 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: MGT91123
Date: 2014-02-02 22:56
Hi,
So I noticed that these reeds are in 1/4 sizes. I'm willing to try them, but what would come close o what I'm using now, the La Voz at medium strength, considering also that I will be trying some at medium hard strenght? If you do use Gonzalez, what about them makes you like them?
All replies are appreciated.
Buffet E-11
Buffet Moening Barrel, 65 mm, Backun Protege 65mm
Vadoren BD5 Mouthpiece
Vandoren M/O series gold Lig.
Gonzala's FOF Reeds 2.5
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2014-02-02 23:37
I use Gonzales. The reeds are extremely consistent in quality from reed to reed. When I open a box of 10, I know I'll be able to play all of them. Some will require next to no work, a couple may require a bit more. I've probably thrown away only 4 in the past 4 boxes I've purchased. I use a 2 3/4 in the FOF's which seem just fine strength-wise. I tried the 2 3/4 in the GD's, but they're a bit stiff for me. I will buy 2 1/2's in the GD's the next time I buy. I'd say I use a "medium strength" reed. There was a thread posted about a month ago asking for feedback from the folks who received free Gonzales GD reeds last fall. Almost everybody who replied had something very positive to say. Pablo Gonzales, the owner of the company, really wants to please his customers...and he's doing a great job of it. The GD's are a bit rough to the touch, so I smooth them with the ATG reed finishing system. Then I use either Mark Nuccio's or Ed Palanker's technique for breaking them in. You can google either of those for complete instructions. I've not yet decided which break-in method I most prefer, but both give me reeds that last a long time and play very well.
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2014-02-02 20:05
I love Gonzales FOF's. I still have boxes years old that I haven't opened yet. They play well anyway. I just wet them up and go for it.
I break in my reeds by pretending that they are already broken in.
B>
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2014-02-05 01:07
After playing Vandoren V12s for years, I recently went through a period of evaluating a number of other kinds of reeds. Although some years ago I had tried Gonzales FOF reeds (that were not quite for me), I decided to try the new GD cut and am very pleased with them.
After determining the right strength (greatly facilitated by the 1/4-strength grading system), I've found them to be very consistent and responsive. They seem to tune well with the mouthpieces I have and so far seem capable of lasting at least a few months, depending on use and repertoire.
I think the quality I like best is that they are flexible and tone-neutral. That is, they can play dark or light, and can maintain the tone across a large dynamic range.
I think if you like VD V12s, you may find the Gonzales GDs even better.
I've ordered some of their Eb clarinet reeds although these sound like they are a more traditional cut. I'm hopeful that they will work even better than the VD "Blue Box" reeds.
Bob Barnhart
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Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2014-02-07 14:34
Might someone suggest a strength conversion formula when going from Vandoren V12's to Gonzalez FOFs?
Side note: I must admit some weariness in accepting a 1/4 size gradation in system in cane reeds: although in fairness, having not used this brand of reeds yets, maybe I am judging too fast. Gonzalez may have greater seperation between their sizes than other manufacturers.
As I understand it from a Vandoren youtube video I once saw, all reeds of a particular brand (at least for Vandoren) are cut to the same dimensions, but is the denseness of the cane, as observed with electronic equipment, that segregates reeds into different strenthgs for labeling.
Is this 1/4 size granuality one that Gozalez players find justified, or are we dealing with a situation like in the movie "Spinal Tap," where the featured (mock) heavy metal band's loudspeakers give them a (percevied, not real) "advantage" over other rock group's setups, because their speakers go to "11" (not just "10")?
(A famous scene for Spinal Tap groupies, as if the volume numbers from all loudspeaker manufacturers was consistent.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xgx4k83zzc
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2014-02-08 00:06
ThatPerfectReed wrote:
> Might someone suggest a strength conversion formula when going
> from Vandoren V12's to Gonzalez FOFs?
Fairly even. Keep in mind that V12s are not as consistent as gonzalez reeds so in a box of V12 3.5, you may get something equivalent to gonzalez 3.5 or something more along gonzalez 3.75 or 3.25. But in general, V12 to gonzalez is pretty darn close (FWIW, I like the softer V12 3.5 reeds, and am working through a box of gonzalez FOF 3.25 with excellent results)
>
> Side note: I must admit some weariness in accepting a 1/4 size
> gradation in system in cane reeds: although in fairness, having
> not used this brand of reeds yets, maybe I am judging too fast.
> Gonzalez may have greater seperation between their sizes than
> other manufacturers.
As hard as it is to believe, I believe it. Each reed a VERY close match to the others in the box. Enough that I believe the 1/4 strength grading system.
>
> Is this 1/4 size granuality one that Gozalez players find
> justified, or are we dealing with a situation like in the movie
> "Spinal Tap," where the featured (mock) heavy metal band's
> loudspeakers give them a (percevied, not real) "advantage"
> over other rock group's setups, because their speakers go to
> "11" (not just "10")?
Don't know. But even if it's a placebo effect, if it makes me sound better to THINK I have that much more control over reed strength, I'll take it!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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