 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ishikawa Naoki
Date: 2005-06-13 20:18
I went back and found an unopened box of these, circa 1995/96 and played them and found that both these and the 1998 vintage had the tensile strength and darkness that I am looking for in my sound. They are flexable, affording me the luxury of a super dynamic tone through out the entire register of the instrument. I've compared these to the 99 vintage and these characteristics seem to be missing. Any thoughts on why?
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Author: DavieCane01
Date: 2005-06-13 23:58
Batches of cane will vary to some extent from harvest to harvest. Our method of production has not varied at all. We were using the 1996 vintage cane for the reeds produced in late 2001 to 2002. That cane is now 9 years old. I must assume that the characteristics you find in those cane harvests is a combination of the basic qualities of those harvests combined with 7-9 years of aging. Perhaps your 1999 boxes, if allowed to age unopened until some time in 2006 (2007 if you're especially patient), will become more like you older boxes.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-06-14 14:32
I'm wondering just what tensile strength you like!
Bob Draznik
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Author: The Doctor ★2017
Date: 2005-06-14 16:17
We should develop a reed users guide to vintage just like they do for wines. If we could develop a consistent testing panel (without members prematurely dying) we could also determine when the peak playability during the aging process happens.
My own limited experience in harvesting the new genetically enhanced Arundo Donax - Musicalis strain indicates that growing conditions and weather play a large role in the ultimate quality of the cane - these vary within certain parameters every year. It may be that ultra-dry conditions tend to produce denser cane structure - my sampling is too small to say for sure.
Since most reed companies - not Gonzalez who has one plantation in Argentina - get their cane from different regions around the Mediteranean (Southern France, Spain, etc.) the local conditions produce a spectrum of reed cane quality. It is up to the buyer for the companies to try to purchase evenly graded cane with similar properties. This is a difficult process and the spectrum of cane quality seems to be broadening rather than becoming more uniform (according to a buyer friend).
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: DavieCane01
Date: 2005-06-15 00:32
Omar,
Yes indeed, weather and water are critical elements in cane quality. I don't, however, think dry conditions will produce dense cane. I doubt they will even produce cane that is marginally uniform in density. Gonzalez uses two different methods of irrigation simultaneously in order to maintain the proper water levels. I have been told that the cold winters in Mendoza are a critical part of the cane's development, as is the wind. It would be interesting to isolate each element and be able to notate its relevant effect on the cane's development. My guess is that the ultimate environment, where every nuance of weather and water can be controlled and optimized, would be a sophisticated artificial environment. Perhaps too sophisticated to be financially viable? But I bet we'd get some wonderful cane from it.
Interesting thought indeed.
Post Edited (2005-06-15 04:46)
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