 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ruben
Date: 2016-11-10 18:15
In the old days, it was possible to try out Vandoren reeds before buying them. It was actually a rewarding experience, because you would run into old friends there and make new ones. You could buy as many or as few reeds as you wanted. Later, I switched to Olivieri reeds, and he would let you try his reeds out first too, and he became a good friend whom I greatly miss.
Is there anybody still around that lets you select reeds by trying them out before buying?
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2016-11-10 18:44
I let my customers to try my reeds but only in person. In case of mail orders, this wouldn't be so convenient...:)
Mark
Post Edited (2016-11-10 18:45)
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-11-10 19:55
Vandoren stopped doing this many decades ago.
In person I did not find it hugely helpful as test room was imensely resonant and usually full of conservatoire students playing at full tilt.
When I got the reeds home I always thought that my choice was little better then in opening a new box of reeds.
Of course that may say also something about me !
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2016-11-10 22:00
David's right.
Besides, you can't judge a reed model from one reed of one strength from one box. Reeds in the same box can (and usually do) vary greatly, and they often vary box to box and harvest year by harvest year.
Then there's the matter of adjusting certain reeds. Some may play poorly right out of the box, but with a little adjustment, may wind up to be fantastic.
To paraphrase a famous author of a book on English usage when writing about commas, "if you spend all your time worrying about finding the best reed, you will surely go mad" (and broke, too).
B.
Post Edited (2016-11-10 22:01)
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Author: TomS
Date: 2016-11-10 23:14
Legere effectively let's you do this ... kinda sorta. They will swap to a new strength if the first one you purchase is too hard or soft. I don't think you can get a full refund if the reed turns out to be "not your cup of tea" ...
I think that Clark Fobes offers some sample packs of reeds ... three of several brands/models, and at a reasonable price.
As far as reeds or any other accessory items, you just gotta just pay your money, take it home, and give it a try. You will add more rejected items to your shoe box than you put in you clarinet case to use. It's just that way ...
Tom
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Author: Wes
Date: 2016-11-10 23:57
They used to let you pick out the ones to buy from the color of the bark, but in many decades of playing, I've never been able to try them before buying them.
My reed choices for clarinet have been Handlon, Vandoren, Olivieri, and Vandoren V12 over the decades. The other day, I tried some 70 year old Handlons and they played great.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2016-11-11 01:18
Noman: Some people-not you-seem to have got the wrong end of the stick. I wasn't dealing with which brand of reeds to buy, but rather quite simply choosing reeds (of the same brand) that are playable. It's true that conditions at Vandoren's testing room were so cacaphonious that it made it hard to know what the reed was like. Nevertheless, if you went there at the right time-when the room was emptier-it increased your chances of getting suitable reeds (let's say 6 out of 10, rather than 2!). I wonder if they ever sterilized these reeds. Well anyway, we all have to die of something.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-11-11 01:31
I had heard of this from my teachers. What happened to reeds that you rejected? Were they put back into the mix for other people to try?
Karl
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Author: ruben
Date: 2016-11-11 01:35
KDK: They certainly were "put back in the mix"! Were they sterilized first? I doubt it. It was like the restaurants in Paris in the 19th century that served you other people's leftovers.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-11-11 23:39
Steuer sends samples. Write to me and I will make sure the Steuer company gets your request. I'm just the middle man. savagesax@aol.com
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2016-11-12 03:46)
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Author: CEC
Date: 2016-11-12 04:18
Beware the Steuer samples (though I greatly appreciate their willingness to send them). Mine were sent from France in a paper envelope. They arrived broken.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-11-12 16:35
CEC, I will forward this info to the owner. This is the first complaint, so there are probably others. Please send me your address to savagesax@aol.com, the reed strengths you wish to try and he will take care of this, or I will.
Thank you for posting.
Bob
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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