Heart & Soul by Michael Johnson
Superior cane and quarter-strength grading give clarinetists a unique advantage with Gonzales reeds
As every clarinetist knows, the proof of consistency in any line of reeds can be assessed by the variation in performance of reeds from the same box. Gonzalez reeds, now distributed exclusively in North America by Conn-Selmer, significantly reduce such variation by their quarter-strength grading, a commitment to quality and consistency that provides, from each box, more reeds that play more alike.
What's more, cane selection for Gonzalez reeds is performed according to stringent guidelines governing color, grain orientation, shape, thickness, and uniformity of profile. Gonzalez owns a total of four cane plantations, including the world's largest, and manufactures finished reeds in Mendoza, Argentina. All cane is aged a minimum of two years in a natural outdoor environment before any is considered for reed manufacture. Inspections at every step of the way ensure that only the finest material will survive the process to completion.
Gonzalez reeds are available for Bb and Eb soprano clarinet and for bass clarinet, as well as soprano, alto, tenor and bari saxophone. Soprano clarinet reeds are offered in two designs–a standard cut, plus the F.O.F. cut ("For Our Friends"), which uses a thicker blank that results in a more pronounced heart and produces what most would describe as a warmer classical tone.
Deciding to put Gonzalez reeds to the test, we asked Phillip Paglialonga, a professional clarinetist and previous contributor to Keynotes, to evaluate the F.O.F. line. He had not played Gonzalez reeds before. Here's what he thought of them:
Don't just take my word for it -
check out Gonzalez reeds for yourself 
Often I am asked exactly what is wrong with many commercial reeds. To answer this complicated question, we need to take a step back to evaluate the problem. When looking at reeds and their performance, we are really looking at two distinct variables: the quality of the cane and the profile, or shape, of the reed. It has been my experience that the two major problems found in commercial reeds are typically that (1) the cane is of poor quality and (2) the profile of the vamp does not leave an adequate amount of cane at the heart of the reed.
When I was approached about writing a review about a particular brand of reed, I must admit I was a little nervous about not liking the reed at all. However, when I was able to try the Gonzalez F.O.F. reeds, I was happily surprised that my two biggest problems with commercial reeds were solved. The Gonzalez reeds are consistently made of high-quality cane and have enough cane at the heart to suit the most discriminating professional. But don't just take my word for it; discover it for yourself.
Quality cane?
Whenever I'm asked to evaluate a reed's cane, the first thing I do is wet the butt end of the reed (the end farthest from the tip of the mouthpiece) and examine the cellular bundles. Remember that cane is made up of tube-like fibers that are bound together. When you wet the butt end of a reed you can see the ends of these fibers, which appear as small dark circles. Generally professional players prefer to see tight bundles of consistent density across the reed, particularly at the area of the cane that corresponds to the tip of the reed. In other words, ideally you should see numerous circles that are evenly spread out across the reed.
If you perform this procedure on a Gonzalez reed, you will find that the reeds are made from remarkably consistent, dense cane. The end result is a more consistent reed.
So what is the ideal cut?
If you hold a reed up to a light, you get a good idea of the shape of a reed. The darker areas are those that offer more resistance, while the lighter areas are those that tend to offer more response. The area in the center of the reed about a quarter-inch down from the tip is known as the heart of the reed. Ideally the reed offers a compromise between the heart, which offers resistance, and the vibrating areas, which are to the left and right of the heart.
Many commercial reeds tend to lack cane at the heart. If you hold a reed to light and look at its composition, you will immediately see the shape of its heart. The ideal shape of the profile will depend somewhat on the type of mouthpiece you are using. Generally, the more open the mouthpiece (that is, the more distance between the tip of the reed and the tip of the mouthpiece), the more the shape should tend towards that of an inverted V; when using a more closed mouthpiece, the shape should resemble an inverted U. Most clarinetists tend to use a mouthpiece that has a rather moderate tip opening, necessitating a vamp that has a shape somewhere between the two extremes.
Compare the heart of the Gonzalez reeds to other reeds, and notice the dark color at the heart. Having enough cane at the heart of the reed will help you avoid a "thin" sound and help lengthen the useful life of the reed.
Try a Gonzalez reed for yourself, and discover the benefits of having good cane and enough heart. I'm sure you will find that Gonzalez reeds offer something special.
Phillip O. Paglialonga is based in Michigan and maintains an active career as a clarinetist and educator. He can be reached at ppaglialonga@hotmail.com.
