Vandoren V-12 Advanced Bb Clarinet Reeds

I have played on the regular Vandoren reeds (3) for many years, and I always had a lot of trouble breaking the reeds in. I heard that the V12 reeds were outstanding for a lot of people, and I bought a package of them to see what they were like. Never in my entire life have I had an entire box of reeds be great reeds! I've seen 3 or 4 at the most be decent out of regular Vandoren reeds. I heard that these were a thicker cut of reed, and I bought the 2 1/2s. The tone of these reeds is astounding; the regular vandorens have a horribly bright sound compared to the V12s. The V12s have a beautiful dark tone, and they play very easily. I recommend these reeds to any clarinet player; professional or student. They are a little expensive, but for what they bring with them, they are really at a fantastic price.

I have been playing professionally for over two decades now. I play an R-13 with a Larry Combs (LC1) mouthpiece, the Vandoren Optimum ligature, and V-12 (size 5) reeds. These reeds require very little fixing compared to other brands, and, with proper care and maintenance, they last for a considerable amount of time. They are easy to fix and, with the use of rush and sometimes my knife, they can be manipulated into lasting for one more great performance. My private students all play on V-12 reeds -- of varying strengths. A final note, if you are not paying less than $21/box, then you are getting ripped off! WWBW has very competitive prices as do other online companies; you may just need to look outside your local music shop.

When I first bought these reeds, I was disappointed. I found it nothing different than the original Vandoren Traditional, only, a bit stiffer. However, when I got used to these reeds, I found my self keep saying 'Wow' in the middle of the piece IÆm playing. The staccatos sound much less aggressive, and also, it produces 'dolce' sound. Overall, the V12 reeds boast their dark, warm and round sound, which is awesome when you are playing in the low register. I bought these reeds, because there were so many people unanimously agreeing that this is 'the best reed out there'. Well, I am not so sure about that, however I can admit that this is one of the best reeds on the market. Although the price of the V12 reeds gives you a royal pain, they play very well, and are great for concertos and solos.

Clarinet is not my main instrument. I have never really considered myself a professional clarinet player, just because I have done very few gigs and concerts on clarinet for large audiences. I am also not very knowledgeable about clarinet products; I just knew that Vandoren is a brand that I have trusted for a long time. I was tired of using a bad mouthpiece and the traditional reeds (which were responsive but made my sound horrible) so I asked some friends. They said the v12's were good. They were right. These reeds produce a lively sound for all kinds of music. I use them with a Vandoren B45 dot mouthpiece and I can use this combination for all kinds of music, including jazz. Definitely the BEST reeds out there.

After 2 years of experimentation with other brands of reeds, I have returned to the V-12's with a sigh of relief. They play out of the box with very little break-in and you are sure to find some outstanding reeds in every box. My Vandoren M30 mouthpiece, Vandoren Masters ligature, and Vandoren V12's is a winning combination for solo and ensemble playing. Local music store prices for the V12's are painful, so the wwbw is a good source.