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)

[barry-clari]

I might be the wrong person to ask here, as I use and am a fan of Vandoren blue box reeds! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

However, I've tried lots and lots of different reeds over the years : I think there's a good chance you'd get on with both types of Mitchell Lurie you mention - I'd also look at the Reeds Australia products (eg. Vintage). Afraid I haven't got experience of the Pilgerstorfer reeds, sorry. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[clarijo]

I might be the wrong person to ask here, as I use and am a fan of Vandoren blue box reeds! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

However, I've tried lots and lots of different reeds over the years : I think there's a good chance you'd get on with both types of Mitchell Lurie you mention - I'd also look at the Reeds Australia products (eg. Vintage). Afraid I haven't got experience of the Pilgerstorfer reeds, sorry. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Thanks, Barry! Found the Reeds Australia reeds - now Razzco, apparently! Think I would need the Vintage XL for my mouthpiece but have no idea whether to choose filed or unfiled - what's the main difference?

[skylark]

I've been browsing a certain online reed supplier and am tempted to try Pilgerstorfer, probably the Dolce type.

I've never heard of these, and their web site is in German so I'm none the wiser! I'd be interested to know what you think of them if you get them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif)

[barry-clari]

I might be the wrong person to ask here, as I use and am a fan of Vandoren blue box reeds! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

However, I've tried lots and lots of different reeds over the years : I think there's a good chance you'd get on with both types of Mitchell Lurie you mention - I'd also look at the Reeds Australia products (eg. Vintage). Afraid I haven't got experience of the Pilgerstorfer reeds, sorry. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Thanks, Barry! Found the Reeds Australia reeds - now Razzco, apparently! Think I would need the Vintage XL for my mouthpiece but have no idea whether to choose filed or unfiled - what's the main difference?

Filed have a straight edge where the thin bit of the reed meets the thick bit (eg Vandoren blue), unfiled have a curved edge (eg standard Rico). For what you're after, I have a feeling you'd prefer unfiled, clarijo (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[clarijo]

Thanks Barry - have gone for Mitchell Lurie Premiums and Razzco Vintage XL (unfiled). I've also ordered a box of Rico Reserves to try too, so I will have a rather mixed bag to try!

Skylark - I've ended up going for the Razzcos as my expensive box this time over the Pilgerstorfers but they are on the Reeds Direct site and there are a couple of reviews on the internet, if you want to have a look at them! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'll let you know how I get on with them all next week! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif)

[barry-clari]

Thanks Barry - have gone for Mitchell Lurie Premiums and Razzco Vintage XL (unfiled). I've also ordered a box of Rico Reserves to try too, so I will have a rather mixed bag to try!

I'll let you know how I get on with them all next week! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif)

I think you've chosen a good selection there, clarijo. All the best with them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif)

[clarijo]

Thank you! (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)?

[Devonclari]

I've lately been using a very good synthetic reed the legere signature, they're pretty expensive but I've been impressed although am still also using vandoren V12's, having tried many others. There really is too much choice these days but happy hunting

[barry-clari]

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)?

I don't, and have never used a reed case. There are some nice cases around though. People I know have used and liked the Vandoren Hygro cases. To be honest though, I still remain to be convinced about these sort of humidity controlled cases...

[clarijo]

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)?

I don't, and have never used a reed case. There are some nice cases around though. People I know have used and liked the Vandoren Hygro cases. To be honest though, I still remain to be convinced about these sort of humidity controlled cases...

I know that they look a bit 'gimmicky' but if I want to soak my reeds in water, would this be better than just putting them back into the cases they arrived in afterwards? I've had problems with them going 'crinkly', which I assume is the reed drying out too quickly and the idea of a storage case to keep them flat and slow down the drying out process seemed like a good idea but perhaps I'm just a salesperson's dream - taken in by a nice photo and some elaborate blurb! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[CJB]

I've never used one of the fancy humidity controlled cases. I'm a great fan though of storing the reeds in the sort of case which holds them on glass. I find I get less crinkly reeds than I used to plus I don't break the corners off the reeds putting them back in their caes (I can be a little clumsy especially when tired at the end if rehearsals)

[clarijo]

I've never used one of the fancy humidity controlled cases. I'm a great fan though of storing the reeds in the sort of case which holds them on glass. I find I get less crinkly reeds than I used to plus I don't break the corners off the reeds putting them back in their caes (I can be a little clumsy especially when tired at the end if rehearsals)

Thanks for this. After reading several internet articles and reviews, neither me nor OH (who isn't at all musical but was interested in the physics of it!!) were convinced by the humidity controlled case. However, I can see the obvious logic of keeping the reeds completely flat, so I went off in search of something suitable and have treated myself to a very dinky little case from Howarths, which will hold my reeds on a glass sheet.

As far as my general reed testing goes, I have so far played on two reeds from my new box of Mitchell Lurie Premiums. They are without doubt much softer than my Vandorens (and that's buying a half strength stronger!) However, I was quite impressed and they appeared to be consistent on first play. If I buy again (which I might!), then I will go up another half strength. Will be continuing my reed trials over the next week or two... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif)