[NoobieSaxophonist]

Wow, so many reed choices... haha. Well, I'm looking into trying some of these out, and I'd like to know how these play. For instance, I know I sound like a noob here, but what's the difference between the Java red and green boxes? If anyone has had experience with these reeds, please respond.

Thanks!

~NoobieSaxophonist

 

[Buck Laughlin]

Here's a good place to start: http://www.vandoren.fr/en/tradreed.html

The next step will be to start trying some of them out. Nothing beats good old fashioned trial and error to see what works best for you, your own playing style, and your personal sound concept.

 

[KeithL]

Wow, so many reed choices... haha. Well, I'm looking into trying some of these out, and I'd like to know how these play. For instance, I know I sound like a noob here, but what's the difference between the Java red and green boxes? If anyone has had experience with these reeds, please respond.

I've played them all at one time or another. Lately I've been going back and forth between the Red & Green Java's- opened a box of each to try at the same time. Outside of the Reds being filed I don't feel much difference. I think they just take the Green Javas, French file them, and put them in a red box. The ZZ's are also similar for me, maybe a little darker and the V16 which I think has the thickest tip of the bunch feels firmest and sounds darkest to me. ***These are just my opinions based solely on my experience and living in Colorado, where reeds are a problem in general due to such low humidity levels, probably has more effect on the reeds than the way they're cut.****

That being said, I agree with Buck. You need to try them for yourself, on your setup, in your playing environment to really know what works best for you.

 

[NoobieSaxophonist]

Thanks for the information! I think I wanna try out the Green Java to start with, but I'm wondering what size to get. Does anyone know what the equivalent of a Rico Royal 3S would be as Green Java? 2.5?

 

[Bozman]

Javas play very soft for their marked strength in my experience. I'd say that a Java 3.5 would be closer to a Rico Royal 3. Maybe even slightly softer.

 

[buddy lee]

From my experience, Green Java 2.5 was very close to RJS 2H. So if I were you I would get Green Java 3's and if they're too hard lightly sand them.

 

[saxmusicguy]

Outside of the Reds being filed I don't feel much difference. I think they just take the Green Javas, French file them, and put them in a red box.

Perhaps, but I have heard that the Java Red reeds are stiffer than Java Green.

 

[buddy lee]

Perhaps, but I have heard that the Java Red reeds are stiffer than Java Green.

This is absolutely correct, in my experience.

 

[artstove]

Perhaps, but I have heard that the Java Red reeds are stiffer than Java Green.

That's what I found, too - a 2.5 Red is consistently harder than a 2.5 Green. I like them both, and don't find a lot of difference in sound quality. I found that one mouthpiece seemed to like the Greens a bit better, while another mouthpiece did better with Reds.

 

[dubrosa22]

Red definitely stiffer than Greeen.
I think the 2.5 Reds I had played more like 3 Greens if that helps at all.

 

[JL]

"Java Red, Java Green, ZZ or V16?"

V16.

 

[jlima]

The java red is a little stiffer. The green is brighter, more crispy.

 

[jlima]

Thanks for the information! I think I wanna try out the Green Java to start with, but I'm wondering what size to get. Does anyone know what the equivalent of a Rico Royal 3S would be as Green Java? 2.5?

#3 at least.

 

[artstove]

Red definitely stiffer than Greeen.
I think the 2.5 Reds I had played more like 3 Greens if that helps at all.

I would say that is about right from my experience.

 

[EgilF.]

I got them all, use to test different types of reeds on new/different mouthpieces. In 99% of the cases I end up with Red Java 2.5 on alto and V16 2.5 or 3 on tenor.

 

[NoobieSaxophonist]

I got them all, use to test different types of reeds on new/different mouthpieces. In 99% of the cases I end up with Red Java 2.5 on alto and V16 2.5 or 3 on tenor.

777 posts for you sir!

Yes, unrelated, but I felt I needed to point that out .

 

[IN TUNE]

So how does the ZZ compare to these? The OP asked, am I am curious as well...

 

[buddy lee]

So how does the ZZ compare to these? The OP asked, am I am curious as well...

For me:

Blue box- ultra dark, not buzzy at all
V16- not quite as dark, stiff tip (good for high baffled pieces)
Green Java- bright, thin tipped, ultra buzzy (but in a good way)
ZZ- a nice compromise between V16 and Green Java, a lil buzzy, a lil brighter than the V16

I don't have enough experience with the Reds to chime in.

 

[EgilF.]

777 posts for you sir!

Yes, unrelated, but I felt I needed to point that out .

:lol: :bounce: :blob: :grouphug: :headbang: :smilebox: :toothy7: :toothy8::toothy10:ccasion:ccasion:ccasion:ccasion:ccasion:

Oh, yes, thank you for noticing! It must be celebrated!

- Oh no, now it was 778

 

[Mike F]

"Java Red, Java Green, ZZ or V16?"

RJS!

Well it's personal preference of course, and I've used V's for years - all of the above at different times - but I've recently gone back to Ricos. I used Rico Royals for ever until they changed them :faceinpalm: and then went to V's, but I'm so pleased to be back on Ricos with RJS's.

Try them all and see for yourself....... and then go back to RJS's :bluewink: