La Voz Clarinet Reeds

Advantages: Cheap
Disadvantages: Don't produce the Best tone in the World

...at playing various instruments, conducting and composing, and went off to Paris to study his beloved art with other serious minded young men. Meanwhile, his nephew Frank de Michele was playing the clarinet for the Walt Disney studios in LA, and was having a hard time of it getting hold of decent Clarinet Reeds. He knew that the world's best quality cane grew (and still grows) naturally in the Var region of France, where, handily, his Uncle had a holiday cottage. He got his Uncle to send some Reed over to the States, initially for his own personal use, but his Clarinetting colleagues wanted some too, and so the business was born, in 1928. Cane was exported from solely France for many years, up until the late 1970s in fact. Then French farmers started selling off their land for a quick profit and Rico was forced to find another location... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Bright tone, looks nice, good case
Disadvantages: Doesn't come cheap...

..., and the clarinet is hand finished for that little extra quality. Also, the ends of the main joints are metal capped - this is more than just for show, as it helps prevent the wood splitting. There is also an auxilliary Eb key (or low G# if you prefer to call it thus), which I have to say is far more useful than I first thought it would be - it's remarkable how many composers put in fingerings that would otherwise be very awkward! Be aware though, it sticks out a bit so if you're not careful it can be broken (my friend learnt this the hard way). For your money you get a nice leather case with combination locks, usually (unless the music shop has nicked them) a couple of half-decent reeds, the bog-standard buffet cleaner (I recommend their 'deluxe' cleaner, well worth its weight in gold), and most importantly of all, a Buffet pencil. Call me sad if you... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A nice rich sound. Uses up my spare time.
Disadvantages: Uses up my spare time

...nicely around the clarinet and I can reach the keys but I still keep pressing the blocker by mistake. A standard Buffet mouthpiece comes with the clarinet, which comes in its own little case. The reeds inside the mouthpiece can split easily so I have to have some as spare. I am now on my third reed. It is quite easy to take apart and put back together although the keys dig in a bit and can hurt. The carrying case is quite sturdy and is heavy to carry around. It has a nice rich sound and is supposed to be responsive although my aunt can’t play it and she is supposed to be musical. My uncle says it is has a relaxing and mellow sound. Recently I did my first performance for the school leaving assembly and I was very nervous. I am very pleased with the clarinet and will be carrying on playing it. I just hope that one day I... Read review

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