No more Superials...

[Bobby G]

As I was in the area, I thought I'd pop in to Allegro in Oxford to stock up on my favourite reeds i.e. Alexander Superials DC strength 2, only to be told they weren't going to be stocked any more due to lack of demand - I was offered the scrapings out of a tin of 3's but declined as for me they'd be too hard. Fair enough all round, if they aren't selling then the bloke's not gonna stock 'em.

However, there was another bod in the shop who was really disparaging about my choice of reed - they're rubbish, they come up soft so you're in effect playing a 1 or 1.5 (they don't, they feel about like a RJS 2S or 2M to me) etc etc. I said I liked the reeds, they suited me and I prefer a slightly softer reed in combination with a wider tip, that's what I feel comfortable with.

He offered no alternative suggestions, and merely seemed to want to prove himself as a somehow far superior as both a player and a human being and would probably have told me he was using filed-down builders planks or somesuch as reeds if I'd have shown any interest, which I didn't because of his obvious p***ing-contest mentality.

People like that really vex and irk me - what are we here for, to try and come first in the human race, or to be a bit helpful and friendly along the way?

IT'S MY SETUP AND I LIKE IT!!!!

 

[Linky Lee]

here here!

 

[Jules]

saxophone players, never trust- 'em! very dodgy bunch- stay away, mark my words! 😡

 

[jonf]

Evening Bob

Not surprised you get irritated by that sort of cobblers. I do as well. I have a penchant for soft reeds, and I usually play RJS 2S. From time to time macho prats make comments like 'have you just started playing?' (I started 27 years ago) and 'you should try and move up to a harder reed'. The mouthpiece is an Otto Link 10, for goodness sake, a hard reed would be unplayable. As you say, it's my set up and I like it.

Back to the Superials, presumably (Jules??) you can still get them from sax.co.uk.

Off now for a blow on my alto with the .165 opening mouthpiece and 1/2 Rico Reed. 😛

 

[old_git]

Really glad my disguise worked, Bob.

 

[suethesax]

I like softer reeds too. I get my superials from reeds direct, Bob. 20.05 for a box of 10 alto, 15.65 sop and 24.60 tenor. Howarths also stock them and alto price is 21.60.

I can't stand t*ssers like that - as he a shopper or assistant? Not that it matters really 🙂

Stick to what you like and what works for you

 

[dooce]

Not even worth getting into a dialogue with him. The guy who runs Allegro can be a bit intimidating himself, so when you have his customers to deal with as well........

 

[griff136]

Howarth sells em and so does reeds direct.

I like zonda's for my alto, but am rending to lean more and more towards the fibracells - I use nothing else on tenor now.

 

[griff136]

Howarth sells em and so does reeds direct.

I like zonda's for my alto, but am rending to lean more and more towards the fibracells - I use nothing else on tenor now.

 

[mfox]

i almost posted a thread on this subject around last sept, nov.
the reeds were basically getting such a slating over on the SOTW by so many people. It was almost as if rico were using members (plants) of the forum to slag off superials..so much so i haven't been on the forums since then..

everybody has their own preference of reed, what ever floats your boat i say, but the truth is superials are a great reed. better in my opinion to the rico equivilant, the finish is better, the cane is more even..

any good music shop would stock this brand even if it isn't the best seller.

i'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, but this smells a bit like coca cola and the fridge scenario

 

[Bobby G]

What I like about the Superials is the edge is not unlike RJS which is nice, but they have a much rounder, fuller bottom, and I like a roun.... no, better not go there.

 

[blues_growler]

In some cases, the sort of obnoxious behaviour described by Booby G is simply due to Boys time of the Month.

With regard to Superials, I find I can, even with my minimal skills, clip or sand every one in the tin into a player unlike some brands where I end up chucking half the box away.

 

[Bobby G]

That's another thing I like about the Superials - only about one reed in a tin is a dud; I don't doctor reeds in general, maybe a little scrape off the sides, but even though there is some variation in a tin (to be expected, really) 85-90% playable reeds straight out of the tin is worth the bit extra you pay.

Incidentally, the second person in the shop was a 'customer', or maybe hanger-on, youngish (late 20's or so) but already middle-aged if you know what I mean, the kind of bloke who makes you feel like a stupid kid for even daring to ask for something like a Superial. 'You don't wanna do it like that' could well have been his catchphrase.

 

[Dylan]

Bob

Reminds me of the Not the 9 O'clock News sketch in the hi fi shop.

What a numpty. He's probably a "virtual" sax player anyway.

I've come across this as well, from a member of staff this time, in another well know shop. I was test driving a sax and he started criticising the fingering I was using. Needless to say i had the last laugh as my wallet stayed firmly in my pocket :laugh:

D