Alexander Reeds

[rollerguy101]

www.superial.com I was thinking about buying these reeds for classical and jazz, although they are a bit expensive. What are your thoughts about the product?

 

[AlbionLass]

I haven't used their sax reeds but I have used their reeds for clarinet, They were always consistant and I got a good amount of playable reeds per tin.
It can't hurt to give them a try, I've been thinking of giving their sax reeds a go myself.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I didn't care much for the classical, but I find the Superials very good and consistent - worth the extra just to have all or most reeds useable straight out of the box

 

[tengu01]

I've been comparing the DCs and the Superials. DCs are quite "dark" as reeds go (compared with a Vandoren JaZZ for example) but they're consistent. In both cases, there were always a couple of superstar reeds which play instantly well with a little . The rest only needed a little more persuasion i.e. with a little soak in some warm water.

However, in comparison to the Vandoren (Blue Box), they were a little "light". OK, I don't think I am explaining myself well here....

The blue box vandorens are quite hard reeds. However, when your embouchure strengthens up, they have a really strong, solid and woody tone. When gigging with a lound band, they really took a lot of punishment and gave as good as they got. My lips however usually got tired faster playing these :whistle:

In contrast, I found the Vandoren jaZZ reeds to be easier to play with an instantly brighter sound. However they weren't as durable as the blue boxers and didn't always stand up to the demands of rip-roaring competition with amped instruments. Vandoren jaZZ seemed to be perfect for big band playing. Easy to play without too much preamble and bright enough to cut through when soloing.

Going back to the Alexanders, I found the DC was perfect when working in a small band setting when playing standards in an intimate setting. They're not screamers but they have a nice, solid, smooth tone. Also good for classical playing because they blend well.

The Superials were really easy to play but I found their sound to be a little thin.

I was playing an Otto Link STM 6* on my tenor. Not sure what Alexanders are like for other saxes or with other mouthpieces but I am interested in hearing...

Cheers

Hope this helps

 

[Melissa]

yay! Melissa uses Vandoren 🙂

 

[griff136]

I like the superials and as Pete mentioned they are consistent and I also find that I can use most of them from the box.

 

[wolfmaiden]

me too - I'm using an Otto Link tone edge 6*, and when I need to 'cut', a Jody Jazz 8* HR, or an SR Tech Pro.........keep trying Rico JS, and Vandoren ZZ's........keep coming back to the DC superials......they may be $5 a pop here in Canada (even from the US figuring in taxes and shipping) - but they're worth it, and they last forever!! (well, I'm still using some from 2 yrs ago.......the only ones I toss are the ones I split/nick from clumsiness!!).

 

[Bobby G]

These sound like a good reed, especially if, as Pete and others are saying, they are consistent and long-lasting.

By 'expensive', how much are we talking, say for a box of 10? Also, can you get them for soprano?

Cheers, Bob (mainly Rico Royals at the moment)

p.s. I bought a few odd soprano reeds today, for investigation/experimentation purposes, including a Plasticover. What'ss all that black stuff on it? Does anyone have any opinions? (I quite liked it...)

 

[griff136]

I like the superial reeds by alexander. like Pete says they're fairly consistent.

The black stuff is a plastic coating designed to protect the reed and extend its life.

I am also a recent convert, especially on my tenor, to the fibracell reed a synthetic reed that feels like a reed in the mouth, now these are very constant. and extremely long lasting - Ive had thne one on my tenor for nearly 9 months now.

 

[paul_grant]

At 08:01:38 AM 23/06/06, griff136 wrote:
I like the superial reeds by alexander. like Pete says they're fairly consistent.

The black stuff is a plastic coating designed to protect the reed and extend its life.

I am also a recent convert, especially on my tenor, to the fibracell reed a synthetic reed that feels like a reed in the mouth, now these are very constant. and extremely long lasting - Ive had thne one on my tenor for nearly 9 months now.

<quotes fixed by admin>

Hi Griff
I have just purchased a fibracell med. soft for my alto. Using yam 4c mp, and I find it to be very good with not much diiference to the tone quality. Only had it two days so need more time to assess it.

On a slightly different subject I have been using one of Vandorrans Little cases with the charcoal insert that holds four reeds (natural cane type) I find that the reeds come out of the case with black dirty marks. anyone else experience this problem, or have I just picked up a faulty case?
Paul

 

[wolfmaiden]

On a slightly different subject I have been using one of Vandorrans Little cases with the charcoal insert that holds four reeds (natural cane type) I find that the reeds come out of the case with black dirty marks. anyone else experience this problem, or have I just picked up a faulty case?
Paul

might be way off track here, but are you 'sure' they're 'dirty marks'???? Sounds suspiciously like reed fungus (post on another forum in a similar vein....)........I've had this problem with LaVoz 4-reed holders......

 

[paul_grant]

might be way off track here, but are you 'sure' they're 'dirty marks'???? Sounds suspiciously like reed fungus (post on another forum in a similar vein....)........I've had this problem with LaVoz 4-reed holders......

You are probably right. I thought it may have been the charcoal leaking into the case!!

<quotes fixed by admin>