Reeds Advice on tenor reeds

[sax_starved]

Can anyone suggest a good reed for my Walstein bronze with Yamaha 5C mouthpiece and Rovner ligature? I have been using a standard Rico so far but am looking for something with better tone. I am using Rico Jazz Selects for my alto, which is perfect if I want loud and bright but I'm looking for something a little more sultry for the tenor.

By the way, Happy New Year to you all - I know it's a bit late but I've only just got back to normality.

Lloyd

 

[Taz]

I seem to get a nice fat tone from a vandoran. Either the 2 or the 2.5, depending how my lips are feeling at the time. But remember, reeds are a very personal thing

 

[Bobby G]

For a fatter tone without too much buzz you could try Rico Royals, Vandoren Javas or La Voz. If you can get them, Alexander Superials seem capable of a good range of tones.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Francois Louis Excellence reeds (available from www.howarth.uk.com) are the business - In the past 6 months I tried RJS, V16, LaVoz, Gonzalez & Marca Jazz, and prefer them by a long way - not unlike a Superial DC - worth giving them a go IMO, but what do I know 😉

Good luck, whatever you decide.
Kind regards
Tom 8)

 

[TonyMoroney]

For me (and I'm far from an expert) it's as much to do with unfiled vs filed. I've always preferred unfiled for a more mellow tone, even between exactly the same reed.

My choice of unfiled is Alexander Superial or Rico Jazz Select.

My tuppence.

T.

 

[biker1941]

It seem obvious but what is a filed reed ? I do all sorts with mine but file them I never have.
thanks
Clive

 

[jadoube]

Biker1941 wrote:
It seem obvious but what is a filed reed ? I do all sorts with mine but file them I never have.
thanks
Clive

If you find it under T for tenor its filed, but if you find it under R its ... a reed? :whistle:






Sorry, been one of those days.

 

[TonyMoroney]

Basically, a filed reed has a step between the heart of the reed and the bark, an unfiled reed has a smooth transition (no step) like one clean cut of the reed.

I'd love to hear Pete's input, but some beleive that an unfiled reed has a darker sound, and a filed reed is allegedly somewhat brighter. I say allegedly because people also beleive that the different metals used in a sax sound different, but others disagree.

Pete, any chance of putting something on your reeds page? I looked all over but could find anything worth pasting here.

I subscribe to the unfiled camp, and beleive they sound less bright.

Cheers

T.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I can't tell the difference. If there is a difference, it's less than the difference between two reeds of the same type I think.

Maybe I'll get time to put some pics of files and unfiled, I could also do a comparison soundclip. But you'll have to buy me the reeds.

 

[spike]

Rico Royals are filed - Rico normal are unfiled - check'em out and you'll see the difference - The idea is that filed are more responsive by stripping a little bark off the shoulder. The debate continues.
gruss - spike

 

[Bobby G]

Sometimes, the 'filed' reeds are referred to as DC, which indicates 'double cut'. Alexander is a brand that springs to mind which uses this way of differentiating between filed and unfiled. some say that an unfiled reed of the same brand produces a slightly fatter tone than a similar DC reed, but I don't know.