 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: _j.wa_
Date: 2016-11-29 02:58
Hello, I'm currently using Vandoren 56 Rue Lepic reeds and I absolutely love the tone. Recently, I've wanted to find a reed that matches a thick heart like the 56 (tone tone tone), and slightly better articulation. According to Vandoren, their V21 reeds are perfect for this as they have the tip of a V.12 and the heart of the Rue Lepic. Seems like an obvious choice right? No. Recently I've noticed the Gonzalez FOF reeds, boasting a thick heart and solid articulation. On wondering how people's experiences with them are. Currently I'm using a Vandoren MASTERS CL5, a Backun Fatboy barrel (Grenedilla, 65+), and a Rovner Legacy Ligature. What would you guys recommend? Thanks!
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Author: faltpihl ★2017
Date: 2016-11-29 10:22
I would recommend you to try both.
On my old setup I played Rue56, V21 and sometimes Gonzales FOF as well.
I never cared much about articulation though, and I'm not good at it, so I couldn't tell you which one was best in that regard for me.
Regards
Peter
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-11-30 10:05
Interesting question for sure.
First off the Gonzalez cane to my knowledge comes completely from Argentina. This I do not like. A personal preference of course. After years and years of studying cane usually within 3 minutes of playing on a reed blindfolded I know if it's French cane or not. Actually, I learned how to tell from Mitchell Lurie himself. He demanded the use of French cane only and for good reasons. The reeds have a different sound quality and in general they last longer, but Mitchell could play on a reed for 6 to 8 months. I went by his sound.
Now Vandoren says the reeds are the same or close to the same, but we are looking at the actual cut of the reed. Vandoren can't get all of their cane from France. They don't have enough cane. So we are playing a guessing game here. They did have plantations in Argentina too, but no longer. I was told that they get cane from Spain now. I personally feel from testing the reeds that the 56 reeds are mostly from France. They have a distant taste to them.
The reason for knowing this is the owners of the Steuer company hired Marc Charpentier. Who is this dude? He was the head man at Vandoren for 40 years! Wow what a lucky move that was! No one really knows more about French cane than Thomas Donati and making French reeds than Marc. Thomas is the grandson of the Steuer group that grew the cane since the 1940's, right there in the Var region of France.
So I would "Train," your taste buds and your ear and learn how to tell French cane from other cane around the world. You can feel it and look at it also.
I am not suggesting what models to buy, but put some studies into your cane of choice. Taste, color, look at the fibers, FEEL that sound factor, note how long the cane holds up; these are the tools in deciding what you like best.
I do not like the V21 reeds. I feel the V12's and the 56 reeds are in general better cane, but I do think that they mix the cane up, meaning that not every V12 is French cane. The same with the 56 reeds.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2016-11-30 14:21
This makes sense - it explains why I get good boxes of V12s, and sometimes bad boxes, where all the reeds seem to have a small harsh sound. The good boxes tend to last much longer - maybe they're French cane?
Anyway, back to the OP's question. I used Gonzalez FOF reeds on a Gregory Smith mouthpiece for many years, with huge success. They required a longer break in time, but I found them to last a really long time and had superior articulation. Lots of patience is required: for the first few weeks, they may be too hard, have a massive brash sound, but they will slowly be tamed. And when you get that one amazing one, it'll last you for a long time. I had "The One Reed" (Gonzalez FOF 3.75) which was incredible, I knew instantly it was special, played it in slowly over the course of about 6 weeks, it lasted me about 3 months through a recital, concerto performance, and a successful audition for a scholarship. I still have it tucked away somewhere, for possible future cloning haha!
HOWEVER, articulation doesn't come from the reed. Of course you need a setup that allows you to do what you want to do, but it's simply practice that will improve your articulation.
For the record I now play on a B40 with V12 reeds.
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2016-11-30 15:33
I don't know why, but V12s rarely worked for me, even after I worked on them with the ATG system.
Coming back to the topic, I never tried any Gonzales reeds due to me not bothering to ship them here to South Australia. The V21s sound ok to me, but they do not always work for me. I am happy with Rue Lepic 3.5 reeds on my Bb.
With all that being said, try both of them and see what works for you.
Josh
Post Edited (2016-12-01 15:45)
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Author: Richie
Date: 2016-12-01 07:11
Seeing that every player os different, try both. Personally I wasn't too attached to the V21's, as I just couldn't get the tone I was looking for.
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2016-12-01 19:09
Give the FOF's a try. I switched to them about three years ago and love them. They're consistent throughout the box and you will not have to throw any of the ones in the box away. They're ALL good reeds. You may have to do a tiny bit of tweaking, but that's it. Another thing I really like about the FOF's, is that they're available in 1/4 steps. I use a 2 3/4. In any brand I've tried, 3's are just too stiff for me and 2 1/2's don't quite cut it. I also tried the Gonzales GD's and did not like them...they're thicker and I just couldn't get the tone out of them that I wanted. Give the FOF's a try!
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-12-05 00:32
I would stick with the 56 but just shave a bit off the tip.
I don't mind the fof but found the tone a bit more jazzy
I like the refined tone of the 56 but yeah, I often shave the tip!
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