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#5 Vandorens from 1970

Author: vjoet
Date: 2007-07-25 15:18

In high school and college, I would get boxes of #5 Vandorens, and with reed rush and fine-grit sandpaper would hone them down into a good playing reed.

Now that I've resumed playing after 35 years away from it, I've been using #3s (56 Rue Lepic or V12 or Zonda or Xilema or Gonzales).

Today I opened a partial box of #5 from 1970. And notice some striking differences:
1. They are much thinner at the heel.
2. When dropped onto a hard surface they resound with beautiful woody ping. None of my new #3s resound such.

Using fine grit sandpaper and reed rush, I trimmed them down. It took about 7 or 8 repeated adjustments per reed, but now I have 4 concert ready reeds. Their tone is mellow, yet warm and with rich harmonics. Dynamic range is broad, response to staccato and altissimo is excellent.

Questions:
1. I'm wondering if the results are from the very hard, dense fibers in #5s?
2. And if so, would I get similar results with new V12 #5s? Or has the aging impacted them, and new reeds would not give the same result?
3. Do any list members hone #5s down to playing strength?

Best wishes,
Vann Joe

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