does anybody played on the gonzalez “for our friends” reeds? I’ve heard pretty good things about them, and only one comment about not-so-good responsiveness. Supposedly they have a high percentage of playable reeds per box and the cane is organically grown and at least 7 years aged. I just need to buy more reeds and I want to try something besides v12s and hand-me-down reeeds (I really need to start saving them, too).
Does anybody have their own opinions?
Tag Archives: Reeds
Reed Suggestions for M13, M15, 5JB, B45
I’m trying out a few mouthpieces – a Vandoren M13, M15, 5JB, and B45. Does anyone have any suggestions for reeds that might work well with these? I have an R13 and play mostly jazz/big band and some classical.
Vandoren 5JB clarinet mouthpiece and reeds for it
Ken Mills writes “The Vandoren 5JB clarinet mouthpiece, with the side walls filed further apart where they go to the bore, is a hotrod. The Vandoren 2½ reed is not too soft, and the Marca 2 or 2½ are the same style of reed. Now one can go up to double high C. The sound is the most dark in the clarion register and the power is the most so that nobody can stand up to me outdoors unless they play the trumpet. Use it with a large bore clarinet, but it should be sort of a high pitched instrument such as the Selmer, or what is another one? The alto sax is too bright so that we have trouble with treble, except for, of course, Paul Desmond. Get out of my way, because clarinet goes just as low, you sax people.”
Reed Cryogenics
I came across this webpage that Stephen Howard Woodwind put together. A real thorough study of freezing reeds and the effects on the reeds afterwards.
I don’t know. I know some people that soak their reeds in water, or water/hydrogenperoxide, or even Vodka to prolong their life. Wonder what doing this Cryogenic stuff then doing that would do…..
Zonda Reeds
Ok, I finally tried a Zonda reed. I was just about out of Vandorens and my friend had an extra 3 1/2 Zonda. I tried it. My first impression was that it was really rough. The grain and stuff. It played good. Though at first it was a little too thick sounding, but it seems to be getting better as I get it broken in. Anyone else got comments on Zonda reeds?