 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: thedean
Date: 2009-02-15 22:59
Hi all,
I have been searching and searching for new reeds as I am sick of Vandoren and want to find something a little different.
I would like to know what sort of options I have.
Someone recommended Rico Grand Concert, Thick Blank to me. I have tried them and like them, I have also tried the Rico Grand Concert, Evolution , and also like them too.
Not sure what will work with my ligature/mouthpiece set up. For those of you wondering I am playing on a Vandoren B45 with a Francois Louis ligature. I am also playing a Buffet BC20, for those of you who know what this is. A very old clarinet, not produced anymore, and only produced for the French market. Still a wonderful instrument though.
I have been using size 4 Vandoren reeds.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Dean
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-02-16 00:49
You've already tried several others that you like. Pick one.
If you're looking for more names to try, there are Gonzales, Olivieri, Marca, La Voz, Lurie - and many more you can find listed on many websites - try Woodwind and Brasswind, Muncy Winds, Frederich Weiner for starters to see what's readily available (over the web).
In the end, you are the only one who can tell what works on your set-up. Try one of the brands you've already liked at a medium-hard strength (to approximate the strength of the Vandoren 4s, although it's possible your problem with Vandorens is that you're playing on the wrong strength for your mouthpiece) for awhile and see if over a longer haul it gives better results than the Vandorens. If not, try something else.
Did you pick your BC20 for a quality you liked, or did it come with the clarinet? I don't know what a Buffet BC20 is like, but it's possible that some of what you want to change in your reeds may actually be in the mouthpiece. If finding a satisfactory reed proves to be difficult, that's certainly another place to experiment a little.
What is it about the Vandorens that you don't like?
Karl
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2009-02-16 01:52
Karl he is using a B45 Vandoren mouthpiece and the BC20 is an old model from Buffet as he said so it's not a mouthpiece.
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Author: Ryder
Date: 2009-02-16 04:30
Before settling on Ricos I would try other brands. I prefer Gonzalez FOF. For me at least, once they break in and stabilize, they last for a very long time and produce excellent tone. They tend to be on the brighter side though.
For refernce I use Gonzalez FOF 4-4.25 on a Clark Fobes SF CF+ with an inverted Bonade. And a quick side note.... I think I've found the best combo for me now! Just the other day I had the chance to try some Fobes barrels at TMEA that Mr. Fobes reccomended for my mp facing. I was in love! Every note spoke clearly and projected more. As an added bonus, tuning was dead on when i was pulled out just less than an 1/8 inch.
____________________
Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2009-02-16 08:08
Vandoren B45... I have been using size 4 Vandoren reeds.
Wow, that's a beast of a reed... :-) I need a 3 or a 2.5 on that...
Personal preference is everything! I think the Evolution are pretty OK, but I prefer the less well-known Xilema (Pro) and AW (302) brands (having been through the process of trying them all!) I find the Xilema brighter. The AW run quite hard on the numbering system, and last /really/ well.
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Author: greenleaf
Date: 2009-02-16 09:56
I bought some Vandoren reeds online recently (2.5) and I noticed two other Vandoren poroducts, V12 reeds and 56 Rue Lepic reeds - does anyone know whether they are significantly different from the normal Vandoren product?
greenleaf
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-02-16 12:31
V12 are thicher stock, thicker vamp, Personally I've had little success with them but others here love them.
The 56s are thicker stock with a nice long vamp. They seem better suited to longer lay mouthpieces but I currently use them on a B40. The 56s last and last ............... my personal favorite and I'm a LONG time user of the standard Vandoren.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2009-02-16 13:31
Paul, how did you find the 56 Rue Lepics different (playing characteristics) from the V.12s?
I found V.12s "darker" than the Traditionals. I might be switching back to the Traditionals soon though because it has much better "ring" and resonance.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-02-16 13:42
Yeah - you're right and I read too quickly. It was late, and the details didn't matter too much to the basic advice. The only way to know what reeds will work on your equipment is to try different ones yourself. And thedean had, it seemed, already found several he liked.
Mea culpa.
Karl
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Author: saimuse5
Date: 2009-02-17 04:12
You might also want to try Zonda's. They are a fairly new brand (maybe less than 5 years?). I definitely prefer them over the Vandorans and the nice thing about Zonda's is they come in quarter strengths. They are a bit more predictable than Vandoran's and not as tempermental
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Author: ABerry
Date: 2009-02-17 07:12
thedean,
I will agree with Bassie, AW reeds are some of the best I've tried, how ever, I use their 301 reed.
Bassie, you might want to try the AW 301, I have found them to less "bright" than the AW 302.
Allan
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2009-02-17 11:59
> the AW 301, I have found them to less "bright" than the AW 302.
I like bright!
(thanx for the info tho!)
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Author: thedean
Date: 2009-02-18 02:08
What would be a near equivalent on the Gonzalez FOF reeds, or infact any of their reeds. I don't want to be buying 2 of each and finding i won't use them.
I have heard of them before and am a little tentative as I was warned that they need to be played in quite a lot before they are decent reeds.
I have a really good breath control which is why i'm playing on a size 4 vandoren on the B45. however am looking at steering away from vandoren all together.
What about mouthpiece suggestions, one with a more open tip or one with better response to articulation. I know it all comes down to personal choice but i want to know which ones to try out first before i commit to buying.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2009-02-18 03:08
Saimuse5,
I recall the Zondas being excellent when they first came out. I abandoned them after a year or so because the quality did not maintain itself. That was back in '95 or '96.
I was very pleased with Rice Grand Concert Evolutions and had switched to them after being a long time Vandoren V12 user. I have tried one box of Xilema and they were/are even better. I have yet to determine longevity, but I'll let you know.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2009-02-19 12:27
I agree with David Blumberg. I first tried Rico Reserves a few months ago, and they are amazing. Most of them work and most of them play well right out of the box (a few require minor adjusting). They give me a nice sound, and I think they are the best reed I've ever used (and I've tried a lot).
Whatever type of reed you're using, make sure they're not too hard for you. Some people think of hard reeds as a badge of honor; when I was in my college years, you were thought of as a wimp if you played anything softer than a 3 1/2, and most played 4s, 4 1/2s, and 5s. Now that I'm older and wiser (and tired of fighting reeds that are too hard), I've settled on 3s, and they're the perfect strength for me (I use a Vandoren M-15).
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