V.12 reeds are manufactured from cane tubes with the same diameter as cane used for alto saxophone reeds. As a result, they have a thicker heel and are cut on a longer pallet with a slightly thicker tip than the Traditional. The longer pallet means that more of the reed is vibrating, resulting in a deeper, richer sound. The thicker tip gives body to the attack and also increases the longevity of the reed.
The most widely played reeds in the world with a superiority proven over the years, these reeds suit all styles of music. Traditionals are known for their excellent response in all registers, allowing a pianissimo attack in even the highest notes. They are also extremely flexible, allowing the legato or staccato execution of large intervals while maintaining a richness of tone that gives body and clarity to the sound, which is a hallmark of Vandoren reeds.
This reed is designed to produce a quality of extremely pure sound due to: a very thin reed tip (the area of reed with maximum vibration), being balanced by a solid vertebral column (more cane in the area which climbs gradually to the heel). These reeds are recognizable by a straight line to delineate the limit of the area of bark.