I've used Vandoren V12 reeds since I was 13, and have never been satisfied with them. I've stuck with them mostly because I'm not very good at switching equipment and wanted to keep as many things as constant as possible. There was a period in high school when I switched to Gonzalez #4 for awhile, but soon (not soon enough, though!) realized that they were far too hard and went back to V12s.
I would like to give some Gonzalez FOF a try in the correct strength this time. I can't afford to buy more than one box of reeds in the wrong strength, though, so I need to nail it first or second try. Would a #3.5 or 3.25 be close to or a tiny bit softer than a V12 #4?
I would like to give some Gonzalez FOF a try in the correct strength this time. I can't afford to buy more than one box of reeds in the wrong strength, though, so I need to nail it first or second try. Would a #3.5 or 3.25 be close to or a tiny bit softer than a V12 #4?