next term's clarinet teacher has said Rico 1.5. I had already bought Vandoren (old style blue box) 2s and no 2 son is making a nice sound on those. He can only manage 10 minutes or so at a time...

So, given that my beginner years were ahem 39 years ago, what do you guys think? I am going to go and let him try a B12 this afternoon and see how he finds it compared to my 1010. I will also look at the keywork on the higher end buffets and see how they differ - I found the student instruments I tried a few weeks back quite tricky as the little finger keys were positioned for little fingers, as it were!

So, thoughts on reeds? (I've already had the instrument conversation here I liked the B12 better than the Windcraft or the Yamaha)

And no I'm not deliberately ignoring the teacher, I am just asking for other views, as I certainly didn't start softer than a 2 1/2! There is such a wide range of reed makes and models these days and I am very out of touch...

I started on Rico 2's

I ask small students to get 1.5s (preferably Vandoren, but it doesn't hugely matter, as long as they're not InternetReeds.com!!) and start from there.

I'm quite happy to trim them though if they're getting too soft for the student, before they move onto a 2.

Maybe get a box of 1.5s and see? You can always trim the end if it's too soft so they won't go to waste.

If he's ok with the one's he's using I'd stick with them.
If they are too hard his sound will be breathy as well as it being difficult to play. If the sound is ok and he doesn't appear to be trying too hard to get a sound out chances are they are fine.
10 minutes or so at a time for a beginner is probably about normal so not necessarily an indication of reeds being too hard.

Well, that saves me posting anything apart from this reply

Have just been to try beginner clarinets with him - I think the Vandoren was on the turn so we used a Rico 1.5 which was fine. I liked the Yamaha E1 with a B46 mouthpiece the best, but James was better with the B12. Now to wait a couple of weeks for the county to get all the loan instruments back before I phone to ask what they've got, then I'll make the decision whether to hire from county/hire from dealer/buy secondhand/buy new... *sigh*

Shop view was that Vandoren are very variable, Rico and Mitchell Lurie (which they don't even stock) are far more consistent. So have bought 3 rico 1.5s

I'm finding vandoren more consistent than I did only a few years ago.
A good reason for recommending Rico to beginners is price. Until you are sure they've stopped biting chunks off or wrecking them with the ligature you might as well have cheaper ones. If he is managing a vandoren 2 well a Rico 2 is a little easier anyway.

Have sent form back to county music service requesting a B12. We will see if it's a decent one in a month's time - but ?15/term is a lot less than music shop hire so this is my starting point. If it's on its last legs, well, we go down the private hire/buy route, but for now we'll take a chance. He can't expect a cello upgrade AND a new clarinet in a single year (particularly not as I need a new aircon system in the car...)

Unless it's been massively neglected and/or abused, it should be OK

B12s do last - this thread has reminded me that mine is now 11 years old :s , I played it for 6 years and Dad still plays it every so often. And I'm fairly clumsy!

Also remember Rico is one strength behind Vandoren, so their 1.5 equates to Rico 2. From experience I don't think you can say this brand is more consistent than that one - reeds are just inconsistent fullstop. Cost is of course a consideration if they are breaking reeds regularly, but performance wise it hardly matters at this stage if he is comfortable with them.

B12 is a very reliable starter clarinet, as are Jupiter and Hanson.

I'd say the difference was less than that (Vandoren 2 = Rico about 1.7 and Rico Royal 1.8, if going numerically, and I know there's no such thing as a 1.7 or 1.8 ), but yes, Ricos (of both standard and Royal version) are softer than the equivalent Vandoren.