Reeds Reed advice Please

[Smiffy]

Ok I have just switched to a Selmer Soloist from a S80 both C*

I feel the Solo is easier to blow (very happy) but maybe a bit to easy, for that reason it needs taming a bit, too bright on my 2.5 Ricos and ZZ's

I guess I need to move up to a 3? but I also want the sound to be a bit darker/warmer

Suggestions please

Thanks

 

[suethesax]

I played on a Selmer Soloist E (before changing to a metal Yani.) I always played Jazz Select 2H and they worked well together with a nice warm tone.

Never coud get on with ZZ's though or any Van Doren reed - don't know why - my husband wont play anything but Van Doren!

I hate the old trying a new reed thing - it really messes with my mind!!

 

[TomMapfumo]

I'd second that - The RSJ's are top notch. The Rico website reed comparison chart says that the RSJ 2H is equivalent to a RR 3. I would also suggest an unfiled reed which is darker and calmer, (but don't tell Phil that I told you) 8) .

Kind regards
Tom

 

[phil_edwards]

RJS for me too. Tom, behave yourself... 😉

Phil

 

[Smiffy]

Hi and thanks for your replies

I have a Hemke 2.5 which plays very well but still a little bright in the upper octaves, it's nice in midrange and lower, maybe a 3 would be better ?

The Hemke's are filed so maybe the reason for the brightness ?

The RJS 2H is the same strength as the Hemke 2.5

Has anyone compared these 2, is the RJS the same or darker/warmer

 

[thomsax]

I'm on LaVoz reeds (M, MH or H). I think they are freeblowin' reeds perfect for blues and rock 'n' roll. For some years ago I tried Vandoren V16 and I think they are great on the high notes but the low is not that good. The LaVoz is better for me in the low register. I think LaVoz has a more freeblowin' and rounder/ tone.

I spend quite a lot of time preparing the reeds. I have my own way to treat the "wood". The boxes I use right now I bought 1995-1999. I think the reeds get better when they are waiting in the boxes!! They should have turned the "golden yellow" colour! I guess is just rubbish but ...

Thomas

 

[Smiffy]

Thomsax wrote:
I'm on LaVoz reeds (M, MH or H). I think they are freeblowin' reeds perfect for blues and rock 'n' roll. For some years ago I tried Vandoren V16 and I think they are great on the high notes but the low is not that good. The LaVoz is better for me in the low register. I think LaVoz has a more freeblowin' and rounder/ tone.

I spend quite a lot of time preparing the reeds. I have my own way to treat the "wood". The boxes I use right now I bought 1995-1999. I think the reeds get better when they are waiting in the boxes!! They should have turned the "golden yellow" colour! I guess is just rubbish but ...

Thomas

I can't wait 9 to 13 years!!! 😱 😉 :laugh:

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi Smiffy.

I think that the mouthpiece facing is perhaps a little too small for your chops, hence you may need a firmer reed or a reed with a thicker tip - hence RSJ 2H unfiled is thicker tipped than either the RR or Hemke, both of which are filed/french cut/thinner. Unfiled should be darker sounding. You could try an RJS 3S or 3M unfiled and Hemke 3 (maybe try a couple of each) and see what the result is. I have never played anything as small as a Selmer C* mouthpiece which Geoff Lawton considered the same as a 5* - I play the 2H with the equivalent of 7 facings, where 3 strength Reeds are too hard to play comfortably (I have been playing nearly 2 years). So it may be worth buying a few comparable reeds as above (not boxes of 10) and see what emerges. Having researched comparison charts there seems little agreement amongst a range of experienced practitioners, so your experience may need to take a front seat on this one.

Hope this is helpful.
Kind regards
Tom

 

[Smiffy]

TomMapfumo wrote:
Hi Smiffy.

I think that the mouthpiece facing is perhaps a little too small for your chops, hence you may need a firmer reed or a reed with a thicker tip - hence RSJ 2H unfiled is thicker tipped than either the RR or Hemke, both of which are filed/french cut/thinner. You could try an RJS 3S or 3M unfiled and Hemke 3 (maybe try a couple of each) and see what the result is. I have never played anything as small as a Selmer C* mouthpiece which Geoff Lawton considered the same as a 5* - I play the 2H with the equivalent of 7 facings, where 3 strength Reeds are too hard to play comfortably (I have been playing nearly 2 years). So it may be worth buying a few comparable reeds as above (not boxes of 10) and see what emerges. Having researched comparison charts there seems little agreement amongst a range of experienced practitioners, so your experience may need to take a front seat on this one.

Hope this is helpful.
Kind regards
Tom

Thanks Tom

It's suck(or blow) it and see, I will get some of each and see if I can nail this down, I'm sure I'm not far off

I only got the Solo yesterday and really like it, I can get a nice long blow out of it, with the right reed for the sound I'm looking for, I can see me sticking with it for a while

 

[TomMapfumo]

I was very tempted with the Soloist for my Tenor but chose the Link RG in the end (and saved a lot of money,too) My favourite mouthpiece is still my Selmer Super Session Alto, but it felt a little too pricey for a Hard Rubber tenor mouthpiece to match IMHO. Let us how how your search proceeds.

Kind regards
Tom

 

[Smiffy]

TomMapfumo wrote:
I was very tempted with the Soloist for my Tenor but chose the Link RG in the end (and saved a lot of money,too) My favourite mouthpiece is still my Selmer Super Session Alto, but ?160 feels a little too steep for a Hard Rubber tenor mouthpiece to match IMHO. Let us how how your search proceeds.

Kind regards
Tom

I was lucky and got it off a friend for ?40 only a few months old and as new 🙂

They are around ?100 new

I sure will report back

Thanks again

 

[thomsax]

Smiffy wrote:

Thomsax wrote:
I'm on LaVoz reeds (M, MH or H). I think they are freeblowin' reeds perfect for blues and rock 'n' roll. For some years ago I tried Vandoren V16 and I think they are great on the high notes but the low is not that good. The LaVoz is better for me in the low register. I think LaVoz has a more freeblowin' and rounder/ tone.

I spend quite a lot of time preparing the reeds. I have my own way to treat the "wood". The boxes I use right now I bought 1995-1999. I think the reeds get better when they are waiting in the boxes!! They should have turned the "golden yellow" colour! I guess is just rubbish but ...

Thomas

I can't wait 9 to 13 years!!! 😱 😉 :laugh:

I know!! I have a Buescher C soprano from c -24 and the reeds are also from the mid 20's. Vintage!?!

 

[Smiffy]

Thomsax wrote:

Smiffy wrote:

Thomsax wrote:
I'm on LaVoz reeds (M, MH or H). I think they are freeblowin' reeds perfect for blues and rock 'n' roll. For some years ago I tried Vandoren V16 and I think they are great on the high notes but the low is not that good. The LaVoz is better for me in the low register. I think LaVoz has a more freeblowin' and rounder/ tone.

I spend quite a lot of time preparing the reeds. I have my own way to treat the "wood". The boxes I use right now I bought 1995-1999. I think the reeds get better when they are waiting in the boxes!! They should have turned the "golden yellow" colour! I guess is just rubbish but ...

Thomas

I can't wait 9 to 13 years!!! 😱 😉 :laugh:

I know!! I have a Buescher C soprano from c -24 and the reeds are also from the mid 20's. Vintage!?!

😱 Have you tried to play them

 

[thomsax]

Smiffy wrote:

Thomsax wrote:

Smiffy wrote:

Thomsax wrote:
I'm on LaVoz reeds (M, MH or H). I think they are freeblowin' reeds perfect for blues and rock 'n' roll. For some years ago I tried Vandoren V16 and I think they are great on the high notes but the low is not that good. The LaVoz is better for me in the low register. I think LaVoz has a more freeblowin' and rounder/ tone.

I spend quite a lot of time preparing the reeds. I have my own way to treat the "wood". The boxes I use right now I bought 1995-1999. I think the reeds get better when they are waiting in the boxes!! They should have turned the "golden yellow" colour! I guess is just rubbish but ...

Thomas

I can't wait 9 to 13 years!!! 😱 😉 :laugh:

I know!! I have a Buescher C soprano from c -24 and the reeds are also from the mid 20's. Vintage!?!

😱 Have you tried to play them

Yes. When I play C-soprano with the real setup I use them. They are very good. The C-soprano also works with Bb sop mpc and reeds.

 

[Smiffy]

Wow, so how do they sound / Rate against modern reeds

 

[Smiffy]

A bit on the reed problem

I clipped the Hemke 2.5 and it's made it warmer without it being harder to blow, It's smoother and keeps the volume even while changing octaves, a problem I had with the zz's


So I will get a 3 along with the RSJ's but it won't be till the weekend

 

[TomMapfumo]

The plot, at last, begins to thin.

 

[Smiffy]

TomMapfumo wrote:
The plot, at last, begins to thin.

Hi Tom

It does indeed

🙂

 

[thomsax]

Smiffy wrote:
Wow, so how do they sound / Rate against modern reeds

They are shorter than modern reeds (the mpc are shorter) and I think they produce a darker and more mellow sound comparing to a modern reed. The low register is also richer. The same goes for Bb soprano reeds and mpc's from the same era. I think a modern reed is better after all. The quality is more even. I use to cut them because they are longer. I don't like when the reeds are longer than the table.

Thomas


(Quotes fixed by ADMIN)

 

[Smiffy]

Thomas
Thanks for the insight

Worth keeping just for the nostalgia