Hi all!

Got a catalogue from Reeds Direct this morning (website here)

and of course I couldn't resist browsing

Having previously stated that I would not use any other reed than the Vandoren Rue Lepic 56 I am now tempted to experiment a bit more.... Yes I'm a sucker for all those lovely descriptions

So I was wondering if any of you had tried any of the following reed types and how you think they'd compare. Are there any you'd reccommend or discard based on my preference so far for the 56s, the fact that up to now I've been more a Vandoren (traditional or 56s not V12) than RICO (though their Grand Concert select Evolution were quite nice) fan and that I want an easy to play reed produced a clear tone with no muffling? I want projection but also like a full chocolatey tone rather than a too bright tone.

All these sound appealing to me:

AW French Cut
Leuthner PL Class
Mitchell Lurie Premium
Neuranter
Pilgerstorfer (probably Rondo , Maybe Dolce)
Razzco Passion
Sinus Model F
Zonda
Rico Reserve?

Also does the file/non-file cut of reeds make a huge difference?? As I would have thought from the descriptions that I'd prefer a file cut reed but oddly the Rue Lepic is the only non file cut that Vandoren produce.

Additionally what's the difference between American/French/German/etc cut and traditional American/French/German/etc sound???

Edit: Anyone know where you can buy these as singles?

I've done a bit of reed changing.
I used the V12s for quite some time and for me thewy were better than the 56s. Mitchell Lurie I tried but didn't stick with for long.
Now using Rico Reserve which my teacher agreed sounded better for me than the V12s. These are cheaper from Dawkes (or they were last time I bought them). So far I've had one difficult one from at least 20.

Same here

I wanted the Monster Swab but then discovered that it was only for saxes

I'm a sucker for catalogues

John Myatt's in Hitchin sell singles via the internet or mail order. http://www.myatt.co.uk I'd recommend getting more than one of each though in case you have a dud.

The only ones on your list I've tried are the Mitchell Lurie Premium. I didn't like them, but then I don't like Vandoren's either and you do - so you make like the reeds I don't.

I like a really thick dark clarinet sound and felt that, for me on my set-up, the Mitchell Lurie's (both standard and premium) gave more of a brighter jazz sound. That said, from the York playday, I think you go for a brighter sound than I do. My favourite reeds are the Grand Concert Select Evolution, but these are really expensive and so I normally use Rico Royals as these suit me much better than the other reeds I've tried in a similar price bracket. I save the Grand Concert Select Evolutions for 'special'.

It's a bit hard to compare though as we're different players and have different claris and set ups.

I used Mitchell Lurie Premium Reeds 4 1/2's for years and really got on with them. However then the Rue Lupic's were brought out and I've never gone back. In fact I tried an old (but unused if that makes sense!) Mitchell Lurie I had and didn't like it as much. Rico Reserves were quite nice, but again, I still prefer the Rue Lupics.

Out of that list I've tried the following:

Mitchell Lurie : pretty good, make a nice sound.
Sinus Model F : found them difficult to use, and even then, I didn't think the sound they made was worth the effort.
Zonda : wasn't struck on them, and it took a long time to find a good one.
Rico Reserve : sbhoa likes them, I wasn't struck, but they are the best Rico reeds I've tried, and it is clear that others would get on with them.



That's good going! Enjoy!



I did try the 56s. Perhaps it was the box I had, but although I thought the reeds were nice, I didn't really think they were worth the extra money over the traditional blue box Vandorens...

[quote name='Appassionata' post='888946' date='Oct 27 2009, 11:10 PM']
I used Mitchell Lurie Premium Reeds 4 1/2's for years and really got on with them. However then the Rue Lupic's were brought out and I've never gone back. In fact I tried an old (but unused if that makes sense!) Mitchell Lurie I had and didn't like it as much. Rico Reserves were quite nice, but again, I still prefer the Rue Lupics.
[/quote]

I did try the 56s. Perhaps it was the box I had, but although I thought the reeds were nice, I didn't really think they were worth the extra money over the traditional blue box Vandorens...
[/quote]

I have to be honest and say I've not tried a Traditional Blue box Vandoren for several years on a Bb clarinet, so can't really compare - maybe I should?!

P.S. Sorry about messing up the quotes!

Thanks all for the replies.

I've a good stock of the 56s for now so thought my next purchase could be a bit experimental... but don't want to waste a lot of money.

Flossie: My sound is slightly bright but the low register notes are so rounded and resonant I love them!!

I do like the darker sound but bright works quite well for band so it's a little bit of a trade off. I also like clarity of sound and find that the Lepic reeds gives this. Whether it's my clari set up or the reeds my throat notes are also quite strong and I don't want to lose this. I don't like the muffly quality some reeds give. I found this happened with the V12s (wondered if it's down to the thickness of the cut at all or whether it was because they were slightly stronger (3.5) than the eqivalent Lepics ( 3 strength).

The reeds I've picked out do seem to be the thicker cuts in the main and the ones that describe sound as 'full' 'warm' 'round' 'great tonal response' etc....

Also my mouthpiece is a 5RV so quite a close lay which I suspect makes a difference to sound, though how exactly I never quite get...

Skylark: Re Monster Swab

Barry: Thanks for your responses. I'll probably avoid the ones you've struggled with.

Can I ask: How did you feel the sound of the 56s compared with the Traditionals?? I know you say you didn't feel the 56s were worth the extra money but I'm interested to know if you found them comparable, inferior or superior to the Traditionals (in your honest opinion)??

I guess in the end it'll be down to me trying them. Noone else can give me an answer but if there's anyone else who's a lover of the Lepics and who plays on a similar Buffet set-up (E13, BG standard/rovner lig) who's tried these reeds I'd appreciate your opinions.

I'll do a search of Dawkes etc for single reeds of these types and maybe buy a couple of each or so to try.

P.S. What does it mean by the terms "French cut" "German cut" "American sound" "French/German Sound" etc??? I'm unsure what this stereotypically is.

I found them comparable. They are very nice reeds, but I didn't feel they were worth paying extra for. Perhaps I was unlucky with my box...

French/German cut reeds : you'll probably find your reeds are French cut (designed for use with the standard Boehm clarinets). German cut reeds are designed for use with German (Oehler) clarinets, which sound a bit different and look a lot different...

I use Mitchell Lurie and have always got on well with them. My friend uses Vandoren and I tried a couple and couldn't get on with them at all. It is obviously a very subjective matter, and the skill of the player combined with the type and quality of instrument are all part of the mix. Good luck in your experimentation.

Thanks both

Hi Dawn,

I'm tempted to try the Mitchell Lurie reeds and as you mentioned them earlier in your thread, I wondered whether you've tried them yet? If so, did you try the standard or the premium? The other brand I'm curious about is Le Voz.

I loved the way you described your preferred sound and am just curious to know whether you have got on with either of these. I am still very much a learner, with a student clari and I think my (Vandoren B40 mouthpiece is long way from your 5RV) but even so, I'm still interested in your view, if you have had a chance to try either!

By the way, I'm planning to be at the recital on Saturday, perhaps we'll get an opportunity to compare notes then!

I've tried the Mitchell Lurie both standard and premium and although I liked the sound, I found their lifespan was significantly shorter than other reeds. They were consistent from the box but I felt they were much softer than their Vandoren counterparts. For me Mitchell Lurie 4= Vandoren traditional 3/Rue Lepic 3.5

Hi Clarijo. It will be nice to meet you No I haven't tried any new reeds yet as I discovered that most of the box of 10 reeds I'd put to one side (as getting worn/soft) prior to opening my latest box of 10 are actually still perfectly playable with one being a little hard and the odd one a bit soft and a couple chipped and thrown. That therefore leaves me with close to 20 reeds on the go!!! To get more now would be rather excessive don't you think?

But I still think I'll experiment a bit in the future. Le Voz as i understand them are RICO by another name ( ) . Had them for my sax many years back - must've been just what the shop had or what my parent's came back with as I didn't ask for them by name. Were ok but nothing special as far as I remember... See you Saturday. Looking forward to hearing Barry Not heard him play yet.



Thanks for that info Devonclari.

Hi Devonclari,

Thanks for this - I think one thing that is definitely to be said for Vandorens is that they do last, so I note your point about the shorter lifespan of the Mitchell Lurie reeds! Also useful to know how they compare with the Vandorens, as that's what I usually play on. I'm not quite so tempted to try them now...

Hi Dawn,

Yes I think that 20 reeds is probably more than enough to be going on with!!

I think I've heard that about Rico and Le Voz before actually, so again not quite so tempted as I've never really got on with Ricos. I'm not in a rush to order either brand now and don't really need reeds yet (I still have my pile of 'saved for later' reeds to work through!!)

My new clarinet teacher is not keen on Vandorens (though I have always played on them and my teacher at school wouldn't let us use anything else!), so I was just curious really, particularly after reading the descriptions on Reeds Direct - I should really know better by now!

I found the Mitchell Lurie reeds didn't last quite as long as Vandoren blue box reeds as well...

I agree, but they are cheaper (or they used to be).

sounds just like me!!!. Stick with what reed works for you though , not what your teacher likes. You can value your teacher and their opinion but reeds are so personal that in this respect I'd say that you beg to differ on this one.... ... .... I'm sure if you've tried your teacher's preferred brand and not got on with it he/she will appreciate that fact and not force the issue.

I am sooo NOT going to look at any more reed catalogues!! In view of everyone's comments, I will be staying with my tried and and tested Vandorens for the foreseeable future!

So I shouldn't PM you then should I discover the most fabulous reed ever?!?!?!.....

Dawn you are a bad influence - don't encourage me!!!

Doesn't sound like you need much encouragement...