 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: dhiraj
Date: 2023-08-31 11:18
Clarinet mouthpiece comparison chart on the Vandoren webpage provides us with the recommended reed strength for their mouthpieces. I was wondering if they have provided a chart for their VK1 reeds. Unfortunately the VK1 reeds are not yet sold in Japan: A chart could be helpful when I import them without a play test. I have B40, 5RV lyre and BD5 (my current setup is BD5 V12 3.5). A chart and/or any experiences with these combination of mouthpiece and VK1 reed is helpful!
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Author: Maestro_6
Date: 2023-08-31 16:53
Having tried multiple VK1 reeds in different strengths, I've found the VK1 strength to be harder than what Vandoren's existing chart suggests. My choice of Vandoren cane reed is the 3.5+ 56 Rue Lepic and I've found that it most closely matches the strength 50 VK1 reed. For reference to Legere European Cut, I typically play 3.75 or 4.00. This is on a Vandoren M15 mouthpiece.
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Author: MarkS
Date: 2023-08-31 23:39
I have been using Legere EC 3.5 on a Grabner Virtuoso mouthpiece (Zinner blank). Based on the tip and facing length, I believe the Vandoren closest to it would be the 5RV Lyre. If Walter still reads this Board, perhaps he will confirm or correct me. In any case, the Virtuoso was advertised as optimized for V12 3.5 reeds.
Recently, I got the Earspasm VK1 trial pack which contained one each of the six VK1 strengths. I liked the #45 best, although it played a little stiffer than my Legere 3.5s. Based on this, I bought 3 more #45 reeds from a local store. One was similar to the trial #45, but the other two were significantly stiffer. I also have a Legere EC 3.75 on hand, and estimate that they are about as stiff at that--and as stiff as the #50 in the trial pack.
So while I liked the VK1 #45 in the trial pack, my takeaway is that the VK1 are extremely inconsistent. It is hard for me to understand why this would be the case, but causes me to hesitate about switching from Legere EC. After all, consistency is one of the main reasons to play synthetic reeds, and is essential since they cannot be easily adjusted.
Mark
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Author: donald
Date: 2023-09-01 06:26
When Guy Legere first launched his revolutionary synthetic reed at Clarinetfest '98 one the really exciting elements was that you would be able to guarantee the strength/qualities of each reed you bought. A main selling point was that 20 size 3 reeds would be identical in playing characteristics, unlike with cane (where the material had organic origin and was unpredictable in it's playing characteristics, and the reed might not be symetrical).
Unfortunately the mass production of Legere reeds has not ever lived up to this ideal, though they have certainly produced many very playable reeds (I used 2 Legere reeds for 3 years of professional performance and teaching a few years back for example).
There is no way I'm paying for one of these Vandoren synthetics unless I can be assured that they are of consistent strength/quality. Full stop. If I get comfortable on a size 21410 or whatever, I want to KNOW that I can simply replace it with an identical reed rather than enter another expensive lottery.
Post Edited (2023-09-01 06:27)
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Author: Dianne M.
Date: 2023-09-27 05:37
I am a long-time Legere EC player, 3-3 1/4 mostly (though I've had 3 1/2s that work) on B40D mouthpiece. I've done the Earspasm VK1 trial pacs and am very pleased with the sound of these reeds--seem to have more complex sound than Legere EC (though Legeres are freer/less resistant). I found 35s and 40s to be the best for me--but I have tried several of each and they are not consistent. For the price, they should be more predictable. I like the sound enough to keep trying--I think they run hard compared to Legere (and cane) 3-3 1/4-3 1/2, but it's hard to pin this down because they are so inconsistent. As MarkS and Donald said, this is a problem--and hard to understand. Vandoren needs to be in this game because it seems to be where things are going (thanks to Legere, I think)--and their name is on the line. They'd better figure out manufacturing tolerances and present consistent strengths as a marketing advantage if they want to beat Legere! (Meanwhile, I confess to wanting to be a convert because the sound is so much nicer than the Legere standard, even though that's pretty good IMHO. Also, the VK1s feel more like cane reeds than Legeres do.)
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2023-09-27 19:45
dhiraj wrote:
> Clarinet mouthpiece comparison chart on the Vandoren webpage
> provides us with the recommended reed strength for their
> mouthpieces. I was wondering if they have provided a chart for
> their VK1 reeds.
Vandoren does. That comparison chart you seek isn't direct; in other words there is no reference I've seen that equates a mouthpiece directly with a VK1 reed.
But as you point out, Vandoren does recommend cane sizes for their mouthpieces, and the chart seen if you page down this link https://vkreeds.com/en/ converts Vandoren cane to VK1 sizes.
So it's a two step process for now Daisuke, but not a process that leaves the player in complete confusion as to where to begin with appropriate size VK1 reeds for their Vandoren mouthpiece. 
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Author: Ed
Date: 2023-09-28 03:48
You might look at the recommendations of Mike Lowenstern
https://www.earspasm.com/reeds-and-teeth/vandoren-vk1-synthetic-clarinet-reed
It may give you a start. I have not used these, but have tried Legere and the Venn reeds. In general, I have always found synthetics to be harder than the number suggests. I think this is perhaps in part due to the fact that they will not break in quite like cane will.
While the VK1 is somewhat tempting, I have not yet found a synthetic reed that I like enough to switch from cane.
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