Sax on the Web

Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Baritone Saxophone / LaVoz and Rico Royal baritone sax reeds

Dr. Ben
User ID: 9308123 Mar 18th 11:12 AM
Anyone have any comments about these reeds for baritone saxophone? The reason I ask is that they are the least expensive of the brand name reeds, roughly $2.50/reed, as opposed to $4 to $5 per reed for the "premium" brands.

MusicMan
User ID: 0464054 Mar 18th 1:01 PM
Which reed to use is a highly subjective and personal thing. I have good luck sometimes with the less expensive reeds and other times they're not worth crap.

Sometimes it seems the "premium brands are more consistant and other time they're not.

I tend to use the Rico Select Jazz and Vandoran Java most, but have recently tried the Hemke reeds for bari. They were ok...not worth the premium cost.

I tend to experiment with reeds until I find a make and strength I like. Then I stick with that reed until I get a bad batch and they fail me. Then I start experimenting again.

JimH
User ID: 9238183 Mar 18th 1:41 PM
Will use Lavoz when i can on bari and for the most part have good luck with them . They usually need a little work and do not last too long. Much prefer to use Rico Select Jazz. In the last 3 years only had one bad box. Like the Hemke;'s as well. I think that the Royals are junk but thats just my experience.

RS
User ID: 0492334 Mar 18th 1:47 PM
I've had good luck with the Royals lately usually getting 6 or 7 good reeds out of a box. Tried some Select Jazz a while back and got less than 50% playable. Lavoz can play well but have also found they fade fast.

jmarshall83
User ID: 7761613 Mar 20th 8:07 AM
Ronnie cuber uses plain old rico 3.5
gary smulyan use plain vanoren 3
nick brignola used fibracell when he died and through most of his career used a synthetic reed.
hammiet bluiett uses marca 2.5
joe temperly uses rico jazz select 4hard
dennis dibalsio uses bari star reeds
harry carney used rico 3.5
pepper adams used rico 5

Helen
User ID: 1007814 Mar 24th 6:10 AM
I gave up on both Rico and Lavoz. I tried all the various types over the years. Two years ago I switched to Fibercells and haven't looked back. Much cheaper in the long run, more consistant than cane, and good projection.

Merlin
User ID: 8931733 Mar 24th 7:19 AM
Pepper used #5 Ricos on the Berg, but when he switched to a Dukoff, he used Bari synthetic reeds.

According to a friend of mine in Toronto who took a couple of lessons with Harry Carney in the '40's, Harry was using 4's and 5's. Though HC could sound great on anything...

Dr. Ben User ID: 9308123	Mar 18th 11:12 AM Anyone have any comments about these reeds for baritone saxophone? The reason I ask is that they are the least expensive of the brand name reeds, roughly $2.50/reed, as opposed to $4 to $5 per reed for the "premium" brands.
MusicMan User ID: 0464054	Mar 18th 1:01 PM Which reed to use is a highly subjective and personal thing. I have good luck sometimes with the less expensive reeds and other times they're not worth crap. Sometimes it seems the "premium brands are more consistant and other time they're not. I tend to use the Rico Select Jazz and Vandoran Java most, but have recently tried the Hemke reeds for bari. They were ok...not worth the premium cost. I tend to experiment with reeds until I find a make and strength I like. Then I stick with that reed until I get a bad batch and they fail me. Then I start experimenting again.
JimH User ID: 9238183	Mar 18th 1:41 PM Will use Lavoz when i can on bari and for the most part have good luck with them . They usually need a little work and do not last too long. Much prefer to use Rico Select Jazz. In the last 3 years only had one bad box. Like the Hemke;'s as well. I think that the Royals are junk but thats just my experience.
RS User ID: 0492334	Mar 18th 1:47 PM I've had good luck with the Royals lately usually getting 6 or 7 good reeds out of a box. Tried some Select Jazz a while back and got less than 50% playable. Lavoz can play well but have also found they fade fast.
jmarshall83 User ID: 7761613	Mar 20th 8:07 AM Ronnie cuber uses plain old rico 3.5 gary smulyan use plain vanoren 3 nick brignola used fibracell when he died and through most of his career used a synthetic reed. hammiet bluiett uses marca 2.5 joe temperly uses rico jazz select 4hard dennis dibalsio uses bari star reeds harry carney used rico 3.5 pepper adams used rico 5
Helen User ID: 1007814	Mar 24th 6:10 AM I gave up on both Rico and Lavoz. I tried all the various types over the years. Two years ago I switched to Fibercells and haven't looked back. Much cheaper in the long run, more consistant than cane, and good projection.
Merlin User ID: 8931733	Mar 24th 7:19 AM Pepper used #5 Ricos on the Berg, but when he switched to a Dukoff, he used Bari synthetic reeds. According to a friend of mine in Toronto who took a couple of lessons with Harry Carney in the '40's, Harry was using 4's and 5's. Though HC could sound great on anything...