 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: frustrated clarinetist
Date: 2002-02-02 07:11
A few months ago in my clarinet lesson with my teacher she came up to me and asked me if my reeds seemed different. I hadn't noticed anything different about mine so i said no. She then came up and showed me a reed from a box that she had recently just purchased compared to reeds i had. The difference was that the newer manufactured V12 reeds have a flat tip with barely any cane at the tip of the reed.
The effects of this are that the reeds start of being too hard then get extreamly soft and become a piece of garbage. I didn't start to feel the effects of it until about two months ago when my last box of reeds (i purchase in great quanities) ended and it was time for me to get new reeds. They were just plain aweful. I used to complain because not all the reeds were consistent but now NONE were any good.
X person from a well known music company told me that Vandoren is experimenting with their reeds to try to make them better. But it is making them so much worse and they can't seem to get that they are destroying their reeds. No as for people in my area, everyone has scambled to find something else that will work jsut as well as the old V12's. I have heard people trying reeds like grand concert evolution, steuer, zonda all for the most part with the exception of grand concerts not getting close to the v12 feelings. I have also heard a lot of people going back to the blue box because those haven't been affected.
As for me, I'm so frustrated as a clarinetist. It's my life, its what i love to do. I have a saying, my mood is only is as good as my reeds work that day. Well my my reeds stink and its kind of getting depressed. No matter what i do, i can't get a good sound or good/decent articulation. So im sopposed to practice for hours a day and put with that and feel awful after everytime i play? Has anyone else had the same expierence? Im interested in what others have done to cope and or how to get a message back to vandoren to go back the old way. and just to save some people the time. Clipping the reeds doesn't work, balancing them doesn't work and preparing them before playing doesn't work. thanks
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Author: Shawn
Date: 2002-02-02 12:25
I have noticed the change is V12's as well. At first I was annoyed to no end, but then I decided that I would make them work. What I mean is that I would let my embouchure take over and adapt to each reed, which it will do. The first 15 minutes playing on that reed will stink, but your body will adjust to accomodate that particular reed. Of course, I'm still hoping that Vandoren will see their error, and stop screwing around with something that has worked for many years.
"If it's not broke, don't fix it!"
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Author: chuck
Date: 2002-02-02 14:58
I see this complaint so often and wonder at the amount of "prep" that goes into reed selection. Ben Armato consistently makes the point that no reed is perfect coming out of the box--there is some balancing to do. Strongly recommend that his book, "Perfecta Reed . . . and Beyond" be in every clarinetist's library. As I think of it, I would gladly reimburse postage to anybody sending me any of their V12 reeds, strength 3 1/2, that they find unusable. Contact me by separate email. Chuck
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-02-02 15:35
Caveat #1 - I do not work for Vandoren, or have a financial interest in the company.
Actually, I have not noticed any recent change. (I have been playing Vandoren for close to 40 years)
Are their reeds inconsistant? You bet.
Are their reeds graded with a slight strength variety in each box? Yes, they even confirm that fact.
Can their reeds be adjusted to play better? Absolutely - that is your responsibility.
Are there any better sounding reeds on the market? Not in my opinion.
Sorry, but you get no sympathy here. The responsibilty to correctly prepare, select, and adjust single reeds is a skill that must be learned. Players do not all use the same techniques, but, by trial and error find the method that works for them.
Have you considered moving up a 1/2 strength and then working down the reeds to where they feel comfortable?
Why don't you describe your reed prep techniques? Perhaps I, or others can give some additional tips...GBK
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-02-02 15:50
So, if you don't like vandorens why don't you just try something else? Certainly there are enough other brands available and maybe you'll find something better.
Periodic complaining about vandorens seems to be a favorite topic.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2002-02-03 14:13
It is amazing that not too many years ago, there were few choices on brands of reeds. Most played Vandoren and some on Mitchell Lurie, Olivieri or Morre. Today the number brands of reeds available is amazing. You might try the reeds made by Davie cane at www.daviecane.com. They have some reeds definitely worth trying.
I also suggest learning as much as you can about breaking in and adjusting reeds.
Ed
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-02-04 04:24
If you do not like V12s anymore and you consider the change come from the company's policy such as reed design, material selection, or making process, it would be better to find another choice rather than complaing to the company or expecting to obtain countermeasures from others.
As V12 is a copy of MORRE, you may better first seek for other MORRE copies. As far as I know, Alexander(Alexander Classic), Rico(Grand Concert Thick Blank), and a new Florida based reed company(Davie cane?) have MORRE copies of their own. Steurer Esser - French cut may be worth a trial too. I tried all of them except Davie and found (personally) them better than V12 and among them Alexander Classic is the best. It does not need almost no preparation.
If you or your friend has a micronmeter, you had better measure the tip thicknesses of old and new ones. That will become sure evidence of your observation.
I had a disastrous experience too. Beautiful Olivieris in 1970's changed so badly. Everyone can recognize the difference promptly by just seeing them through light. Later I knew owners changed.
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Author: DLE
Date: 2002-02-05 00:11
I guess it all depends on where you live, and what is available. I remember a time when the only music shop in the county only sold Rico's --- that was embarrasing to say the least. But having said that, Vandoren should not have made such a big change to the manufacturing of a type of reed (Big to us, anyway) UNLESS there were lots of complaints against the original type. In addition, if they did change the manufacturing methods, shouldn't it have been called by a new name? Example : V12B. I know it is up to the clarinettist to prepare the reed, but still there is the matter of knowing what we are getting in the first place, not to mention the paperwork involved (or lack of - I don't really know).
This change in Vandoren V12's just is not making sense to me (although maybe that's 'cause it's midnight over here). Of course, for all I know they could be doing it all the time, in which case what I have just said would be meaningless and just plain stupid.
As for the preparation, I agree with chuck about the 'balancing' aspect - The trick is knowing the diffference within the reed in the first place. I think it takes experience, time, and a 'knack' - 3 things I wish I had more of! At the moment, I adjust to each reed quite well, and occasionally I scrape one if I think the balance is off - although this usually makes the problem worse, but I can only try...
Just to finish by adding something - You are not the only 'frustrated clarinettist' out there fc. I would imagine the majority of the people on this BBoard consider the playing of the clarinet to be their life, and their passion - and so this is a very serious issue to them too. Please, please however, do not let it get you down. Having stinking reeds can be depressing I know, but try to see it as a challenge rather than an obstacle. Having a bad reed does not neccesarily mean you can't still enjoy playing the clarinet - at times, it can be almost amusing - especially when you try and play high notes! Always look on the bright side of things....
DLE.
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