 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-06-04 19:31
A number of my colleagues and students have recently complained about both the quality and packaging of the new Vandoren Flow Pack reeds.
They have repeatedly asked me if I know of any music retailers who still have remaining left over stock of Vandoren reeds in the older traditional packaging.
If you recently ordered Vandoren reeds and received the older style packaging, my students and some colleagues would appreciate if you would share your source.
Thanks ...GBK
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2008-06-04 19:36
Reeds Direct in Cambridge UK. I ordered 5 boxes and they were all the 'proper' boxes.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2008-06-04 20:49
I on the other hand got an order from them this morning of 10 boxes (a mixture of V12s an Traditionals) in flowpacks.
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Author: William
Date: 2008-06-05 14:59
FWIW: My Flow Pacs--the ones I posted about not liking--have finally come around after having dried/cured on a sheet of glass for about three weeks. However, they are NOT (as yet) as good as my older non FPs, but....they are usable on my Ithica Bay or Greg Smith mpc. Still don't work so good for my beloved Chicago Kaspar, which has been retired for the time being......
Post Edited (2008-06-06 17:32)
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2008-06-05 15:13
What's the point? Eventually any old packages will go away. Its like people hunting down Morres...
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Author: DougR
Date: 2008-06-06 16:14
Wait a minute, is the contention here that the flowpack packaging itself impairs the quality of the reeds, or just that it's the same old Vandoren "Mixed Blessing" quality, packed in a slightly more annoying kind of container?
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2008-06-06 16:36
Annoying? Hell....I nominated them for the OYSTER tough-to-open package award.
Gimmie the old small purple box anyday..... My own handling of the reeds after that will take care of the humidity factor, warps, etc...... and think of all the innocent cellophanolopes and baby aluminators that will be saved in the process.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2008-06-06 17:13
What I find helpful is to remove the reeds from their flow seal packs and then store them for about 6 months in a dry dark place. I find them to a bit more consistent at that point. It is worth buying enough reeds so you can back them up.
David Dow
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Author: RodRubber
Date: 2008-06-07 03:00
Vandoren has no incentive to sell a good product on any level. An extremely consistent reed with good longevity would likely not fit their business model.
Making home made reeds is really the only answer, assuming you have a quality cane source
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Author: Ed
Date: 2008-06-07 03:20
"Vandoren has no incentive to sell a good product on any level."
...and I thought that I was cynical!
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Author: ZCClarinet
Date: 2008-06-07 03:53
(did a brief search for flow packs, sorry if this has been posted already)
For anyone still having problems opening flow packs:
Put your thumbs close together on either side of the back seam which goes the length of the package. That is, put one thumb on the barcode and the other on the recycling symbols (which are found under the seam in question). Press down lightly to get a grip then and pull the plastic under the thumbs apart and open up the seam between them without much dexterity or brute force. With the entire length of the seam opened, the reed and plastic case are easy to pull out.
Hopefully that will help you get to blaming the reed even quicker
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Author: redwine
Date: 2008-06-07 04:45
Hello,
(Disclaimer: I am the North American importer for Canyes Xilema reeds)
I just had a conversation with Rich from Luyben Music. Believe me when I say that I'm the last person that would ever advertise for VanDoren, but Rich said that he had "a ton" of old purple box VanDorens in their storehouse, both in paper and plastic boxes. If you order them, please tell them that I sent you. Then, after you play those, try other brands of reeds!!!
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: clarnibass
Date: 2008-06-07 05:27
For someone who deals a lot with reeds, break them in, adjust, rotate, dry, etc. etc. opening the flow package is probably a small but still annoying part of dealing with the reeds. But for some (like me) who just opens the box and play the reeds, it practically doubles the time messing with them! There is no advantage to those packages so I really don't understand why they make them. I like Vandoren reeds and it's what I use for a long time now, but this flow package seriously makes think about changing a reed company.
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