularly now for about six months (beginning with the dreaded l-o-n-g tones, then the Carl Baermann method, playing through pieces I’ve worked on in the past as well as new) and I still find the “new” traditional reeds are stiffer than the “old” traditional reeds of the same strength.
Allan
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2006-03-28 15:26
I feel VD and Olivieri made big changes to the worse direction. I don't feel they become stiffer but that they don't vibrate as usable reeds. If you change to softer reeds, you may find that they don't still vibrate as you expect.
I could easily find why. When I looked them through the light, new ones show too many darker lines, which I had not seen in old VD trad select or Olivieli. Maybe luck of dry-up period plus cane itself. I doubt that Arund Donax in Var region are still used for VD.
Now I suspect that the tip shape difference of reeds against my mouthpiece may be another cause as Williams wrote.
＞williams wrote
The tips(of old VD trads) seemed to be rounder on the older Trads
I guess not only reeds but also VD old mouthpieces tips may have been rounder.This may be understandable. The tip shapes of reed and mouthpiece should match with each other.
I cannot prove this guess of mine since I now don't have old and new VD reeds/mouthpiece.
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2006-03-28 15:32
I've resumed playing after many years...the traditional Vandorens seem much better.
I found a couple boxes of reeds in my old clarinet case. Age hasn't improved them. They just turned a nasty brown color!
I just tried a box of Mozarts...they're OK but I think I'll stick with Vandoren.
Has anyone heard the audio samples of the LA Clarinet Choir. Fourteen clarinets and not too bad. If anyone has heard them, tell what you think. They're at http://www.margaretthornhill.com/ClarinetChoir.htm
Clarinet Redux
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Author: Ed
Date: 2006-03-28 22:08
William said "but they just don't seem to measure up to the playing characteristics of that old box."
I sometimes wonder if the aging time has allowed them to cure in some way, just as some people who make reeds age their cane. It makes me laugh, because I remember when those VD reeds were available, people complained that they were lousy, and nowhere as good as the old ones!
BTW- I agree with your assessment, as I have had the same result, when comparing them to the current ones.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-03-28 22:59
Vandoren did change the tip profile a number of years ago to a "flatter" shape.
Many clarinetists found the new tip profile not to their liking, so after listening to the many complaints, Vandoren eventually changed the tip shape (again) to almost where it was originally.
Cane quality has varied over the years. Vandoren did go through a period where their cane reflected some of the poorer growing seasons. Those particular reeds were very mushy with little endurance - even with careful break in.
I believe that Vandoren now has recovered from those few very poor years. However, today their harder strength reeds can often be impossibly stiff to play.
Remember - 20+ years ago, Vandoren Traditional (blue or purple box) reeds
were the ONLY reeds offered by Vandoren. Now with the 3 reed template models, 3 different thicknesses of blanks and hand selection and grading of the best looking reeds, some feel that the basic product may be spread too thin among the different offerings.
As for aging your reeds - Although the jury is still out, I think that storing (Vandoren) reeds for an additional 6 months can help. Buy extra boxes, date them and store them in a cool, dry area.
For all reed brands, look for consistancy of cut, well aged cane with dense fiber patterns, and a pleasing, vibrant quality of sound. These are important determining factors in making your final decision...GBK
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2006-03-29 02:02
In 1985 Europe was attacked by the coldest summer in more than 50 years.
In 1986 Che occured.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2006-03-29 02:13
What occured in 1985 and 1986 may have caused badly to various plantations in EUrope including Var region cane:
In 1985 Europe was attacked by the coldest summer in more than 50 years.
In 1986 CHERNOBYL accident.
In Japan we did not like to eat Italian pasta.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/booty.weather/climate/1975_1999.htm#1980_1989
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