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RE: 5RV and reed strength

Author: Gregory Smith
Date: 2001-07-23 20:53

Mark,

The reeds that you now have are not representative of the strength that I mention from the same time period. The quality of the cane from the shipments that one orders now, were, back 15 -30 years ago the reeds of poorer quality that were not utilised - they are now leftovers. They are not representative of the strength that were utilised back then because the cane density or cut was off in those particular shipments making them feel much heavier.

Whenever a new shipment of Morres came in to Carl Marks Sr. he sent me a few sample boxes. They varied quite widely in strength from shipment to shipment throughout the year, so much so that reeds stamped 2 1/2 one shipment played beautifully throughout almost an entire box of 12 while the next shipment did not play at all because the cane simply didn't vibrate at all - no matter what you did to them. Of course I and every other person stocked up on the reeds that vibrated -passing the other shipments.

I think that the reeds that did not vibrate at all is what's left (that's my experience with them). So to say that the presently available old Morre reeds in 2 1/2 play like Vandoren 5's is true - you're right. But they are not representative of what professional players considered playable - ones that were vibrating at all - equivalent to the modern V12 3.5 or, at the most V12 4.

Therefore, it would be inaccurate for present day players to assume that the presently sold 2 1/2's were representative of the strength considered playable 15-30 years ago.

G. Smith

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5RV and reed strength new

beejay

2001-07-23 15:14