Reeds Marca Unic Jazz reeds - a hybrid/synthetic that finally works?

[wakyct]

It would be interesting to look at a section of one under a microscope, compared to an unmodified reed.

 

[mizmar]

resin which is infiltrated as a liquid into the long hollow fibres

Possible, I guess.
My thinking is it's the lignin that binds the long fibers, forming an elastic structure; but which weakens and degrades with water etc. whereas cellulose fibers are pretty stable.
Anyway, it's a trade see secret, I guess; and results are what matters. It'll be interesting how long the reed stays playable, in units of cane reed lifetime for a player.

 

[Chris98]

I wonder if the impregnating negates the natural variability of cane. At that price I’d like one reed to play identically to the next.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

"The first one the arrived was cut off centre at the camp, and the heart wasn’t central; and it played badly"

"At that price I’d like one reed to play identically to the next"

Hope and prayer?
Since it's cane, and each piece of cane is not exactly the same, maybe they have an analyzer, to check each piece of cane, and vary the amount of what they use to make their reeds special, or do they clone the GOAT cane? 🧐

Just did a quick search and this might be a fun reed, I mean read.
Will try to find their patent info later.

US11676562B1 - Synthetic reed with cane particles - Google Patents

A synthetic reed for use with a woodwind instrument includes a synthetic resin matrix with randomly distributed suspended cane particles. Synthetic fibers, which may comprise one or more different material filaments, may also be impregnated within resin matrix. The cane particles can be present...

patents.google.com

 

[rhysonsax]

Interesting patent, although difficult to understand for me. I see that one is assigned to D'Addario & Company Inc.

Rhys

 

[mizmar]

So far as that patent is concerned, I stand half corrected. It includes epoxy, which might play the role of lignin; but various options for long chain materials which might, indeed, play the role of fibers.

 

[Chris98]

"The first one the arrived was cut off centre at the camp, and the heart wasn’t central; and it played badly"

"At that price I’d like one reed to play identically to the next"

Hope and prayer?
Since it's cane, and each piece of cane is not exactly the same, maybe they have an analyzer, to check each piece of cane, and vary the amount of what they use to make their reeds special, or do they clone the GOAT cane? 🧐

Just did a quick search and this might be a fun reed, I mean read.
Will try to find their patent info later.

US11676562B1 - Synthetic reed with cane particles - Google Patents

A synthetic reed for use with a woodwind instrument includes a synthetic resin matrix with randomly distributed suspended cane particles. Synthetic fibers, which may comprise one or more different material filaments, may also be impregnated within resin matrix. The cane particles can be present...

patents.google.com

The patent says “matrix with randomly distributed suspended cane particles’ and ‘concentration of approximately 0.5-10% by volume and at least a majority of the cane particles in the resin matrix can be less than 100 micrometers’

Unless cane has a magical property when mixed with resin, it sounds like it is just cane dust, so that they can say it is made with real cane. Could it be anything more that a nice marketing angle?

But I fear we a moving away from the Marca Unic reed, which is interesting if it's consistant, lasts a good long while and sounds like, or close enough to the best cane reed.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

I just put that LINK in, for those who have never read anything about patents.

If you think they are a tough read, writing them, and arguing them, if infringed upon, according to my Uncle, was the most fun he had, in the electronics business, long ago.
Texans say, remember the Alamo.
We say, remember the USS Pueblo.

Patents are valid for about 20 years.
Trademarks, pay and it's a keeper.
Copyrights, last for the creator's life, plus 70 years. Some are longer.
Having received a registered copyright for sculpture, and then filing for a utility patent, for part of that sculpture, if granted, is stronger protection, especially if licensing.

Best not to show, what you intend to claim for a utility patent, as Prior Art, can cause problems, as advised by the Patent Office.
Saxophone pads, might be one of them.

 

[lydian]

I'm very curious about longevity. Please post back when that Marca wears out and let us know how long it lasts compared to cane for you. Thanks for the review.

Legere lasts about 4x as long as cane for me.

 

[mrblackbat]

Will do.

I think consistency of the reeds is going to be important too, and it’s a good point made that because they’re just normal reeds being cut, they’re going to be subject to flaws. So either the QC process needs to be high enough to throw them straight out before the artificial fibres are added, or they have a no quibbles return policy.

Sax.co.uk have been very responsive, and are also keen on getting this feedback.

I didn’t get chance to record today, and will be away from the horn for a week or so, but when I do I’ll post some recordings. I did notice when I popped it on this morning it took a little while to warm back up (I’m guessing as it absorbs moisture), but there was no sign of warping etc. played well, just not quite as good as the good BSS and Alexander’s I get. I find the BSS wear out fairly quick though.

 

[rhysonsax]

This Podcast episode about Marca UNIC reeds was linked to over on SOTW.

There are some interesting points in the video interview with Nicholas Righi of Marca, conducted at the NAMM show in 2024.

View: https://youtu.be/3Gx9fi6Hlsg?list=UUI57IrFGTWI_u4Ka0kiX-ug


Noteworthy that the resin is introduced to the "tube cane" before the reeds are cut - I guess that makes sense.

Rhys

 

[Pete Effamy]

Hi Matt, have been unhappy with alto reeds for a long time, so read this and also looked at Jim Cheek’s review from Sax(.co.uk).

Back story is that Pete’s are definitely becoming one: I think I’m going towards Pete (Thomas’ssss’ - sorry Pete, is it an ‘s or just an ‘ ?) and his soft number 2 (that came out wrong… um, in more ways than one)…

So I ordered the 2+ (like a 2.25 I guess). It’s too hard. And quite dull really. A reed I’d use for a Desmond-type gig. Bottom of vamp cut quite off-kilter too like yours, if that has any bearing.. certainly doesn’t give confidence though.

Has prompted me to but Hemke 2.0.

 

[jazzdoh]

Hi Matt, have been unhappy with alto reeds for a long time, so read this and also looked at Jim Cheek’s review from Sax(.co.uk).

Back story is that Pete’s are definitely becoming one: I think I’m going towards Pete (Thomas’ssss’ - sorry Pete, is it an ‘s or just an ‘ ?) and his soft number 2 (that came out wrong… um, in more ways than one)…

So I ordered the 2+ (like a 2.25 I guess). It’s too hard. And quite dull really. A reed I’d use for a Desmond-type gig. Bottom of vamp cut quite off-kilter too like yours, if that has any bearing.. certainly doesn’t give confidence though.

Has prompted me to but Hemke 2.0.

Hi Pete
What would you equate the reed strength 2.25 to your normal cane reeds,im going to London next week and was going to pick up one of these, I use a 2.5 in Lupifaro reeds which are made by Rigotti
and are equivalent their gold and wild reeds, I was going to get a 2.5 Unic but now might think of getting the 2.25.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Pete Effamy]

Hi Pete
What would you equate the reed strength 2.25 to your normal cane reeds,im going to London next week and was going to pick up one of these, I use a 2.5 in Lupifaro reeds which are made by Rigotti
and are equivalent their gold and wild reeds, I was going to get a 2.5 Unic but now might think of getting the 2.25.
Thanks in advance.

The step down from 2.5 UNIC is 2+. I still find it slightly hard and more akin to a 2.5. This is alto though, I got a 2.5 UNIC for tenor that I haven’t yet tried. I play a Legere US Cut 2.5 on tenor usually, and it works very well for the rock gigs.

 

[Pete Effamy]

They also say that they soften after 15mins playing, and they probably do, but not a great deal.
I think it comes down to what sound you make too - if you want a buzzy upfront sound with no air in it then slightly harder will make little difference. If you do want that then I think that it becomes a problem. Mind you, it’s a cane reed so can easily be worked on presumably.

 

[mrblackbat]

Which cut did you get Pete? I think the jazz cut is definitely duller than the BSS silver I use, but not massively so, and it’s more it lacks some punch than dull per se. And it could just boil down to the hardness; with all reeds harder equates to darker in my book. I was surprised when Marca suggested a harder strength (3+) than the equivalent cane reed I use, which was definitely too hard.

The main concern for me with these will be consistency. Given the process, really all it can be is making a cane reed last much longer. But not anything to improve consistency (and the poor consistency in cut experienced by both of us seems to confirm that). So the QA needs to improve and I think a solid no quibble return policy…. Marca produce consistent reeds for Alexander, so I have some hope.

I’ll do some recordings when I get back near the horn.

 

[Pete Effamy]

Which cut did you get Pete? I think the jazz cut is definitely duller than the BSS silver I use, but not massively so, and it’s more it lacks some punch than dull per se. And it could just boil down to the hardness; with all reeds harder equates to darker in my book. I was surprised when Marca suggested a harder strength (3+) than the equivalent cane reed I use, which was definitely too hard.

The main concern for me with these will be consistency. Given the process, really all it can be is making a cane reed last much longer. But not anything to improve consistency (and the poor consistency in cut experienced by both of us seems to confirm that). So the QA needs to improve and I think a solid no quibble return policy…. Marca produce consistent reeds for Alexander, so I have some hope.

I’ll do some recordings when I get back near the horn.

Yes, the jazz cut. Never come across the BSS Silver reeds..
How do they play - bright / vibey ?

 

[mrblackbat]

They’re a fair bit brighter than the black, but not with the lack of depth I think reeds like Java and superials have. It’s a step further from the Rigotti gold jazz basically - just a bit more punch on attack.

 

[Pete Effamy]

They’re a fair bit brighter than the black, but not with the lack of depth I think reeds like Java and superials have. It’s a step further from the Rigotti gold jazz basically - just a bit more punch on attack.

And where do you get yours; Headwind?

 

[mrblackbat]

Yeah, only place I’ve seen stock them over here. Pricey too, I guess partly because they’ll go from France to the US and then back here.

Other choices are Gonzalez jazz local (though their consistency has gone down); Rigotti Gold and Alexander NY.