Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2015-03-12 20:26
I used to play V12 #4's on a (close-facing) Kanter AA many years ago, but as I've tried different mouthpieces over the years, I've experimented with Xilema, Gonzales GD, Rue le PIc 56, Rico Reserve [Classic], VD Blue Box and the D'addario Reserve [Classic] and the V21s.
I played the Rico Reserve (regular "Red Box") reeds for a couple of years on a VD B40. I liked their lively (but not too 'reedy') sound and great response. The Rico Reserve Classics didn't appeal so much to me as they seemed to have a brighter/reedier sound.
In the past 2 years I've been playing mostly #3 VD Blue Box and D'addario Reserve (regular) on a Kessler-Backun III. Recently, I've been [re-]evaluating V12s, V21s and Gonzales GDs.
I love the sound of the D'addario Reserve (regular) reeds--rather different from their Rico counterparts. For me they yield a big, dark, "woody" sound. Unfortunately, as I have a slow tongue, I cannot get them to articulate as quickly as the VD Tradionals (or the old Rico Reserves), so I may use them only sparingly in the future.
I have only played a few of the D'addario Reserve Classic, but like their Rico counterparts, their sound was too bright/reedy for me. Perhaps these play better on closer/longer facings.
For me, the (#3) V21s have great response but play too bright, more like the RLP 56s (which I could never really get into) than the V12s. They just don't have the feeling/sound I'm looking for. Colleagues of mine who have tried the V21s also seem to have a similar opinion.
In contrast, in my recent trials, the #3 V12s have a bit bigger (rounder?) sound than the VD Blue Box, but they seem to require a bit more work to play the way I want (e.g., I always found the V12's rails to be a bit heavy).
I just got a box of #2.75 Gonzales GDs (which since they run stiff, are similar to a #3 VD Traditional). I'd forgotten how great these reeds are. They are really consistent and play just about perfect right out of the box (lively, responsive, warm sound). Unlike most other reeds, they don't seem to change much during break-in, possibly because they are dried/cured longer and don't seem to get waterlogged (?).
Conclusion:
To me, the V21s may be similar to the D'addario Reserve Classic. If the latter work for you, I'm not sure that the V21s will necessarily be better.
However, I like the Gonzales GD, VD Blue Box best, then the V12 and finally the D'addario Reserve (regular). Interestingly, these are all French file-cut reeds (as opposed to the RLP 56, V21 and Reserve Classic).
Expenses aside, it's good to re-evaluate things objectively from time to time.
Bob Barnhart
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
