Reeds Gonzalez Reeds

I have been using them for about six months and they are pretty good for my level.

Not sure what your level is Prof?!

Anyway, I went to Dawkes and bought myself some Alexander Superial 2.5's and Gonzalez Jazz Local 627 2.5's, both for the tenor. What did I think of the Gonzalez? Well, they are quite nice, a fair bit darker than the Superials on my Jumbo Jazz mpc, seem to be quite consistent across the 5 reeds that I bought but I still prefer the Superials by a long way, they seem much more to produce my sound. There's nothing wrong with the sound of the Gonzalez if you want a slightly darker tone.

My main problem with them is that they were quite hard work - it feels like they are closer to a Van Doren 2.5 than a Rico 2.5, and Van Dorens do tend to come up a bit harder. I think if you are used to a Rico 2.5 you might be better off with a 2 in the Gonzalez, although on the box it says they grade their strengths in quarters, so maybe a 2.25 if you can find them.

All in all, not a bad reed, but not one I'd use again, especially as I have got some Superials after some time away from them, and they really do suit me and my mouthpiece. If anyone want to try a Gonzalez, I'll send you one, they are still pretty clean and relatively unused!
 
I like them a lot. Their (and I may get this name slightly wrong) Local Jazz 627 #2 reeds are the only reeds I can consistently get along with on tenor and give me the tone I want. I thought they seemed a bit stiff at first, I actually now find all other reeds seem stiff. Maybe I just don't really understand stiffness! I'd try going down half a stiffness point. I tried a #2.5 (same reed otherwise) the other day and that was hard work. I should add that I've only been playing 9 months. I also found them very dry feeling at first but I've got used to that now and never notice it. Also I've long given up bothering to wet my reeds before I start playing. Probably makes me a complete sax pleb but hey ;-)
 
When I first bought some of the original Tenor reeds I found them of variable quality and far too hard - this was a #2 reed.

More recently I bought some 627 Jazz Local alto #2 1/4 reeds and had mixed results. The first two reeds I tried were dull and lifeless but I have just found one which I tried on my Phil-Tone Meridian mouthpiece (an Alto Equinox) which seems full of life, so the jury is out. They are probably about #3/4 harder than ordinary reeds - I would say that a 2 1/4 is equal to a 2 1/2 Vandoren V16 or Alexander NY 2.5, whatever is actually said about their strength elsewhere.
 
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