Reeds Australia Vintage Hand-Finished reeds

Mike Ruhl · 05-20-2003, 05:50 PM

Anyone have any experience with the Vintage Hand-Finished reeds from Reeds Australia?. I picked up a box of their tenor reeds on ebay last week. Haven't had a chance to blow them yet, but visually comparing them to my Vandoren V16s and Rico Royals, the Vintage reeds have a noticeably shorter vamp cut - like maybe .25" shorter. That's ok with me, because I've been wanting to try a reed like that. I was actually bidding on some Hemkes, and lost that auction when I decided to bid on the Vintage reeds.

So what's up with these reeds? Do they suck?

**Bootman** · 05-20-2003, 10:27 PM

They are good reeds and play very nicely indeed and have a big, bright sound. Tehy also last longer than most other cane reeds. They are gaining in popularity here although they can vary in consistency fairly dramatically from box to box.

Mike Ruhl · 05-21-2003, 12:59 PM

Thanks Boot!

Quijote · 05-21-2003, 03:46 PM

Bootman, how do their strengths compare to other standard brands (Vandoren, Rico)

Mike Ruhl · 05-21-2003, 03:48 PM

When I finally get some time to try these things, I'll let you know how the #4 Vintage reeds compare to my #4 V16s and others I have laying around.

Cameron Wigmore · 05-23-2003, 02:22 PM

I've had a box of those reeds kicking around for a few years now. They're too hard - #5. I got them free from a music store cuz they couldn't sell them. Very nice looking cane. Vintage 1994.

MS · 05-23-2003, 03:13 PM

I tried one that a student gave me to try. My initial impression was that it played pretty well. As I experimented with adjusting, was a little more difficult because the taper from tip to vamp had hills and valleys. So what I normally do didn't work easily or predictably. Cane seemed to be good and lasted OK. Played fine out of the box.

MS · 05-23-2003, 03:21 PM

I tried a size 3. Responded quick, but a fair amount of blowing resistance. Based on one reed, I'd say close to other flat cut reeds, with a little more mouth/blowing resistence. Quick response which makes them seem brighter.