Reeds Vandoren Javas - love 'em!

[peter_fitton]

Inspired by Jules's article about reeds on the sax.co.uk website I just bought a pack of 5 Vandoren Java 2 reeds. Wow, very impressed. Very easy to get a wailing, edgy tone from middle D upwards with them, which is what I've been striving after for a while.

Been a bit wary of Vandorens previously. I liked the standard Vandoren 2s but I had a 2.5 that I could barely play at all, so I tended to stick mostly to Ricos as a safer bet.

Anyway, if you're looking for a bright, edgy tone give them a go.

Peter

 

[Bobby G]

My thoughts exactly Peter, going on the oldun I found lying around yesterday - bright, edgy and yet very full-sounding too, the top end doesn't get too screechy either. And you can get a real nice mellow sound too. Also, without feeling stiff they feel very solid between the lips, but still flexible and controllable. Plus, for those of you who like to compete against loud guitarists, they have bags of volume. I don't know if they are particularly suited to my Meyer 8M, but with the Java on it's even louder than my metal Levelaire.

So, now I need to throw some Javas as well as Plasticovers into my quest for the ideal reed to replace my ageing and no-longer-available to me Superials. Hopefully Myatt's will have some in (they didn't last weekend).

 

[dooce]

I've no argument with that. They work for me too.

 

[freddysilk]

Same here, I was recommended them by a semi pro sax player after describing the tone I was after. It gives me the edge I need depending on the mouthpiece. A lot of edge for Berg Larsen, and just the right amount on my Otto Link without losing the smoothness of my tone on tenor.

They seem much easier to play than the Vandoren ZZ reeds

 

[Mikec]

I can't honestly tell them apart from V16s. That's not really a criticism, they're both good.

 

[philthd]

zzs take forever to play in. theyve got a really crisp attack but im considering going back to the more playable javas which were my wood of choice for a long time

 

[Jules]

Mikec wrote:
I can't honestly tell them apart from V16s. That's not really a criticism, they're both good.

at normal volumes there doesn't seem to be much in 'em. If you blow really hard V16s hold up a lot better, hence my belief they're rock & roll reeds...

 

[Mikec]

nachoman wrote:

Mikec wrote:
I can't honestly tell them apart from V16s. That's not really a criticism, they're both good.

at normal volumes there doesn't seem to be much in 'em. If you blow really hard V16s hold up a lot better, hence my belief they're rock & roll reeds...

Interesting.

 

[Bobby G]

nachoman wrote:

Mikec wrote:
I can't honestly tell them apart from V16s. That's not really a criticism, they're both good.

at normal volumes there doesn't seem to be much in 'em. If you blow really hard V16s hold up a lot better, hence my belief they're rock & roll reeds...

Thanks for the confusing info Jules. I now have to add some v16's to my shopping cart of experimentation, along with Java and Plasticover reeds. Any more suggestions while I'm in the vicinity of Myatt's gratefully received, I reckon three or four of each type should be a reasonable amount so the wallet won't be creaking too much if I get another couple of brands. Maybe while I'm in a mood of sympathy towards Vandorens I should revisit the ZZ's as well.

 

[griff136]

Bobby G wrote:
.......... Hopefully Myatt's will have some in (they didn't last weekend).

I think you'll have to be quick as I'm pretty sure they have got the receivers in. 🙁

 

[Bobby G]

griff136 wrote:

Bobby G wrote:
.......... Hopefully Myatt's will have some in (they didn't last weekend).

I think you'll have to be quick as I'm pretty sure they have got the receivers in. 🙁

Well I'm extremely shocked Griff 😱 Maybe the move across the road to smaller premises didn't do them much good, maybe that was part of a cost-cutting exercise. I hope they come through somehow.

 

[kiethyb]

has anybody tried the vandoren jazz ZZ reeds yet ? i swear by them and they do them for baritone as well ! 🙂

 

[Bobby G]

I tried them a few years ago when I was trying to find something I liked - I hadn't been playing very long and they were among the first flurry of different brands I experimented with as my initial move away from the standard Rico orange box reeds; as it happens, back then I found them just a little too bright and thin-sounding at the top end, so favoured Rico Jazz Selects at the time. however, now I've been playing longer (about 4 years now) and I have generally got better (?) and my ability to control the sound has improved (? again) I'd certainly give them another go.