 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2014-11-12 18:39
Q1: From previous posts I am concluding that the D'Addario Reserve Classic and Rico Reserve reeds are not the same product. True?
Q2: If Q1 is false please ignore this question. If these two products are fact different, be it in type type of cane used and/or its cut (BTW: cut by diamond blades I heard for D'Addario products,) or other steps in producing them, is it correct to say that, essentially, the Rico Reserve reed product is being phased out, or is it still available, say, under another label? I ask this because I'm to understand that, maybe incorrectly, the Rico Reserve products are being marked down and reabsorbed by D'Addario so as to take them off of retail shelves.
Q3: I realize this is a highly subjective question, being asked about products that are themselves subject to change over time. I realize that the limited market presence of the D'Addario reed lines, given their relatively recent introduction, may limit the sample size of people with opinions on these 2 products--but that said, would someone be able to summarize how they thought these two products were for them? Are some of you finding some analogy, loose though it may be, that, say, the D'Addario Reserves are like a Vandoren V12, and the D'Addario Reserve Classics more like a Vanoren blue box?
(I only make this hypothetical analogy because I understand, like V12s, the D'Addario Reserves originate from different (thicker) stock, while the V12's come from stock that could be used to make wider reed products (e.g. alto sax reeds)????)
I'm aware of the sample packs and intend on purchasing them, much as, even if these new products are great (or not so great for me), in fairness, I won't rush to judgement, regardless of my impression of the product, having only testing a few reeds.
Thank you. If my Search simply missed a post on this, please just refer me to it--no need to rehash.
I do appreciate D'Addario's efforts at not simply acquiring a brand, but improve on it.
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Author: qualitycontrol
Date: 2014-11-12 18:55
I can't much comment on the difference between the D'Addario product and the old Rico, but I can tell you that you've got the comparison to Vandoren backwards in Q3: The Reserve Classic is similar to a V12 (cut from a thick blank) and the Reserves are similar to a blue box Vandoren. The vamp on the Classics tapers down to the tip more slowly than the V12 cut and I prefer them for the larger heart.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2014-11-12 20:08
Thank you Paul. You are precisely correct. I flipped things around, incorrectly, in my analogy.
Readers can certainly make tangible arguments that making analogies between D'Addario clarinet reed products and those from Vandoren, as I did, are good or bad, but given the analogy, V12 is to D'Addario Reserve Classic, as Vandoren Blue box is to D'Addario Classic, when the comparative metric is "thickness."
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/aplusautomation/vendorimages/b90bb037-21e5-4fb6-9ad7-2ac4a2c3868f._V326484478_.jpg
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Author: James S
Date: 2014-11-12 23:03
Hello! I hope this answers your questions
Q1: the D'addario Reserve line is fully seperate from the Rico Reserve line. The D'addario line should be seen as the successor to the Rico Reserve Line.
Q2: Interestngly enough, the cane is different. D'addario once grew very little of its own cane and purchased the majority from third-party vendors. The company is now fully supplying its own cane via two facilities: one in France and one in Argentina. I don't honestly know about the blade material, but the company spent over 14 MILLION dollars developing a single-station machine (as opposed to the 3-4 stations used in standard manufacturing. To make a long story short D'addario is automizing production to increase reliability as much as reasonably possible. It's the same philosophy they use with the Reserve mouthpieces. More consistant reeds equally better sales, but it also means the company has to throw a lot less out. It's a win-win.
The "Rico Reserve/Reserve Classic" cuts are no longer in production and will not be repackaged or otherwise made available. The bass clarinet Reserve Classics, however, are still in production. The only products that will say Rico when all is said and done are the orange boxes and the blue Royal ones. D'addario hasn't told me what is going to happen to the grand concert series. The existing products aren't being reabsorbed--that doesn't make business sense. The few that are still around are being liquidated via dealers and ergo sold to customers at discount (or not at discount, depending on the store). In December of 2014 the mouthpieces and mouthpiece patches began being relabeled (without being redesigned) as "D'addario. D'addario Woodwinds was "formally" launched in April or so and the first prototypes of the new, redesigned reeds were sent out for testing in May and June. By the beginning of August mass production had begun on the new models. TBH I'm not exactly sure when the Rico Reserves stopped being made, but it's safe to guess it was in July or August.
Q3: (potential bias ahead! I sell clarinets and am a huge D'addario supporter. I do not sell their products at my store nor am compensated or commissioned by D'addario). They are awesome (and very consistant) David Blumeberg's review on WWBW is a great place to start.
Also, your analogy is spot-on!
James
Owner, James' Clarinet Shop
Www.jamesclarinetshop.com
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Author: James Langdell
Date: 2014-11-25 09:52
Does anyone know if D'Addario is continuing the Mitchell Lurie reed lines (regular and Premium)?
--James Langdell
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2014-11-25 19:04
The student line are continued under Rico name.
D'Addario coincided their revamp of the Reserve Reed with the name change. There is a difference, but I do like the new line a lot.
Reserve Classic I prefer over the Reserve now, whereas previously it was the other way around.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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