 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tholland
Date: 2009-08-24 20:12
Hey all! Hoping you can help me out here a bit.
Since resuming playing, and picking up where I left off 18 years ago, I have become very, and I do mean very, dissatisfied with the quality of reeds locally available. I am presently going back and forth between Vandoren 3.5 to 4s, Vandoren V12 3.5's, and Mitchell Lurie Pros 4s....looking for a brand with more consistency than I find in these boxes from the local pusic store (yes I typed pusic - becuase they're all pukey catering to beginners music stores!)
I've found some at Reeds Direct Cambridge but I'm confused and 18+ Euros translates to quite a large investment without any prior knowledge of the product. I play on a Bay mouthpiece M-M H1 (with the additional marking of '99/1664) and Selmer 10S circa 1983 (don't bag on me too much for this, I love the sound this horn produces!)
Any advice for an alternative brand - and where I could order such a grand reed!?
Thanks!
Tammy Holland
Returning Lost Clarinetist
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-08-24 20:42
I would order from Muncy, Fred Weiner, or Woodwind Brasswind. Each one is quite easy to find on the internet.
Reed types you could try are the Rico Grand Concert, Evolution, or the Reserve. I prefer the Reserve - same strength as the V-12. Go 1/2 strength down for the Evolution. There is also the Gonzales FOF which some like a lot also.
You don't have to stick with Vandoren for a great reed.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-08-24 21:37
I've never had problems ordering from www.usareeds.com. Prices seem as good as anywhere else with low shipping costs.
And I also liked Gonzalez reeds (FOF style). And I also liked Rico Grand Concert reeds.
You might want to also look into synthetic reeds. They've come leaps and bounds from the old plasticover reeds from Rico that I used to own. Two very good brands that I've tried are Legere and Forestone (I just today got a different size Forestone reed to try out, but the ones that were even too soft showed very good promise). Also, I personally didn't have too many troubles with a fibracell reed, although it wasn't quite good enough (IMHO) to keep as a primary reed.
Alexi
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Author: tholland
Date: 2009-08-24 21:51
First, thank you to all who have replied thus far...:)
Second, I will definiely be checking out the Gonzalez reeds. Any advice on strength as compared to Vandoren or Mitchell Lurie?
Third....synthetic huh? How does that work exactly...comparable sound? Any adjustments needed? How long do they last? And on a professional horn...really? Okay...who am I to question why...right?
Tammy Holland
Returning Lost Clarinetist
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Author: Ed
Date: 2009-08-24 22:00
I have had some excellent results with the Rico Grand Concert thick blank reeds. I have found them to be very consistent, long lasting and with lots of resonance. While I generally find that a great Vandoren may be better, I have found that the GC have more easily playable reeds per box.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-08-24 22:57
For synthetics, check out Legere reeds at http://www.legere.com. There is a strength comparison chart on their site, referencing a number of popular reeds.
I personally like the Quebec cut for a nice dirk sound, and the strength is just about even with Vandoren V12 reeds, in my experience. If you buy a few and rotate them, they can easily last for several months. The reeds come in quarter strengths, for more precise matching to your needs. If you get the wrong strength of reeds, they will exchange them for $2 each within 30 days, with original receipt and packaging.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2009-08-25 21:02)
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2009-08-24 23:04
I have tried Legere reed(don't know the model) and I say when I changed back to cane the same thing as Ricardo Morales said when I first tried Backun product. If I would have been playing all my life on Legere then I discoverd all the colors of the rainbow by changing to cane.
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2009-08-25 00:05
Currently, my favorite reeds are Gonzalez FOFs. I bought a box of 3.5 and, so far, almost all were a little too hard. Next time, I'll probably order 3.25.
Compared to Vandoren V.12s...
I usually use the softer 3.5 V.12s of the box, and then balance all the V.12s at least a little. In the end, the 3.5 V.12s become about 3.25-ish.
So if you use the softer 3.5 V.12s in the box, order 3.25 Gonzalez FOF. If you use the harder 3.5 V.12s, order 3.5 Gonzalez FOF.
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Author: haberc
Date: 2009-08-25 00:14
I don't believe we are ever going to have a great, consistent, reed on the market we can trust to have every or even many reeds in a box.
BUT, there is a solve, and it's Tom Ridenour's ATG single reed finishing system. Please check it out. You will be amazed at the results. You can virtually use every reed in a box with an amazingly small amount of time and energy.
I am not affiliated with Ridenour and have nothing to gain here. Except I believe the system is incredible. I would love to hear from others who have used this single reed finishing system.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2009-08-25 00:19
I find the Gonzalez FOF 3.25 even a little harder than the harder V-12 3.5. But generally they need more brake-in than V-12 because they are made out of better cane. The same goes for the Rico Reserve.
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2009-08-25 00:23
I highly recommend the Ridenour ATG Reed Finishing System as well. It will make every reed playable, although I still don't like the tone of some reeds -- some sound dull and slightly airy. I do find that every reed will improve to some degree after using the ATG on it. The method is quite simple to learn and use.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-08-25 00:25
I still find the standard Vandoren and the newer "56 Rue Lepic" to be the best for me. I would recommend a good three day break-in period before passing judgement on any cane reed. Just soak a few minutes in water, play for 5 minutes ONLY, then go to next reed. On the fourth day, if they still stink, then you have a stinky batch, but usually they even out quite nicely by then. You may need to add a day or so for breaking-in when located in a challenging environment such as the South West where it's 115 degrees fahrenheit and very very dry.
As for Legere, they are quite respectable. They are a bit "thuddy" sounding but compare well 1/4 strength lower than a comparable Vandoren standard strength (Vandoren 3 1/2 = Legere 3 1/4). A Legere should last 4 to six months (with a good tail wind). I'd suggest rotating a few at a time.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: jnc8
Date: 2009-08-25 00:54
I have had the best luck with Vandoren 56 Rue Lepic, size 3.5+. For me, the 3.5 reeds died too quickly and the 4 reeds were just too hard and difficult to break in, so I am glad that there is an in-between size. I have recommended the model and strength to fellow clarinetists and they seem to enjoy them.
I have recently been using Rico Reserve Classic (a brand new reed type), size 4+. I tried 3.5+ plus, but they were very easy to play out of the box, suggesting that they will not take long to die. The Reserve Classics are a good reed, although in the box that I purchased most recently, the strengths varied quite considerably even though they were supposed to be the same strength. I guess I'll be taking out the reed knife and sand paper.
I do find it somewhat sad that some people are so quick to rule out synthetic reeds, such as Legere ... especially before trying them. They're great for outdoor playing and for marching band. In classical playing, some people can make them work, others can't. I tried the Legere reeds and I liked them, although I must say that I quickly changed back to cane reeds.
It all just boils down to what YOU prefer and what makes YOU sound best, regardless of what works for other people.
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Author: xingfan1227
Date: 2009-08-25 05:04
I've been using Legere for some times now and I really like them, especially the stable feel as well as the consistency.
However they are actually quite expensive and do not last as long as they claim. Some of them lose the strength very quickly (like after a couple of days of playing).
That's the only reason for me to possibly switch back to cane reeds.. I just bought the Ridenour's ATG system. Haven't received it.. but hopefully it will work.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-08-25 12:30
Dear xingfan1227,
What do you use as a set up to get a Legere to weaken in a couple of days?
I have a medium open mouthpiece set up as a rule and have had no real problem getting them to last. Even on the bass, these reeds keep their form. My problem with the lower horn Legeres is that the lack of overtones becomes too apparent...........that's why they make Fibracell !!!
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2009-08-25 18:15
Iceland clarinet writes:
"I have tried Legere reed(don't know the model) and I say when I changed back to cane the same thing as Ricardo Morales said when I first tried Backun product. If I would have been playing all my life on Legere then I discoverd all the colors of the rainbow by changing to cane."
I guess I missed that; what did Ricardo say when he first tried Backun product?
Clarinet Redux
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-08-25 19:13
I agree with David about the Rico brands but of course I am also a Rico performing artist. As far as this statement that haberc made "BUT, there is a solve, and it's Tom Ridenour's ATG single reed finishing system. Please check it out. You will be amazed at the results. You can virtually use every reed in a box with an amazingly small amount of time and energy."
I guess if you have a low standard that may be true but if the quality of cane is not good it simply can't make a decent reed. I"m not putting his reed fixing equipment down, I own one myself, but as I've said in other posts about reeds, you can't polish a turd. It's good but not that good. Bad cane makes bad reeds, poor quality grapes makes poor wine etc. etc. etc. First you have to find the reed that has the cane that works best for you. If professionals like myself were able to make every reed play well in every box we would put the reed companies out of business in no time at all. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: tholland
Date: 2009-08-25 20:03
![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
Alrighty then! OKAY!!! I'll order the ATG!!!
Who can resist these endorsements!
Good Job Tom!
Tammy Holland
Returning Lost Clarinetist
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Author: Dan1937
Date: 2009-08-25 20:34
I too use the Ridenour ATG system to adjust my reeds (alto sax and clarinet), and it's the best method I have ever used. Results are more consistent, and I have to discard very few reeds.
Dan
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Author: reedwizard
Date: 2009-08-25 20:39
" Bad cane makes bad reeds,...."
I agree no amount of work can make bad cane sound good.
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