 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Caco185
Date: 2006-10-03 17:39
Hello!
I'm soon to finish a bachelors in clarinet performance and in a search of new reeds. Lately, I've recently been extremely dissatisfied with Vandoren V-12s. I just purchased a Gennusa Excellente mouthpiece a few months ago which I have since feel in love with. V-12's work fine when I find a decent reed. However, it seems lately that is hard to do withg the Vandorens. It's been discussed on here, and I'm looking for some current guidance.
The two brands I'm interested in trying are Olivieri and Gonzales F.O.F. Linda Hargett, my teacher, who usually plays on a V12 was playing on a Olivieri 4 today. Her sound was amazing (as usual)! This peaked my interested in new reeds.
I guess my question to all of you is? How do these reeds compare in strength to Vandoren V12's. After searching through past posts on here I found this. Does this seem accurate?
Vandoren V12 - 4 would equal:
Olivieri Elite - 4.5
Gonzales F.O.F. - 3.75
Here is my set-up (if that helps):
Buffet R-13
Gennusa Excellente (close facing)
BG Tradition Ligature (gold plated)
Standard Stock barrel.
Thanks for all of your wisdom fellow clarinet players!
Dale Huggard
Bay City, Michigan
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Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2006-10-03 18:04
I play Oliveri Elites, and they seem to run a little harder than a V12, so I would say try a #3.5 and #4. They have a pretty thin tip which can take a little getting used to, but they are quite responsive and the sound so dark and rich. The F.O.Fs should be pretty comparable .
Ben
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-10-03 18:33
Nothing is absolute for each player when doing a comparison of reed brands and strengths. Other factors (mouthpiece, embouchure, climate/humidity, altitude, etc...) can have an effect on your results.
I would say, that generally the Gonzalez FOF 3.75 should be equivalent to the V12 #4.
As a general rule, I think that the Gonzalez FOF reeds run about 1/4 to 1/2 strength harder than V12's, so trying a 3.75 would be a good starting point.
The Gonzalez Regular Cut reeds (which I use) run about the same as the Vandoren Traditional Blue Box reeds.
Disclaimer - I am listed on the Davie Cane/Gonzalez website as an artist/endorser.
...GBK
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Author: CK
Date: 2006-10-04 03:47
GBK is right. I use V12-#4 sometimes and Gonzalez FOF 3.5 on
a Fobes Cicero 14 Mpc , backun barrell and a selmer signature clarinet.
So the Gonzalez V12 4 could be equivalent to a 3.5 to 3.75 depending
on your set up and YOU.
Carey
Prof of Clarinet
BCC
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Author: Ray
Date: 2006-10-09 14:37
This is going to sound harsh and it may even be based on an unwarranted assumption:
If you are finishing a degree in clarinet performance and are not expert at finishing (adjusting) reeds, your education is lacking.
You say "when I find a decent reed." The reality is that you won't often find a decent reed, much less a great reed. But you can make great reeds.
Reeds are made of a natural material which has great variability. You must do the balancing and fine adjustment of strength and voicing to suit your mouthpiece and physical makeup.
With knowledge and tools you can easily make great reeds from the commercial reeds that have been mentioned. You will discard very, very few reeds.
Please search here on Tom Ridenour's ATG System and learn about it. All the people I know who use it have great reeds to play on.
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Author: Caco185
Date: 2006-10-09 19:39
Ray,
I would like to start by saying thanks for answering my question.
When I said soon to finish a clarient performance degree, I meant 4 semesters left, including the current one. I do happen to find good reeds using the system I use.
I found your post kind of insulting, I'm sure you didn't mean it to come off that way, but I felt a bit offended after reading what you had to say.
I am NOT some joe-schmo clarinet major in a small university trying to get by with a music degree. You should probably know a bit more about a person before you say their education is lacking. Not to boast my ego, but I played with the National Wind Ensemble in Carnegie Hall this past May. I am a hard-working clarinet major just looking for a bit of help.
Thanks for your post! I will definitely search the ATG method.
Dale Huggard
Clarinet Performance Major, Michigan
Buffet R-13 - Silver plated
Genussa Excellente
Spriggs Floating Rail Ligature
Vandoren V12 #4
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Author: Cuisleannach
Date: 2006-10-11 02:34
Ray,
Some people just don't spend a lot of time adjusting reeds...I've known more than a few people (not me) who will simply toss a reed if it's not pretty good out of the box, saying that they don't have the time to mess around with all of that stuff. I learned to make reeds from tube cane in college but I don't do it now.
What it looks like is that Dale has a new set-up and needs to find a reed that matches...In general I find that if I have to preface myself by saying, "this is going to sound harsh" I try to find another way to say it.
-Randy
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2006-10-19 01:12
Caco185 saying that Ray's post insult you is just a joke. Clarinetists life depend on reeds and to learn to deal with reeds is very important part of your education. I'm 22 and been playing the clarinet for 12 years. about 7 years ago I learned to adjust my reeds and I have had no problems with reeds since then. I usually get around 8 good reeds out of 10 reeds box of Vandoren V-12 but with the Gonzalez FOF reeds I get about 9-10 good reeds from each box and they last up to 2 times or even longer than V-12. I used to play on Charles Bay mouthpieces but now I use Walter Grabner mouthpieces and I found his facing to be more reed friendly but I still had no problem with using most of the reeds with a just little bit adjustment to maybe 1-3 reeds per box when I played on Charles Bay. Players should brake their reeds in for about 4-5 days and spend some time with the reed before they adjust them or throw them away. And remember to have at least 10 reeds broke in an rotate them using maybe each reed for about 30min-1hour.
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Author: myrnabs
Date: 2006-10-19 01:46
Iceland Clarinet,
I totally agree with you about GONZALEZ F.O.F. I too love those reeds. I agree with u on everything you said here.
Myrna :-)
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