[area51recording]

I know. Pretty whacked thread title.....but here's the scoop. I've got the double whammy of needing to buy new reeds, but am economically challenged, and there are ZERO gigs on the horizon. These are for practice ONLY at this point. I bought a Reed Geek a while back, and have had pretty good luck balancing some of the reeds I have left, but I'm runnin' low. So what do you think? Orange box Rico? Something different? I'm really just looking for something economical that plays halfway decent. Thanks!

 

[mmichel]

Depending on the voice (i.e., S, A, T, or B), you can get 10-count boxes of Rigotti Gold reeds for roughly the same price as Rico orange box reeds. And they are better quality reeds and far more consistent, IMO.

Edit: for example, if you're playing tenor, check out the prices at Weinermusic or Midwest Musical Imports.

 

[lydian]

Amazon has Suewio reeds that come out to 90 cents (US) each (Tenor), half the price of Rico orange box. They are extremely low quality and very inconsistent. But some play fine, at least for a couple of weeks.

Synthetics may also save money in the long run. Bari brand reeds are the bottom of the barrel, but at $10/reed (when you can find a deal), they're tolerable for practice, especially on bigger horns. I've tried no-name Chinese synthetics and they were completely unplayable. I've also tried just about every other synthetic on the market. Legere is the closest to being playable, but is also very inconsistent. Some sound fine, others like a duck call, others won't make a sound. Biggest downside is they're very expensive.

FWIW, I've played Rico orange box (and their ancestors in the wood grained box) for over 40 years with great success. LaVoz is another cheap reed about the same quality as Rico. I wouldn't be surprised if they came off the same line at the factory.

mmichel, please tell me where you find those cheap Rigotti's. Everywhere I've looked (including the shops you linked), they're double the price of Rico's.

 

[mmichel]

mmichel, please tell me where you find those cheap Rigotti's. Everywhere I've looked (including the shops you linked), they're double the price of Rico's.

Okay, here's an example. The Ricos (tenor) are $32.99 for a box of 10, while the Rigottis are $30.

 

[area51recording]

Yepper. Just ordered a box of Rigottis for $36 shipped from MMI. I remembered back a few years ago I was studying for a few months with a guy named Samir Kamborov, a REAL good player who was teaching at University of Louisville. I was playing Plasticovers at the time, which absolutely HORRIFIED Samir....he urged me to start playing "real reeds". I bought a box of Rigottis at that time, and as I recall I had pretty good luck with them.....

 

[lydian]

Okay, here's an example. The Ricos (tenor) are $32.99 for a box of 10, while the Rigottis are $30.

Much better. I was seeing $43 for the Rigottis other places. Thanks.

Can I ask another question, do the strengths run about the same as Rico. Or do they run harder like Vandoren?

EDIT: Nevermind. I see their strength system is completely different. I think I'll try a 2.5M and see how it goes.

 

[mmichel]

Much better. I was seeing $43 for the Rigottis other places. Thanks.

Can I ask another question, do the strengths run about the same as Rico. Or do they run harder like Vandoren?

EDIT: Nevermind. I see their strength system is completely different. I think I'll try a 2.5M and see how it goes.

FWIW, I find them to run close to the Java / Jazz Select strengths. The important thing to note, as you've probably already discovered, is that they have 6 divisions per whole reed strength.

 

[datsaxman]

I like Ricos. But Rigotti for about the same price is a fine deal.

 

[swperry1]

Yeah, Rigotti is still one of the best bargains out there. It’s been a while since I tried vandorens since I like rigotti better, but I used to find the java green 3.5 and the rigotti 3.5m interchangeable. Also the LaVoz MH, which might be a consideration if f you like the rico orange box. They used to be roughly the same price as rigotti for 10.

 

[Rahspeak]

For baritone, I love the value of La Voz MH when I can find an old box of 10. They seemed to have switched to boxes of 5 now, though...

 

[area51recording]

Quick update: Got a box of Rigotti 2.5 S tenor reeds. I find them to be (at least THIS box) pretty dang consistent. They all play a bit dark out of the box, but after I smooth out the bottom and take just a touch off the sides with the Reed Geek they play really nice! Thanks all for the assistance!

 

[High Fly]

...wondering about the "Tier 3" brands out there. Yknow, the ones with the odd names. That look suspect. That are really cheap....who dareth tread in those waters, to seek the Truth and Light toward BargainReeddom?

 

[lydian]

...wondering about the "Tier 3" brands out there. Yknow, the ones with the odd names. That look suspect. That are really cheap....who dareth tread in those waters, to seek the Truth and Light toward BargainReeddom?

Already did in post #3. They are really bad and inconsistent as you would expect, much worse than Rico. Many split or chip if you look at them wrong. They are much thinner at the tip and obviously a different kind of cane than the name brands, softer like balsa wood. But some actually do play quite well, just not for very long. The cut is also so rough that they feel uncomfortable in the mouth, at least for me. I also soaked some, and the water ended up with a lot of something white and cloudy (too soon for it to be microbial).

Bottom line, they are indeed a bit of a bargain over all, although short lived. I'm a die-hard cheapskate, but I won't be buying any more.

 

[turf3]

Free? How does free work for you?

A friend gave me 20+ boxes of baritone reeds years ago, and I am still on about my fourth box. Basically a lifetime supply if you know how to work on reeds.

Free. that's the cheapest I'll play. I'm not proud. Or tired.

 

[High Fly]

Already did in post #3. They are really bad and inconsistent as you would expect, much worse than Rico. Many split or chip if you look at them wrong. They are much thinner at the tip and obviously a different kind of cane than the name brands, softer like balsa wood. But some actually do play quite well, just not for very long. The cut is also so rough that they feel uncomfortable in the mouth, at least for me. I also soaked some, and the water ended up with a lot of something white and cloudy (too soon for it to be microbial).

Bottom line, they are indeed a bit of a bargain over all, although short lived. I'm a die-hard cheapskate, but I won't be buying any more.

yes but Suewio is but one of several I believe. I'd like to see Jay Metcalf do a You Tube on which cheapo reeds su*k the most!

... and synthetics too for that matter~!

 

[B Flat]

Rico Royal for Baritone.
Although I used to be a big Hemke fan also.
But if you’re including synthetics, Fibracell.

 

[lydian]

yes but Suewio is but one of several I believe.

I've gotten many different ones. They're all basically the same. Same terrible cut, same terrible quality.

 

[Jonas Braasch]

I sometimes buy the orange box Ricos. Not too bad if you get used to the cut. I cut my cost even down and used clarinet reeds for my soprano sax, which were cheaper and easier to find in stores. Worked fine.

 

[AddictedToSax]

I got a box of Juno #2 in a sax I bought. I sent the old sax back but kept the reeds. So I guess I got them for nothing. They're okay. Nothing to write home about. I've been playing Vandoren Java 2 1/2 on my RPC 105R. They're the best I've found, especially when I have to play low C and below. I was convinced it was my sax making the low notes hard to play but when I tried the Javas those low notes popped right out. I tried D'Addario, Rico, Vandoren ZZ and another one or two but no luck. I'm sold on the Java reeds no matter the cost, at least as long as I play the RPC mouthpiece.

 

[vbluesman]

The cheapest way to go for me on baritone is to buy the 3 pack of Ricos. My Berg HR mouthpieces like the Ricos.