 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2019-08-09 17:29
The main idea behind these reeds in not that they will play well because of a "plant-based" coating, but rather that Mr. Fujii was supposed to personally adjust each reed and then use the coating to preserve his handiwork. I believe Frank Cohen, former principal clarinet of the Cleveland Orchestra knows Fujii and has some familiarity with these reeds. It would be interesting to know Cohen's opinion of the reeds.
Over $30 for each reed does seem a bit steep. Does Fujii actually adjust each V12 by hand? Do these adjustments work well for a variety of mouthpiece designs and facings or only for his personal set-up? What is the average playing life of one of these? Is the plant based coating safe for humans to have in their mouths for long periods?
One or two of these might make a good Christmas present for a clarinetist. If someone wants to put one under my tree, I'll gladly try it. Till then, I think I'll pass.
By the way, the clarinet Taras is playing is a Yamaha SE Artist model, and the gold plated ligature is an ONO (as distinct from that other rare Japanese ligature, the MOMO.)
Post Edited (2019-08-09 17:43)
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2019-08-09 19:22
Maybe if they included some cannabis in that proprietary plant-based coating . . .
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Author: fernie121
Date: 2019-08-09 20:18
$30 will probably keep me from ever trying it. The idea of enhancing a cane reed rather than making one of a completely new material is interesting to me. Though it seems that is not what is going on here. Perhaps even advancements in GMOs could lead to better cane reeds in the future?
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-08-10 11:20
I think it is a bit scary. It's still a Vandoren reed and the bottomline is where and what is the quality of the actual cane?
So if you buy a reed will they give you your money back if the reeds don't last because of the poor structure of the fibers and the reeds actually break down after a few days or even after a few hours? The cane may have come from Argentina, Italy, and not from France.
A plant base material also is confusing. This material has to break down as well. Is it used just to seal the reeds from water? This may not be a good idea and the tone quality may be pretty bright is my guess, as I've played around with sealing reeds, trying to prevent the reeds from warping. At first the reeds sound decent but after a few days the reeds get this bright unpleasant sound to them. Reeds actually have to form a bit to your mouthpiece and there we have another issue. Is your mouthpiece good or is it a warped table with uneven rails? Then you are adding even more issues to this frustration of just wanting to practice and play the clarinet and not mess with reeds during your practice sessions.
It's a good idea but I would think these reeds are not meant for the major symphony pro and soloist. Also too expensive for the average community band player and beginners.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: fernie121
Date: 2019-08-10 11:41
I agree, way too expensive anyways. As far as forming to the mouthpiece, do Légère reeds do this too? If so, is it to the same extent.
As for them being Vandoren reeds, playing on Behn’s Aria reeds has shown me there is something not right about a lot of the cane out there.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-08-10 12:08
fernie121 "As far as forming to the mouthpiece, do Légère reeds do this too? If so, is it to the same extent."
Good question! The answer is no. Plastic reeds don't form to the mouthpieces. So if the plastic reeds are not flat well they won't seal. If the mouthpiece is not flat, the table of the mouthpiece is not flat, and most of them are not, well a good seal won't be present so the plastic reeds won't seal and these reeds will not form to the mouthpiece. So your only hope is actually using cane reeds. Plastic reeds spring back to their same position unless you heat them or use some sort of chemical to bend them. I wouldn't do this.
I actually leave the reeds on my mouthpiece after a practice session or a concert, I just wipe them off using water. I think most players do this practice with reeds, unless they are sick with the flu or something. Then it's a good idea to clean the mouthpiece and the reed to help keep from reinfecting yourself. I feel colds and the flu can can last longer.
Since I have so many reeds in stock I usually throw on a reed and adjust it as needed and I don't rotate them unless the weather changes. On a good reed I get a couple of months so I'm very happy. I adjust them after about 3 weeks or so as they get a bit soft.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: ruben
Date: 2019-08-10 13:58
Bob: I experimented with a "hybrid reed" years ago. I took some excellent reeds and coated some with a carbon fiber dust that a machine embedded onto the surface of the reed by projection (no glue) and did the same thing using silver dust. The problem: this process only worked on a bone-dry reed, so afterwards, it was like playing on a dry reed. As we all know, that's no good at all. So back to the drawing room. My idea for this came from violin strings that are metal on the outside, gut on the inside.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Episkey
Date: 2019-08-10 16:02
I've played half a dozen of the Dream reeds. They're definitely worth it.
What's kind of funny to me is that folks who think 30 dollars is too steep will buy multiple legere reeds.
They last about 2 to 3 times longer than a cane reed. If your mouthpiece works with V12 reeds, these will too. If not, then no. The overall taper and vamp of the reed hasn't changed significantly whatsoever so it's generally still a V12 in design. But they're all good. No duds.
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2019-08-10 17:22
Thanks, Episkey for sharing your experience with us. I just may try one of these for Christmas, even if I have to gift it to myself. So far, composite reeds don't do it for me, so a longer-lasting cane reed sounds appealing.
Incidentally, Kauzuo Fujii himself plays the clarinet very musically with a fine tone. Here he brings out the lyrical qualities of Cavallini Caprice 25 that are often missed in average performances of the piece:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Kazuo+Fujii+Cavalini+30+Caprice+25.
Post Edited (2019-08-10 17:37)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2019-08-11 17:21
When I was a student yelling and screaming about my reeds one night my mother said to me. You father and I decided that we will fund a "perfect reed" for you even if it costs $500, this was in about 1960 and my father was a bread truck driver, think about that. It made me tear up as I explained to her it doesn't work that way. Well eventually I found the perfect reed as a pro when I learned to make my own but it took a few dozen every time I make one. Of course I had to keep "making" perfect reeds. Then when I stopped making them I found the perfect reed again, but it would take a few boxes every time but I usually found the "percect reed" until I needed to find another one. :-)
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Billybob
Date: 2019-08-15 01:09
I’ve used 6 of these reeds - each lasting for over 7 months. They do vary reed to reed, and the initial taste of the reed is a little odd, but after breaking them in for a few days they are fantastic. Trying before you buy is the most important thing at this cost though as the variation is still a little too wide for my liking. If ordering without trying, request reeds on the harder side as after the ‘dream’ treatment they seem a little softer.
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Author: JpCannavo
Date: 2019-08-15 14:20
The question no one is asking here is about the coating material-what is it? As a physician I wonder about what’s going into my mouth. As a Clarinetist I wonder if I could get hold of such a coating material. Does it actually work? If so and if non toxic, It would be interesting to have access to such stuff that could be applied to a reed that an individual has worked to their own satisfaction.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2019-08-15 15:10
Dr. Cannavo: While we're on the subject of toxicity, there's quite a bit of sulfur in ebonite. What does having an ebonite mouthpiece in one's mouth an hour and a half a day year after year do to one's health? Thank you?
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: ruben
Date: 2019-08-15 15:27
"sulphur" I meant...
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: JpCannavo
Date: 2019-08-15 15:31
Not to worry. Sulfur is non toxic in low quantities and surely a non issue in the quantities we absorb from a mouthpiece. In fact many foods such as cruciferous vegetables expose you to much more sulfur in the form of Sulforaphane. More of a concern for me (and I am not looking to go down the toxicity rabbit hole here- brings out a lot of emotion and gradations in rationality!) are my crystal Pomericos, as lead ain’t good for neurons even in very very trace amounts.
Joe
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2019-08-15 17:50
Which begs a question I've wondered about - is "crystal" in the case of mouthpieces literally classic lead crystal, or is it just glass (which I would think can still truthfully be called crystal).
Karl
Post Edited (2019-08-15 19:15)
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Author: ruben
Date: 2019-08-15 17:52
Dear Dr. Joe, thank you for your excellent information. For the moment, it would seem your neurons are holding up fine. ha ha. That said, yet another reason not to use a crystal mouthpiece.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: ruben
Date: 2019-08-15 17:58
Karl: Pomerico claims to be real crystal. I know the old O'biens, which I imagine no longer exist, were just glass: they were made from milk bottles!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: ruben
Date: 2019-08-15 18:08
Of course, I meant O'brien: I really should stop typing with my feet or get a new pair of glasses: not crystal glasses.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: ruben
Date: 2019-08-15 21:17
Beethoven is said to have suffered from saturnism, which explains his deplorable health. He must have used crystal mouthpieces too often.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2019-09-03 14:31
As far as naturel cane reeds go, the Rigotti Gold reeds are well worth a try. They are cultivated in the same part of southern France as Vandoren but supposedly with less pesticides (hearsay). I hate cane reeds (but I'm a recent amateur player ) and like the more consistant Legeres, but they tend to play flat and so for orchestra practice I need a cane reed or I get the evil eye from the director. I ordered 3 Rigotti reeds and find them more uniform, comfortable and reliable than the numerous Vandorens I just kept putting aside. So at 3 vs 20 they are also more economic. I divide my playing between them and the Legere.
There's the order site :
http://www.reedsonline.fr/boutique_reedsonline/boutique-reedsonline-production-roseaux-du-var-anches-cogolin-grimaud-var-83/
you can also order reed blanks if you're really determined to do it from 'scratch'
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-09-03 21:34
Dear "Djudy,"
I'm sure you're aware, but the pitch thing with Legeres can be handled readily with shorter barrels, sharper playing mouthpieces, or both.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2019-09-04 21:55
Thanks, I do know about the barril option but not mps. Not had much luck with a generic adjustable barril so a suggestion for a mp would be appreciated. I did look into a German site that offers mps specifically for Legeres but they are over 200€ and so out of my budget, especially since I can't try it out on my rig. All suggestions are welcome , thanks in advance.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-09-04 23:13
Non 13 Series Vandorens, old(er) Hawkins, and pretty much any vintage mouthpiece.
I don't know about German mouthpieces designed for Boehm operation but the actual German mouthpieces are longer, and will play a little low in the altissimo.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: CaptForce
Date: 2019-09-06 18:31
Isn't there another factor regarding the best performing reed? What about those that set aside their best reed for an upcoming performance and expecting good results? This could be the Dumbo's "magic feather reed"! Isn't there a placebo effect that comes with knowing that this reed is special?
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Author: Anonymoose
Date: 2019-09-07 02:01
I bought a dream reed, V12 3.5, shipped quickly from Japan
It plays like one of those good reeds you find in 2 boxes.
It plays more repsonsive as it breaks in.
It doesn't feel like a synthetic reed at all... couldnt tell there's a solution coating it.
Not sure about it changing on a day to day basis because i find good reeds play in any condition and this reed does it.
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2019-09-23 00:00
I ordered one and was very pleased with how much better it played than the same brand right out of the box, no fuss just nice clean centered easy flowing sound. I like it better than the synthetic reed, but am worried about how long it will last and if it will become capricious with time. Back to school tomorrow, we'll see...
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Author: ruben
Date: 2019-09-23 00:06
Djudy: I'm worried about how long I will last! ha ha
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2020-02-04 16:16
For info, my one Dream Reed is still going strong since I bought it last October , at the rate of 2 - 3 big rehearsals a week and a couple of concerts. I mostly use Legeres for practicing (with a new shorter Icon barrel on the R13 to help with the flattness) and have a couple of Rigotti and D'Addario Reserve in rotation when I feel the need for a reed reed or a bit stronger reed based on which repertoire and which instrument I'm playing. I actually had to very microscopically trim the Dream Reed recently as it got chipped at rehearsal, but that hasn't seemed to bother it and it still plays true and much better than anything else I've got on hand. It's paid for itself more than once.
My 2 first Legeres going on a year now, I figured I should be prepared and got 2 more (same strength and cut) but found the new ones as different as to be unplayable. Very disappointed about that , so I'm going to order another Dream and hope the old Legeres survive.
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