 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2007-11-19 12:42
Played my first paying gig on this year's Xilema reeds!
Some thoughts to share...
They're thicker! The blank is noticably thicker and the cane feels more porous in the mouth. When I opened the box I was worried as they all played soft. However...
These reeds got /harder/ as I 'broke them in', until they played almost the same as the reeds I already had. Perhaps a shade softer... but then, this year strength 'C' has been split into 'C' and 'C+' so I'm not surprised that the 'C's are now towards the soft end of the band.
I /think/ also these new thicker reeds don't change quite so much as they get damp (the last batch would come out of the reed case like 2x4" and quckly soften upon moistening, getting annoyingly firm again during long rests)
I have no real idea what's going on here. Maybe if this year's cane is particularly stiff, they'd have to cut the same reed profile on a thicker blank to get the right distribution of strengths. Maybe it's to change the stability properties of the reed (cos they have changed, /probably/ for the better). But in summary...
... they're still great in my opinion!
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Author: redwine
Date: 2007-11-19 13:10
(Disclaimer: I'm the North American importer for Canyes Xilema reeds)
Hello,
Inma, the owner of Canyes Xilema, purchased a cnc machine about 6 months ago and she is producing all aspects of the reed now. Previously, she was purchasing blanks, but now, they are splitting cane, producing blanks, then finishing them. So, with control of every step of the process, their quality is more manageable. You should definitely check out their factory, if you get the chance to visit Valencia, Spain.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2007-11-19 13:45
(Disclaimer - I sell Xilema reeds)
I was at the Xilema factory last Christmas when they were just breaking in the new CNC machining process. Inma, the owner, is a wonderful lady and completely dedicated to the reed making process. As Ben indicates she showed me the whole process from tube cane to finished reeds and I was impressed with the quality control aspects throughout each step and the care and testing that they do to complete the finished reeds. Since cane will vary from year to year in quality they are now, I believe, seeking a more stable and consistent sourcing for large quantities of cane so that reeds will not vary greatly between crops. The Costa del Sol of Spain is a large producer of cane which is sold among other countries crops to the mega reed makers so the Spanish cane is among the reeds that are produced by the huge companies too.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2007-11-19 23:31
I use Pro C+ sometimes.
They are excellent reeds,strong and last long.
Post Edited (2007-11-20 13:26)
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