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Re: Vandoren V21

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-01-29 10:44

I have been a player of the narrower cut 56 Rue Lepic reeds since 2005 or so. I chose these reeds for their focus of sound (more of a backbone). Given that, I prefer the V21.

About a year ago Mr. Greg Smith was trying to convince me to use V12s instead because the mouthpieces I got from him where all play tested with V12 3 1/2s which are his preference. He further informed me that they had changed significantly from what I had experienced back in the early 90's. It was only a few weeks ago that I took him up on the challenge and broke in a box of V12s. I was rather mixed in my feelings about them. V12s do seem to have more colors in the sound available to them. However, the sound is noticeably more 'diffuse' than the 56s.

My local music store is one of the first to carry 'cool stuff,' so I took the chance to try this new Vandoren reed (more like a dare). It is more accurate to say that they are "greater than the some of their parts," if you take the description of them as a cross between the 12 and 56 at face value.

I get close to the same focus of the 56 and there is more body around it. Of course I have not had the opportunity to perform with them (the only real test), but I seem to be able to push on them even more (particularly in the altissimo) and still get a real robustness in return.

I don't know for sure if the narrowness of the reed is what provides the focus but if it is, that is more than enough rationale for me.

................Paul Aviles

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