 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-03-06 22:27
Not necessarily between manufacturers, but within a manufaturer? I mean, there's TONS of times where we don't know what size reed would work, and we'd like to have samples of different sizes. Or we're thinking about switching brands of reeds so we guess or come here and ask what would be "comparable" to a certain size from a different brand.
So why isn't there a sized "sample pack"? Maybe 2 of each size reed from 2.5 to 4.5? I would think this would cover a variety of popular sizes, and still be the same cost. And it'd help us out so if we think 3.0 is WAY too soft, we can try 3.5 And then stack that against 4.0. And be able to know what the NEXT box should be instead of buying a few boxes of different size reeds right off the bat just to be able to compare.
Just curious. I think Vandoren came close to this by selling flowpacks individually (albeit at a higher price than a reed would be in a pack of 10, but that's to be expected). But man it would make life easier to have a selection of reeds to choose from at the cost of pack in whatever brand reed you'd like to try.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-03-06 23:39
all marketing.... why sell packs when there is a market that will pay for PER reed.
it's scandalous i know, but the music industry is a boutique industry in some respects.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: Copland
Date: 2008-03-06 23:49
I've often wondered this as well. Sample packs would be so awesome...
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-03-07 00:37
You can't judge a brand by few reeds. I mean if you would get 3-4 V-12 reeds #3.5 and they were all on the heavier side then you would go and buy say 4-5 boxes and soon you would find out that you can only use about 50% of the reeds that is if you don't like a bit variet of strenght in your box.
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Author: Ed Svoboda
Date: 2008-03-07 00:43
I used to see some stores do this sort of thing years ago. I haven't found a store that does it in quite some time. It would be a nice service to beginners or even advanced players who just wanted to try out some different reeds without going in for a whole box.
www.woodwindforum.com/forums
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-03-07 01:13
Out of curiousity, would it be illegal for a store to create their own combo packs and sell them as such?
For instance, could a store take two boxes of vandoren 3.5 and 4.0 and two boxes of Gonzolez FOF 3.5 and 3.75 and make their OWN mixes of vandoren/gonzalez reeds? I assume that as long as they don't have them in vandoren or gonzalez exculsive boxes that it'd probably be ok since they paid for the boxes and can do with them as they see fit. Or maybe they're not allowed to break the seals and then sell them as "new"? Just thinking along tangents....
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-03-07 05:38
I wouldn't buy a sample pack like the one suggested in the first post. Why should I buy a few reeds of sizes like 4 or 4.5 that I already know I don't need. If I wanted to try several sizes I'd rather buy a few single reeds of each of the strengths that I know I might want. I can also try just one strength and go from there to narrow it down even more.
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-03-07 07:14
Out of curiousity, would it be illegal for a store to create their own combo packs and sell them as such?
Nope. not illegal. transfer of ownership of property allows you to do whatever you want to do with it. burn it, make a bird house out of it, trim it down, change the price (unless the manufacturer sets a minimum price)
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2008-03-07 10:22
Both Rico GC Evolution and Vandoren V12 have been supplied in packs of two at some point in their history - I have the packaging in my stash to prove it. What happened?
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2008-03-07 10:32
(Disclaimer- I sell Gonzalez and Xilema reeds)
Another good reason to go to a larger clarinet convention - the reed manufacturers, at least Gonzalez, Xilema, Van Doren, and Rico will be there and hand out tons of free reeds to try. Some will have chairs in front of their booths for you to sit and try out various reed strengths and if you like them they will direct you to various dealers that sell their products also at the convention to purchase boxes. Prices for reeds at conventions are usually the best of the season but free is even better.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-03-07 11:25
Based on some participants' complaints I thought vandoren already did that....but just marked the box 2 1/2
Bob Draznik
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-03-07 11:47
I like David Blumberg's idea of donating unused reeds to a school. Another thought for people in school or community ensembles: Discuss with fellow players which reeds you'd like to try, pool your money to buy full packs of these and then divide each pack up among the group. The trouble is that some unlucky person might get stuck with the one unplayable stick of wretched lumber in the lot--somehow a junk reed doesn't seem quite as bad when it's one out of five instead of the only one of its type!--but odds are, at least some people in the reed-pool will find reeds that seem worth buying in a full pack for further trial.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-03-07 23:16
Doctor some people live in the countryside or like me on an Island in the middel of the Atlantic ocean so it's not possible to get to a convention.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2008-03-08 00:43
I realize that not everyone has the opportunity to go to the premier conventions. Perhaps we as dealers can make a case to the suppliers to "front" some boxes of reeds for samples or they, if given enough customer pressure, may have their own sampling programs. You must know however that the competitive reed dealers make very little on each box of reeds and depend on volume for a profit and a self-run sample program is costly and time consuming. Some of us sell reeds more as a service and to offer a more complete selection of products than as a profit center. The best bet is to beg or borrow reeds from others that may be using a brand that you wish to try.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: AnnieMatilda
Date: 2008-03-08 15:01
I would love to go to a clarinet convention. Does anyone know of any that take place in the UK?
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Author: redwine
Date: 2008-03-08 16:54
Hello,
In regards to conventions in the UK, I've taught at the one run by Les Craven at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He puts on a great convention. You should contact him. Also, there was a man at that convention that puts on one of his own near London, Liverpool, if memory serves correctly. He's the president of the CASS right now--Andy (sorry, I can't recall his last name). Good luck!
In regards to reeds, trying to not advertise in any way, if you'll contact makers or distributors of reeds, most of them will supply samples, or should if they don't.
(disclaimer: I import Canyes Xilema reeds into North America, and play them!)
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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