Clarinet Reed Shopping Time (again!) Options

[clarijo]

I've been ruthlessly going through my considerable stash of saved-for-later (rejected) reeds in recent week and having binned nearly all of them, can now justify buying some new ones! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I was disappointed with my last box of Vandorens (traditionals) and had at most four out of ten which were good ones - the rest were either complete duds or just took forever to blow in. I've been browsing a certain online reed supplier and am tempted to try Pilgerstorfer, probably the Dolce type. Has anyone used these and can you tell me how they compare with Vandorens?

Also, for anyone using Mitchell Lurie, how do the Premiums differ from the standard ones?

I'm aiming for a rich, dark sound which is clear, rather than bright - any further suggestions are most welcome! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif)

[Tequila]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) deja Vu? Didn't we discuss something like this on another thread........ hmmmmm????? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
About a year ago? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

See - we clarinettists are reed addicts!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[clarijo]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) deja Vu? Didn't we discuss something like this on another thread........ hmmmmm????? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
About a year ago? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

See - we clarinettists are reed addicts!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

We certainly did but oddly I couldn't find the original thread - I seem to think it was yours but it could have been one of mine! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I think I was quite restrained and stuck to what I was using at the time (probably Vandorens) but since I'm down to my last three reeds (and only one of them is really any good), I have had the perfect excuse and needed no encouragement!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Having spent a small fortune (three boxes in total - had to keep it quiet from OH (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ), I'm now tempted to buy a proper humidity controlled case to store them in. I've resisted the temptation up to now but the Razzco ones in particular were quite pricey and having done some swotting up on the internet, my storage/rotation methods now seem a bit slapdash, to say the least! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Soo...at risk of going very slightly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/offTopic.gif) , does anyone have any thoughts about reed cases (as in humidity controlled - Rico, Vandoren etc)?

[Tequila]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) deja Vu? Didn't we discuss something like this on another thread........ hmmmmm????? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
About a year ago? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

See - we clarinettists are reed addicts!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

We certainly did but oddly I couldn't find the original thread - I seem to think it was yours but it could have been one of mine! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I think I was quite restrained and stuck to what I was using at the time (probably Vandorens) but since I'm down to my last three reeds (and only one of them is really any good), I have had the perfect excuse and needed no encouragement!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Having spent a small fortune (three boxes in total - had to keep it quiet from OH (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ), I'm now tempted to buy a proper humidity controlled case to store them in. I've resisted the temptation up to now but the Razzco ones in particular were quite pricey and having done some swotting up on the internet, my storage/rotation methods now seem a bit slapdash, to say the least! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Soo...at risk of going very slightly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/offTopic.gif) , does anyone have any thoughts about reed cases (as in humidity controlled - Rico, Vandoren etc)?

It's here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Seem to remember I was a bad influence...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Anyway, I'm still using Vandoren Rue lepics size 3 but I may also get a box of 3.5 next time as they are slightly softer than traditionals but it is hard work to blow in the 3.5s to start but then they have better staying power. May be better for those top notes.

We should set up a reed swap for those who wish to try out different reeds..... Where we each buy a box of something and pool the reeds, then share them out equally..... so we end up with about 2 of each of 5 different types or something..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[clarijo]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) deja Vu? Didn't we discuss something like this on another thread........ hmmmmm????? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
About a year ago? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

See - we clarinettists are reed addicts!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

We certainly did but oddly I couldn't find the original thread - I seem to think it was yours but it could have been one of mine! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I think I was quite restrained and stuck to what I was using at the time (probably Vandorens) but since I'm down to my last three reeds (and only one of them is really any good), I have had the perfect excuse and needed no encouragement!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Having spent a small fortune (three boxes in total - had to keep it quiet from OH (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ), I'm now tempted to buy a proper humidity controlled case to store them in. I've resisted the temptation up to now but the Razzco ones in particular were quite pricey and having done some swotting up on the internet, my storage/rotation methods now seem a bit slapdash, to say the least! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Soo...at risk of going very slightly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/offTopic.gif) , does anyone have any thoughts about reed cases (as in humidity controlled - Rico, Vandoren etc)?

It's here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Seem to remember I was a bad influence...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Anyway, I'm still using Vandoren Rue lepics size 3 but I may also get a box of 3.5 next time as they are slightly softer than traditionals but it is hard work to blow in the 3.5s to start but then they have better staying power. May be better for those top notes.

We should set up a reed swap for those who wish to try out different reeds..... Where we each buy a box of something and pool the reeds, then share them out equally..... so we end up with about 2 of each of 5 different types or something..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Just smiling to myself reading the old thread - seems I've been asking almost exactly the same questions as you were asking last year!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

That's not a bad idea about pooling the reeds BUT I for one am not yet prepared to tackle a 3.5!!! Unless it's a Mitchell Lurie, as they do seem ridiculously soft! I'll be trying the Rico Reserves next but based on the Mitchell Lurie, wonder if I should have gone for a higher strength there too... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

I am still playing on my fave Vandoren too - have to say here that the good Vandorens really are good but seem to be few and far between or perhaps I've just been particularly unlucky!

I tried the Australia reeds and didn't get on with them at all.
Wasn't too keen on Mitchell Lurie either.
I used V12s for some time and liked them then changed to Rico reserve at the suggestion of another forumite last year.
I have a reed case. I did have one of the ones with a glass sheet but the glass cracked. I didn't drop it or anything, it just cracked and the bands which hold the reeds made the 2 pieces of glass overlap each other which was a bit dangerous apart from making it useless. I wasn't inclined to pay the price for a new one the same after that.

Oh dear - I'd hoped it would be a bit tougher than that! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)