Vandoren Juno Clarinet reeds - a new first look

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Vandoren has rebranded their Juno Clarinet and Saxophone reed. Find out if this is the right way to start out on the clarinet.
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Vandoren Juno clarinet reeds:
#2: amzn.to/48uc1nT
#2.5: amzn.to/3tvjvbC
#3 (box of 25): amzn.to/3GUHpAv
#3.5: amzn.to/3NJ0k4V
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Mouthpieces:
Affordable professional Bb clarinet mouthpiece:
Vandoren BD 4 amzn.to/3iSEmAc
Vandoren 5RV LYRE amzn.to/3H1mECA
Vandoren M30 amzn.to/3J6ExTs
Student mouthpiece:
Fobes Debut Student clarinet mouthpiece www.clarkwfobes.com/products/...
Vandoren V12 reeds:
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#3.5 amzn.to/3WvJHLD
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Vandoren Traditional (Blue box)
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#3.5 amzn.to/3ZKTGPY
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Jean Jean Vade Mecum amzn.to/3J9U6cO
Rose 32 etudes amzn.to/3J9U6cO
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Reed equipment:
Ridenour ATG reed finishing system amzn.to/3XqF7zu
ReedGeek Universal G4 reed tool amzn.to/3HnjWZC
400 grit sandpaper amzn.to/3H1oof6
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Vandoren V12 Reed Trimmer amzn.to/3H7K8r6
Vandoren V21 and 56 Rue Lepic amzn.to/3GLkC9I
Vandoren Traditional amzn.to/3kjMQRi
Vandoren Black Master/Black Master Traditional amzn.to/3HcErs1
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Reed cases:
Vandoren Hygro case Bb and Eb reeds amzn.to/3koZmPo
D'Addario Woodwinds Multi-Instrument Reed case amzn.to/3XubIVg
Rico Reed Guard Bb clarinet amzn.to/3J1h06d
Ligatures:
Bonade inverted silver plated amzn.to/3wlJdNy
Vandoren M/O ligature amzn.to/3XPYNNg
Vandoren Optimum Ligature amzn.to/3QYvOof
Rovner Mark III amzn.to/3J6H7ZE

[@nikimiller4672]

Thank you for reviewing this. I just started playing again with our community college band after a 14 year break. I wasn't sure what reed to get after all this time. I saw these at my local music store and asked the guy about them but he had no idea 🙄. Now I know 😃. When I was in high school in the 80s, I tried to like Vandoren reeds but I never did. My favorite was Mitchell Lurie. I just bought some others to try but have gone back to them. My dislike for Vandoren has continued. My 7th grade son was told to get Vandoren blue box for his sax. I bought him a few so he would have them if checked but can't bring myself to buy him more 😆.

[@clarinetninja]

So glad you are back to the clarinet! It’s funny how powerful our old memories are with stuff like this. I am the opposite from you and have tried to play other reeds but always come back to Vandorens. Get your son some more blue box:) I like his style!

[@john.kurokawa]

100% agree! The first time I tried Juno reeds, I was completely blown away. If only I'd had these and a Fobes Debut when I started out instead of Rico 2.5's, Golden Tone mouthpiece and Bundy clarinet (state of the art back in the Mesozoic era...). Ahhhh, those were the days. I'm so glad you've chosen to feature these and highlight the benefits for beginners and band directors. Thanks for sharing! 👏🏻👏🏻

[@clarinetninja]

John! your kindness overwhelms me:) A while back (maybe 15 years ago) an adult student for some reason gave me a box of mouthpieces - ended up being about 25 golden tones in there! It was nice of him to give them to me so I didn't tell him that he gave me a box of garbage. My first clarinet - an Armstrong 4000 - is the lamp on my desk.

[@john.kurokawa]

@@clarinetninjaBox of garbage! I almost spit out my coffee. 🤣 They do make good door stops though.... Happy New Year!

[@jimis3167]

I wish they would exist in higher strengths. They have so much potential in my experience. They could be played by professionals.

[@Ryan_____________________]

Maybe for jazz

[@jimis3167]

@@Ryan_____________________ For classical too (If would have strengths up to number 5).

[@clarinetninja]

I agree - if I had that reed, but a lot more resistant I would be pretty happy. That does lead to a question for me: Is a "simpler" cut going to be a more consistent product? Is that something we have been robbed of?

[@jimis3167]

@@clarinetninja It's not only the cut, cane is different too. V12s are made from different blank than traditionals. V21 and rue lepics are same blank. I find Juno to have the most resonant sound, not sure if that would be the same if would exist in higher strengths..

[@Ryan_____________________]

do you think using them on a open mouthpiece would make up for the strength? @@jimis3167

[@jimis3167]

Lately, I have been trying the M15 mouthpiece and between three of the same ones, I found a very good one. Coming from more open mouthpieces I was playing through the years, I find I have no issues playing harder reeds with this piece, at all! And they generally help me quite a bit. The thing is, in V12s the ideal reeds for me would be 4.5+ which doesn't exist, I've tried 4.5 and 5 strengths already. Now I'm considering trying a bunch of M13s or M13 Lyres because I think these might play better with an exact strength of reeds that exists, like 4.5, could be wrong, idk. Tuning at 442hz won't be a problem as I have a shorter barrel but which one should I try? Both? I'm not a fan of adjusting reeds, especially V12s. The slightest sandpaper rubbing(the number 5) makes them more ideal in strength(like a 4.5+ would be) but I find It takes off the core of the sound and they become worse. I would also consider the BD2 but doesn't exist on Amazon for an order trial, so M13 or M13 Lyre or both?

[@clarinetninja]

A lot here to think about!:) I run into problems such as you describe on mouthpieces that aren’t a certain amount open. I haven’t spent a wealth of time playing any of the mouthpieces you are thinking about. Speaking generally from my experience, I don’t like to get out of the “center” of things. For me that means playing between a 3 and 4 in terms of a V12 reed. I would eliminate a mouthpiece that doesn’t work for me in that realm. It seems like you want to play on that mouthpiece though….so in that way I don’t have direct experience to offer you. Blue box plays a little more resistant. I would try that before making any other moves. Also, just to make sure, you would need a longer barrel rather than shorter. That is, if you are in the US. (I read that as an error, but didn’t want to leave it just in case)

[@jimis3167]

@@clarinetninja I'm not in US, that's why I wrote shorter barrel. And I don't think I would change to other cut from V12s, they're the best. But your perspective is valuable, thank you!

[@user-ri9hk9mv6z]

I am at a school and I play clarinet

[@clarinetninja]

Hi Simon!

[@user-ri9hk9mv6z]

Hi

[@user-ri9hk9mv6z]

Heheh

[@user-ri9hk9mv6z]

Mr