 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2006-05-06 15:42
I spotted on UK Ebay (not a place where I spend a lot of time) that the Chinese are now making reeds (reed-shaped-objects?) as well as instruments of questionable virtue.
I'm not sure I really want to know whether anyone has tried them.
Of course, it may well be that somewhere in the vastness of China is a place with the perfect climate for Arundo donax. They grow plenty of rice, after all.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2006-05-06 16:01
David Peacham wrote:
> I spotted on UK Ebay (not a place where I spend a lot of time)
> that the Chinese are now making reeds (reed-shaped-objects?) as
> well as instruments of questionable virtue.
I have tested and used Flying Goose reeds for quite some time now, the manufacturer having sent me quite a few samples of different clarinet and saxophone reeds. While not earthshaking in quality or sound, they are perfectly fine for practice, essentially comparable to Mitchell Laurie reeds. I don't know the price, having just played free ones.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-06 22:33
I used to like the Chinese oboe reeds (by Ke-Xun Ge) that were made with Chinese cane, but since these are now mass produced in Shanghai by his workforce (they used to be made by him in Australia before) I don't like them as much as they're hard work to get working well for me, and the scrape is different (I lprefer the long W scrape - these recent ones have a fairly short U scrape).
But I've never tried Chinese single reeds. Well, as far as I know anyway - I might even be playing on them right now without even knowing!
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-05-07 01:45
I was just at Wally World - Wal Mart - getting plants and in front of the check out was their selection of "musical instruments" and now to my surprise a rack of First Act reeds. I have no comment on the quality because I have not tried them or even seen them before but we now have a new player on the block!!!! It would be hard for me to try them because they had only # 2 strength for clarinets - but lots of them - US $11.95 for 10 reeds. Perhaps I could put two together to get a #4???????
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: pzaur
Date: 2006-05-07 03:10
I have not tried the Flying Goose, but I have heard the First Act reeds in my classroom. I had a 5th grade saxophonist playing on them for a short while. And I mean a short while - 2 or 3 days. He was using 2.5s and they were sounding incredibly thin. I wonder what company makes them. Anyone know?
As for the Flying Goose. I like the Buy It Now option. Only 6 Lincolns. The killer is the $9.99 shipping fee to the continental US!
-pat
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2006-05-07 16:39
Dear David Peacham
While China may have a climate in areas that may support Arondo donax I would not hesitate in adding the soil for it is another entirely different point.
I have had no success whatsoever with the Argentinaian cane or Spanish variant of the clarinet reed at all!
David Dow
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-05-07 17:31
climate (...) soil
I wonder when we see the first reeds with Vintage and Appellation Contrôlée stamped on them.
I'd recommend the 2002 Château Migraine then. ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
--
Ben
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-05-07 17:53
(Disclaimer, I am selling the plant patent for my own genetically engineered - Arundo Donax Musicalis at present)
Much of the cane for Vandoren and Rico reeds comes from Spain and other areas (how about Turkey too!) around the Mediterranean. The Var region of Southern France has gotten a little too real estate pricey to grow cane versus country estates. Vandoren, Rico and others all buy cane grown in other areas at cane auctions held every year. They do maintain their own plantations for some cane - and to show tourists - but the bulk is grown elsewhere.
It depends on what variant of Arundo Donax is grown and of course the local climate and soil conditions but there is no reason that cane grown in certain areas of China could not be very top quality.
We have evaluated many Arundo Donax variants - including some examples from China for favorable reed making characteristics and several of the Chinese variants rival Var cane in reed making potential. The Arundo Donax in the South of France is probably derived (by genetic testing) from an Asian precursor.
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: clarinet60
Date: 2006-05-08 15:13
I was given a sample box of Rillion clarinet reeds which are cut virtually the same as Vandoren V12's. These are Chinese clarinet reeds and were surpisingly good! Their consistency, although only in one box, was better than Vandoren. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find these anywhere in the USA - only sometimes on Ebay from British sellers.
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Author: ukebert
Date: 2006-05-13 10:37
The guy that sells the flying goose reedsm [Steve] is a nice guy, one of the few manufacturers who is actively catering for c melody enthusiasts. His website is at <a href="http://www.aquilasax.com" target="_blank">http://www.aquilasax.com</a>
He has flying goose reeds for c melody on his site. Haven't tried them yet, but I will.
Regards
ukebert
Post Edited (2006-05-13 10:40)
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Author: Cuisleannach
Date: 2006-05-15 04:41
As regards to the Argentine reeds, I've been interspersing some of the Zonda highest strength reeds with my Vandoren V-12 5's. they're a little touchy on placements as they are slightly smaller in the width dimension (same at the tip, 13 mm, but smaller at the heel by about a mil.) but they do pretty well. They appear to be made from cane with a smaller radius of curvature (younger cane?) and are pretty fussy about final adjustment, but once adjusted they offer me slightly better projection and last quite a while.
I ordered a few boxes on a lark (I hate breaking in new reeds and anything to break the monotony is a good thing) and I've still got a few in my active line-up.
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