Reeds Reed Advice Please

[mathew]

Hi everyone!

Ive been playing the alto sax for 7 years and did my G7 last year, i have always used rico royales but want to try some different makes, hopefully someone can help : )
The posts already on here.

I mainly play classical music although with a band i play general performance pieces.

Im looking for a nice mellow tone but not sacrificing in power and tone over the full range of pitch, especially need it to be able to be very responsive.

I generally play on 3 reeds, which i find gives more control over the quieter dynamics, when pitching and the notes above C6 come out more cleanly, but the notes below C4 are harder to pitch and come out a bit leaky and harder to control almost impossible at speed.

When i play on 3.5 the lower notes become much more controllable, but the higher notes cant be punched out as easily.

 

[Linky Lee]

Go to a shop, buy 10 different reeds of varying brands/strengths.

Play them all on your set-up rotating them over the course of a few days.

See which you like the best.

Buy more of them.

 

[Rogerb]

Yes, this is one of those old chestnuts where all the other advice you may be given is pretty worthless....you just have to find out, for yourself, what suits *you*.

The only useful advice would be to help you 'narrow down' your choice to a few makes which the experienced players here think *might* give you the sound you are seeking!

The problem may be finding 'suppliers' who will allow you to buy reeds singly..... you'd do better to buy 2-3 of each, anyway, IMO, as you might get a 'duff' one and be put-off unnecessarily.

Read the threads here and in the Sax on The Web Forum and you'll see the diversity of opinions about which reed is 'best' :whistle:

 

[jonf]

Hi Mathew


Having said all that, I'd be interested to hear what you find you like/hate about other reeds.

Cheers

Jon

 

[Pete Thomas]

Unfortunately, no reeds are consistent enough to buy them singly in order to evaluate. Even the most consistent (IMO Alexander Superial and Rico Plasticover) have good and bad ones in a box of 5 or 10. Sorry to be a purveyor of bad news.

 

[Jules]

Yup- played at the Shambalafestivalin Northhamptonshire at the weekend. Grabbed a box of V16s before going- every last one was aweful!! I'll still with V16s, as I've used them for yearsand feel very comfortable with 'em, but I've never come across a 100% naff box before....

Pete Thomas wrote:
Unfortunately, no reeds are consistent enough to buy them singly in order to evaluate. Even the most consistent (IMO Alexander Superial and Rico Plasticover) have good and bad ones in a box of 5 or 10. Sorry to be a purveyor of bad news.

 

[Linky Lee]

Oops, I did mean to mention be wary of duff ones.
I think there are 'reed packs' available from a few outlets that are put together for this specific purpose. These are generally slightly cheaper than buying each one individually.

 

[justin_chune]

I've been playing strength 2 Rico Royals on alto and tenor saxes for twenty years or more and never had an issue with them, high notes, low notes or anything else. I think that the ideal reed for anyone must be one that plays the "good" notes in the first and second registers well. After that we have to learn to play the extreme notes with that reed. It's obvious from your post that neither the 3 or the 3.5 are suitable for you. Before you give up on seven years experience with RRs why not try a 2.5 and see if that makes a difference. Good luck with your problem.