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Re: V21 Quality

Author: Liquorice
Date: 2020-03-05 03:32

I would have to start by questioning your assumption that Peter Leuthners are high-end reeds. What makes them "high-end" reeds? The price? I think a better division would be reeds made by small/big businesses. Just because a business is small doesn't guarantee better quality. Leuthner reeds are also "mass produced" in the sense that they are all cut by machines rather than individually cut by a reed maker with a knife.

I find the Peter Leuthner reeds (French and American cut) to be LESS consistent than Vandorens. If you look at the reed from the butt end, you will see on several Leuthner reeds per box that the left/right sides are of very different thickness. You do not find this level of discrepancy with Vandoren reeds.

The cut of the reed has to match the mouthpiece facing. For my mouthpiece, Vandoren V12s are the best match. For other mouthpieces you may have a better match with V21s, Rue Lepics, Traditional, Leuthner American/French cut, Daddario, etc. etc. In my opinion the cut is the most important thing. I've tried some "high-end" reeds by individual makers but the cut doesn't work at all for my mouthpiece. Theoretically a personally-made reed can be better for all kinds of reasons (cane quality, storage, optimal and accurate blank thickness, gradual knife cut as opposed to quick machine cut, final testing etc). But at the end of the day, if the cut doesn't match my mouthpiece and personal preference, a reed won't be better for me just because it's not mass produced.

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