 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 1999-08-05 21:51
Hi!
Anyone have experience with the marca and zonda reeds? I was planning to buy a box of each, but first I want to hear some comments on 'em.
the freshman (aka rookie),
Nicole Y.
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Author: Rob Maeda
Date: 1999-08-05 21:59
I recently bought a box of Marca Tradition Select (red box). The ones I tried so far have been great. They had a very clean tone. Still being a beginner, I can't say too much. But coming from a box of Vandorens that had 2 good reeds, and a couple of okay reeds, I thought that the Marcas seemed more consistent, and easier to get good tone out of.
Rob Maeda
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 1999-08-05 22:26
Well, I decided to take a chance and buy a box of each. Hopefully, they'll work out better than the Grand Concert Select Thick Blanks, Vandorens, Vandoren V-12's, and the Rico Royals...
Thanx,
the freshman,
Nicole Y.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-08-05 22:48
Nicole Y. wrote:
-------------------------------
Well, I decided to take a chance and buy a box of each. Hopefully, they'll work out better than the Grand Concert Select Thick Blanks, Vandorens, Vandoren V-12's, and the Rico Royals...
------
My GCs have been phenomenal.
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 1999-08-05 23:49
Well, my GC's didn't compare to the few good Vandoren V-12's I got... My tone became really "tinny." So, I hope it works out.
the freshman,
Nicole Y.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-08-06 01:52
I played Zonda 3s for my clarinet and 2s for my soprano saxophone with metal moutpiece. I changed to Grand Concert Select 3s for my clarinet and still use Marca for Sop.So I only can speak about Zonda for clarinet.
Looking at Zonda,I noticed its heel is very thick.The thickness of heels of the reeds I played were like:
Olivielli>Zonda>V12=Gland Concert Thick Blank>Gland Concert Select=Vandoren Traditional.I read a French clarinetist wrote it needs at least 3.2mm to get deeper tones with more projection.I feel like understanding him playing thick talon(heel) reeds.
I played Zonda and at first liked its dark tones. I felt somewhat higher harmonics elements are hindered to emit.
(While I knew in Klarinet mailing list V12 uses less dense part of cane,Zonda may use denser part although I do not know this is true or not.)
But originally I prefer a brighter tone and changed to Grand Cconcert Select.
By the way,followings are FYI:
1)Using Vandoren Traditional(VT) hardness as reference,
other ones' maybe shown like this:
VT(3)=V12(3.25)=Zonda(3.3)=Marca(2.75), Check Catalogue
page-5 of http://www.intlmusicalsuppliers.com/
2)To lengthen reed durability,I recommend to dip new reeds
in 'Reed Life' of H2O2 when you buy new reeds.Reeds life
is shortened by two things,micro-ognaism and crystalized
material from saliva. The former can be avoided by
sterilizing them at first.
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Author: Sarah Ann
Date: 1999-08-06 01:53
On Zonda reeds be careful that you don't make the mistake of getting a 3 strength reed for example and think it will play like a 3 strength Vandoren, because they are much stronger then you think. I prefer 2 1/2 on Zonda; it plays wonderful and Zondas are usually consistant rather than Vandoren. I would always get a box of Vandorens and usually get about 3 good reeds out of it. Also Marcas are great too-cheaper as well! Right now I am alternating between a Marca 3 and Zonda 2 1/2 and they are playing great. Also a reed strength chart would help on deciding what strength you need with brands comparing to each other.
Happy Playing!
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-08-06 02:06
Additional info.This is their homepage: http://www.marca-france.com/products.htm
As you see,they sell 4 kinds, Superieure, Tradition, Excell, and Jazz. I have not yet find any U.S. mail order shop to sell Excell and Jazz.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-08-06 02:17
Sarah's opinion and mine may seem to contradict with each other about hardness selection. It is not. I am a long facing mouthpiece freek.2RV,5RV,B40,Kasper,Greg Smith 1,M13 etc.So Zonda 3 sounds quite easily with my mouthpieces.Hardness selection chart is made by testing reed itself and does not say anything about how you feel with your mouthpiece.
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Author: Becky
Date: 1999-08-16 19:03
I tried marca and I liked it alot. They play similar to Glotin. I used to play on Vandoren before I discovered Glotin. (I got really sick of buying a box of vandoren and finding 3 managable reeds). You should try Glotin they are really consistant and the cane is of better quality, I believe, because I can play on the same 3 reeds ( alternating) for up to 2 months. Try it someday
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2007-01-27 14:31
Tried both Marca and Zonda - not overly impressed, I'm afraid.
Zonda is a very thick blank and Marca is thin. They play quite differently. Zonda gave me a very rich nasal tone, fine if you like that sort of thing. I couldn't get the Marcas to play right at all. Both played softer than VanD blue. I play middling-to-short facings, which might be relevant. Currently I'm favouring GCS Evo on a B46.
Marca bass sounds much more promising... but I need more time to assess them. (I have no affiliation to any manufacturer.)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2007-01-27 22:16
I've used both on bass clarinet, along with Vandoren, Glotin, Rigotti, and Olivieri, for many years. I like both brands, but they're quite different from each other. In the end, the reeds I usually go to for concerts are Vandoren, followed closely by Marca. On bass, the Marcas typically need a fair bit of break-in and scraping with a reed knife before they become usably responsive, but once dialed-in they seem to last a long time. Zondas are quite responsive right out of the box, but have a thinner sound and don't last as long.
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Author: Burt
Date: 2007-01-27 23:28
I switched from Zonda to Gonzalez FOF, but they're quite similar. I didn't find either any better than a good V12, but there were many more per box that I could use.
I have never tried a Marca reed.
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