Reeds French or American cut reeds?

[tris]

Reed has good years and bad.. just like wine.

 

[spike]

yes reeds are a natural product of the Arundo Donax grass which also likes a similar climate (doesn't enjoy frost however) and prefers the same type of soil as the vines. I believe the Vandoren Classic of 1988 is certainly a vintage to avoid due to a cold winter. One reason why it has become increasingly difficult over the years for the reedmakers to find enough land suitable for the growing of saxophone trees, is the rise in land prices, especially in the French Var region. It's much more profitable to grow vines than grass for reeds. Recently read that Rico has invested in Argentinian real estate to be sure of securing enough supplies to keep us all going and blowing.

 

[Bobby G]

If the reed crops fail we'll all be using artificial reeds. Is it possible to grow your own? It's probably illegal so you'd have to hide the Arundo Donax behind the cannabis plants.

Many people believe, erroneously, that when cannabis was downgraded to a type C drug the C stood for Compulsory.

Cheers, Bob

 

[mfox]

my grandfather who was also a sax player once told me that reeds were like gold dust during and after the war..the germans used them for somthing, don't know what (maybe some one could find out) it took many year for some of the french cane to be ready for use again.. some people said it will never be the same as it was before the war..

 

[Rogerb]

"some people said it will never be the same as it was before the war.."

Like just about everything, in the opinion of many of those old enough to remember :laugh: (I don't quite qualify, unless you mean the Korean, or subsequent conflicts!!)

 

[Rogerb]

Maybe we should edit all that chat about the JJDV into a new thread dedicated to that mpc.... if anyone knows how to??..... as it's a piece about which there has been so much discussion, in various places?

 

[Bobby G]

Rogerb wrote:
"some people said it will never be the same as it was before the war.."

Like just about everything, in the opinion of many of those old enough to remember :laugh: (I don't quite qualify, unless you mean the Korean, or subsequent conflicts!!)

Huh?? How old are you Roger???


Oh sorry, I thought you said Crimean.....


Pehaps Pete can edit the JJDV mpc posts into a new thread although an earlier thread (alright, let's see yours, I think) that wandered into a discussion on swedging for a while remained un-chopped. Maybe someone should start a Jody Jazz thread, I'd be interested to see what people thought of 'em.

Cheers, Bob (born in the year of the Suez crisis)

 

[Pete Thomas]

No, I don't know know how to edit posts into a different thread. I could probably work it out but life's too short.

NB: The "let's see yours" thread always remained unchopped, I just edited the name of it to include Swedging.

 

[Bobby G]

As a matter of interest I may start a Jody Jazz thread (EDIT: a beat me to it Roger), but I am also a big fan of the organic, side-tracking, off-topic, freewheeling, conversational style of posting in the Breakfast Room. It sometimes throws up some real nuggets of good information or great laughs and one-liners along the way. 🙂

Cheers, Bob

 

[Bobby G]

Well, mfox and Pete, you may just be right. I've bought a few Alexander 2.5's to try and my first impression is that they are very nice, fat and solid and that the highs and lows are easier than with the RJS. For some reason my front F can be a little difficult, especially at lower volume, but not with these reeds. I'm thinking now of attempting some altissimo!

Cheers, Bob

 

[tengu01]

Glad to hear you're having fun with the alexanders. I have found somethng very strange. In the past I used to buy loads of different reeds to try out and have kept loads of them in the reed holders if I don't like the (if I do, they get played to death)

The strange thing is this: The more I play, I find my reed choices change. I recently changed alto sax and found that a mouthpiece/reed combination that worked on my other alto worked wonders on the new one. So bizarre.

Some of these reeds have been sitting around for ages in a bag and for some reason, I was unable to play them with any joy when I got them. A few years later, they're coming into their own.

🙂

 

[Bobby G]

Reeds seem to be like that - leave 'em lying around and they improve. Even reeds that you've played nearly to death can be revived by having a rest.

The Alexanders are a bit more expensive, hopefully as mfox says they will last proportionately longer.

Cheers, Bob

 

[tris]

I posted a reply to another topic here! I have removed...

But on this subject. I thought that the Alexanders I bought in the States were better than the ones I have bought over here. I also noticed this with La Voz and Hemke??

I have a nagging feeling that certain places usually get the reeds made from the best stock....

 

[Rogerb]

Until yesterday I could only get a Java #2 to work on my JJDV alto mpc, but am just beginning to make some progress with Jazz Select 2Ms, whic, IMO, sound a bit better.